The appeal and reputation of "Ijiwaru Baasan": Humor from the good old days brought to the present

"Mean Granny": A story of humor and love woven by a prankster genius

■Overview of the work

"Ijiwaru Baasan" is a TV anime series based on the original work by Machiko Hasegawa, which aired from April 19, 1996 to June 13, 1997. It consisted of 46 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and aired every Friday on Fuji TV. The original work was a four-panel manga serialized in the Sunday Mainichi magazine from 1966 to 1971, and its unique humor and characters have attracted many fans.

■ Story

The main character, Ishi Ichiwari, is an old woman whose sole purpose in life is to be mischievous. This work depicts her daily life as she mercilessly plays pranks on her family and passers-by. Ishi's pranks are sometimes extreme, toying with her family and those around her, but behind them lies her love and humor for her family. Through her pranks, the film depicts the warmth of family bonds and human relationships.

■Explanation

"Ijiwaru Baasan" is an animated adaptation of Hasegawa Machiko's original work, faithfully recreating the humor and characters of the original. In particular, the casting of Nozawa Nachi as the voice actor for Ichiwariishi caused a big stir. Nozawa Nachi is a handsome voice actor known for dubbing Alain Delon, but in playing the role of an old woman he brings out a new charm. In addition, the theme song "Ijiwaru Baasan" is based on the theme song of the TV drama starring Aoshima Yukio, and was arranged and sung by rock artist Ousama. "Mean Quiz" questions were asked before and after the previews for the next episode, entertaining viewers.

■Cast

• Ichiwariishi: Nozawa Nachi
• Junichi Ichiwari: Barley man
• Ichiwari Michiko: Kazue Komiya
• Ichiwari Makoto: Mitsuaki Madono
• Sanae Ichiwari: Akemi Okamura
• Tsutomu Ichiwari: Kumiko Watanabe

■ Main staff

• Original author: Machiko Hasegawa
• Director: Hiromitsu Morita
• Screenplay: Ryuji Yamada, Mamiko Ikeda, Shunichi Yukimuro, Masaki Tsuji, Osamu Murayama and others
• Character design: Shinya Takahashi
• Art director: Matsumoto Manami
• Music: Kaoru Wada

■Main Characters

• Ichiwariishi: Nicknamed "Mean Granny." An old woman who likes to play pranks and cause trouble for those around her.
• Junichi Ichiwari: Ishi's eldest son. He is an office worker and takes care of Ishi along with his family.
• Michiko Ichiwari: Junichi's wife. She has a good relationship with her husband, but is often the victim of Ishi's pranks.
• Makoto Ichiwari: Junichi's eldest son. He is Ishi's grandson, but he is very mean to everyone.
• Sanae Ichiwari: Junichi's eldest daughter. Like Makoto, she is often bullied by Ishi.
• Ichiwari Tsutomu: Junichi's second son. He is tempted by the promise of a small reward and sometimes plays pranks on Ishi's behalf.

■ Theme songs and music

• Opening theme: "Mean Grandma"
• Lyricist: Yukinojo Mori
• Composer: Yukinojo Mori
• Arranged by: King
• Song: King
• Ending theme: "The Emperor's New Clothes"
• Lyricist: King
• Composer: King
• Arranged by: King
• Song: King

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Ijiwaru Baasan" is a work that is appealing for its unique humor and characters. Ishi Ichiwari's pranks are sometimes extreme, but behind them lies his love and humor for his family. While viewers laugh at Ishi's pranks, they can also feel the warmth of family bonds and human relationships. Additionally, Nozawa Nachi's new challenge as a voice actor and the King's innovative arrangement of the theme song also became a hot topic. The "Mean Quiz" in the preview for the next episode not only entertained viewers, but also played a role in raising interest in the work.

■ Recommendation points

"Ijiwaru Baasan" is a humorous work that the whole family can enjoy. It is particularly enjoyable for a wide range of generations, from children to adults. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a work that will make them laugh at Ichiwari Ishi's mischief and move them with the family ties. It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy Nozawa Nachi's new challenge as a voice actor and the King's innovative arrangement of the theme song. Don't miss the "Mean Quiz" in the preview for the next episode. Be sure to check it out.

Related information

The original version of "Ijiwaru Baasan" is on display at the Hasegawa Machiko Museum of Art. It is also available on DVD and Blu-ray, so you can watch it. In addition, many related books and goods are on sale, making it a must-see for fans.

■ Summary

"Ijiwaru Baasan" is a humorous anime based on the original work by Hasegawa Machiko. It depicts the warmth of family ties and human relationships through the mischief of Ichiwari Ishi, and is enjoyable for a wide range of generations, from children to adults. Nozawa Nachi's new challenge as a voice actor and the innovative arrangement of the theme song by Ousama also became a hot topic. Please watch it once and experience its charm.