Zoro: The Legendary Swordsman's Appeal and Reputation

"The Great Zorro": A Sword of Justice in 18th Century California

■Overview of the work

"Zorro the Great" is a 52-episode TV anime series that was broadcast on NHK Satellite 2 in 1996. It is based on a novel by Johnston McCully, directed by Minokuchi Katsumi, and produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The story is set in the California region of the United States at the end of the 18th century, and depicts the exploits of Zorro, an emissary of justice who stands up against the oppression of the Spanish army.

■ Story

California, USA, at the end of the 18th century. Diego, the son of the Vega family, returns to his hometown after studying abroad in Spain. However, the residents there are suffering under the oppression of the Spanish army. Everyone is angry at the army's methods, but they have no power to resist. Then, an emissary of justice appears who stands up against the army's misrule. He always leaves a "Z" sign behind when he leaves. That man's name is "Zorro." Diego lives a double life, acting as an aristocrat by day and protecting the people as Zorro by night.

■ Characters

・Zorro/Diego (voice: Seki Toshihiko): The protagonist who acts as the nobleman Diego by day and the messenger of justice Zorro by night.
Bernardo (voiced by Matsumoto Rika): Diego's loyal friend and the only person who knows Zorro's secret.
Lolita (voiced by Kawamura Maria): Diego's childhood friend who has feelings for Zoro.
・Gabriel (voice: Kenyuu Horiuchi): A Spanish officer and Zorro's greatest enemy.
・Raymon (voice: Kosugi Jurota): A soldier who is under Gabriel's command and pursues Zoro.
Gonzales (voice: Shioya Kozo): Raymond's subordinate and a soldier who is at the mercy of Zoro.
Alejandro (voiced by Ikuya Sawaki): Diego's father and head of the Vega family.
・Maria (voiced by Atsuko Mine): Diego's mother, a kind woman.
Nikita (voiced by Otani Ikue): Lolita's friend, a cheerful girl.
・Carlos (voice: Shozo Iizuka): Diego's friend who supports Zoro's activities.
・Katarina (voice: Kumiko Takizawa): Diego's older sister who knows Zoro's secret.
Theo (voiced by Matsumoto Yasunori): Diego's friend who cooperates with Zoro's activities.
・McCurry (voice: Nakamura Taiki): A character created by the original author Johnston McCurry, who serves as the story's narrator.

■ Staff

・Original Story : Johnston McCurry・Planning : Masamichi Fujiwara・Structure : Sukehiro Tomita・Director : Katsumi Minokuchi・Character Design : Hirotoshi Takaya・Art Director : Mitsuharu Miyamae・Sound Director : Hideyuki Tanaka・Director of Photography : Kazunori Hashimoto・Music : Hiromoto Tobisawa・Producers : Tatsuo Oba, Masako Fukuyo, Hiroshi Kato・Production : Toho Co., Ltd.

■ Episode

Episode 1 : The sign of justice is "Z"
・Episode 2 : Little Zoro Appears ・Episode 3 : Gabriel's Plot ・Episode 4 : Wake Up, My Friend!
Episode 5 : The Hidden Secret of the Father Episode 6 : The Red Jewel Trap Episode 7 : The Stolen Inheritance Episode 8 : The Killer Flamenco Guitar Episode 9 : Searching for the Pirate Treasure Episode 10 : Diego Becomes a Ghost Episode 11 : Little Zoro's Great Adventure Episode 12 : Figaro's First Success Episode 13 : The Little Knight's Great Success!
・Episode 14 : The Dangerous Stagecoach ・Episode 15 : Whose Kiss is Lolita's?
Episode 16 : Zipangu's Treasure SwordEpisode 17 : Zoro is CorneredEpisode 18 : Detective DiegoEpisode 19 : The House of TerrorEpisode 20 : The Boy Who Takes Revenge on ZoroEpisode 21 : Fly! Wings of DreamsEpisode 22 : I'm Not a Thief!
・Episode 23 : The Bride from Spain ・Episode 24 : Raymond, the Enemy of the People!
・Episode 25 : Tears of the Clown・Episode 26 : The Lying Girl Pepita・Episode 27 : The Tomboy Wife and Little Zoro・Episode 28 : The Cursed Ruins・Episode 29 : The Mona Lisa is Crying・Episode 30 : My First Love! Gonzales・Episode 31 : The Dirty Plan of the South India Trade・Episode 32 : The Drunken Doctor's Scalpel・Episode 33 : The Unconventional Prince・Episode 34 : The Order to Assassinate Zoro・Episode 35 : Gonzales' Undying Love・Episode 36 : Zoro's True Identity Revealed!?・Episode 37 : Diego Has Gone Rebellious!?
Episode 38 : The mysterious inventor lady appears Episode 39 : A battle in the storm Episode 40 : The fake Zoro is a female swordsman Episode 41 : Lolita, take your gun!
・Episode 42 : Ninja Magic Trap ・Episode 43 : A Monster Appears!?
Episode 44 : Gabriel's Rebellion Episode 45 : Legend of the Forest of the Gods Episode 46 : Zoro's Head Came Off!
Episode 47 : The Great Plan to Kidnap the Governor Episode 48 : Placido, the Righteous Soldier Episode 49 : Farewell, Army Episode 50 : Destroy the Devil's Cannon!
・Episode 51 : Raymond - Prelude to Collapse ・Episode 52 : The Sword of Justice is Eternal

■The appeal of the work

"The Great Zorro" is a work that depicts the exploits of Zoro, the hero who is filled with a strong sense of justice, and its appeal is manifold. First of all, the character setting of the main character, who leads a double life as Diego and Zoro, is extremely appealing. The way he acts as an aristocrat by day and protects the people as an emissary of justice by night leaves a strong impression on viewers. Also, Zoro's "Z" sign plays an important role throughout the work as a symbol that represents his presence.

Furthermore, the depiction of the late 18th century California region, where the story is set, is also superb. It is visually appealing, with images of the people suffering under the oppression of the Spanish army and the beautiful natural environment. Also, each episode features a different incident or conspiracy, making the story development interesting and engaging.

The appeal of the characters is also not to be missed. Characters with rich personalities, such as Diego's faithful friend Bernardo, Lolita who has feelings for Zoro, and Gabriel, Zoro's greatest enemy, add excitement to the story. In addition, supporting characters such as Carlos, Theo, and Catalina, who support Zoro's activities, are also appealing, and are an element that draws viewers in.

■Music and Production

The music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of "Zorro the Great." Hiromoto Tobisawa's music matches the story set in 18th century California and stirs the emotions of the viewer. Katsumi Minokuchi's direction is also superb, adding to the intensity of Zoro's scenes of action and battle. Hirotoshi Takaya's character designs also play a role in bringing out the individuality of the characters.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"The Great Zoro" is a work that has been praised for its righteous protagonist, attractive characters, beautiful setting, and suspenseful story development. In particular, Zoro's "Z" sign and the setting of his double life left a strong impression on viewers and have become symbols of the work. In addition, the depiction of incidents and conspiracies in each episode is also excellent, and the work is designed to keep viewers from getting bored.

This work is a story about justice, friendship, and love, and can be recommended to a wide range of ages. In particular, it is recommended for those who want to be moved by Zoro's deeds as a messenger of justice, and those who are interested in the history and culture of the 18th century California region. It is also recommended for those who are particular about character design, music, and direction.

Related information

"The Great Zorro" has been developed in various media, including not only the original novel, but also movies and comics. In particular, the silent movies of the 1920s and the movie series of the 1940s are famous, and the character of Zorro is widely recognized. A new movie version was released in 2015, and its popularity has not waned even today.

In addition, the character of Zorro has influenced other works, such as superhero works such as "Batman" and "Spiderman". By knowing this related information, you can understand the appeal of "The Great Zorro" even more deeply.

Conclusion

"The Great Hero Zorro" is a work that depicts the exploits of Zorro, the hero who is filled with a strong sense of justice, and its appeal is wide-ranging. It is full of elements that will attract viewers, such as the character setting of the protagonist who leads a double life as Diego and Zorro, the depiction of the California region at the end of the 18th century, the unique characters, and the splendid music and direction. This work is a story about justice, friendship, and love, and can be recommended to a wide range of ages. Please watch it and feel its charm.