Aterui: A thorough review of a moving story where history and drama intersect

"Aterui": A time-travel anime film where history and dreams intersect

Overview

"Aterui" is an anime film released on December 2, 2002, directed by Dezaki Tetsu and produced by the "Aterui" Animation Film Production Committee, Cinema Tohoku Co., Ltd., Indies Co., Ltd., and Magic Bus Co., Ltd. The film is set against the backdrop of the history and culture of Iwate Prefecture and tells the story of a boy who travels back in time from the present to ancient times. Each episode is 93 minutes long and self-contained, and was released in theaters.

■ Story

The story begins in modern-day Mizusawa City, Iwate Prefecture. Okazaki Tobito, an elementary school student who has just transferred from Tokyo, doesn't go to school on his first day and runs away. Having been bullied at his school in Tokyo, Tobito fears he will be bullied at his new school as well. While trying to escape from his parents who are chasing him, Tobito slips and falls into the Kitakami River, which has flooded due to rain, and loses consciousness.

When Tobito awakes, he finds himself in a place he has never seen before, surrounded by a dense beech forest. He has traveled back in time to a world 1,200 years ago. When Tobito is attacked by a large wild boar in the forest, he is saved by a fearless young man. It is Aterui, the chief of the Emishi. Aterui takes Tobito, who has nowhere to go, back to his village. In Aterui's village near the Hidaka River (formerly the Kitakami River), Tobito ends up living with the family of a village girl, Ralaka. The village's high priestess, Amababa, says to Tobito, cryptically saying, "There is a reason why you came here."

Touched by the kindness of Lalaka and the villagers, Tobito gradually begins to blend into Emishi life, but his friends, a young village boy named Komui who admires Lalaka, suspect that Tobito is a pawn of the Yamato. At that time, the Yamato Imperial Court sent troops to control the Tohoku region, burning down Emishi villages that did not submit to Yamato, plundering their harvests, and committing other cruel acts. Many Emishi were killed, and those who reluctantly submitted to Yamato were forced to become "prisoners of war" and were forced to endure heavy taxes and hard labor.

One day, Tobito and Komui come across a nearby Emishi village being burned down by Yamato soldiers. When Komui is nearly killed by a soldier's sword, Tobito risks his own life to protect him, and a friendship blossoms between the two. However, the Yamato forces, intent on seizing Aterui's land, finally launch an all-out attack with a massive army of 50,000 in 789 (Enryaku 8). The chiefs of the neighboring villages, including Aterui's best friend More, rise up with Aterui to protect the Emishi land that their ancestors have lived on in the northern land. The allied Emishi forces gather at the top of Mount Subuse, and Aterui, chosen as their commander-in-chief, faces a fierce battle with the Yamato forces.

■Explanation

From the end of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century, a new era in pursuit of peace and prosperity has arrived. As we enter this new era, visions for the 21st century are being discussed from various fields. We thought we could paint a "dream" for the future by starting from the "region." Iwate was once called a "frontier" and has been treated unfairly throughout Japanese history. Despite being subjected to discrimination throughout the ages, it has played a role in supporting the country during major turning points.

I wanted to overcome this perspective and look to the future with pride in my hometown, Iwate, based on a correct understanding of history. The ancestors of Iwate and the northern lands, who expanded into the ancient Tohoku region in the 8th century, have been treated unfairly throughout history. They were despised as "Ezo" and targeted for the Emishi subjugation by the Yamato Imperial Court at the time. In 789, Emishi chief Aterui and his brave men brilliantly defeated a large army sent by the Yamato Imperial Court to conquer the Emishi, but their reputations have since been reversed and they have been labeled "demon" and "evil kings." However, recent advances in history and new archaeological discoveries have allowed us to know the true nature of the Emishi.

The fertile northern land brought many blessings with every season. It had extensive regional exchange through trade, without seeking conflict and open hearts even to other ethnic groups on the continent. And it had an astonishingly rich spiritual life, lived in communion with the natural world, against the backdrop of its bountiful nature. The northern land was never what it was made out to be. It even possessed advanced ideas of coexistence with nature, inherited from the distant Jomon period. And I wanted to vividly bring to life on the modern screen the figures of Aterui and his brave warriors, who boldly fought and triumphed to protect this northern land, their parents, their children and their brethren, from unjustified invasion.

Our wish is to resonate with many kind-hearted people in Iwate, to send it out from Iwate to all over Japan as a cultural creation movement originating from Iwate, and to pass it on to children living in the 21st century as a source of pride for their hometown. We sincerely ask for the support of many people to make this movement a success.

■Cast

• Aterui: Kohei Otomo
• Ama Baba: Teruko Nagaoka
• Lalaka: Houko Kuwashima
• Okazaki Tobito: Kusaka Chihiro
• Moret: Masato Hirano
• Man in the Magnolia Leaf Mask: The Great Sasuke
• Hito's father: Ambe Mitsutoshi

■ Main staff

• Planning: Akira Murakami, Yoshimasa Kato, Toshinori Nakamura, Atsuhiro Miyamori
• Director: Tetsu Dezaki
• Supervisor: Hideaki Sato
• Screenplay: Yoshitake Suzuki, Kazumi Koide, Taku Ichikawa, Mitsuyo Suenaga, Satoshi Dezaki
• Storyboard: Terumitsu Morita, Michiyo Sakurai, Hiroshi Nagayama, Kenichi Maejima
• Character design and layout supervision: Keizo Shimizu
• Character design, storyboard: Setsuko Yobuichi
• Animation direction: Ittoku Tanahashi
• Animation directors: Kyoko Kayano, Mitsuo Shindo, Minoru Yamazawa
• Art director, art setting: Shichiro Kobayashi
• Color setting: Yuko Nishikawa
• Director of photography: Hideo Okazaki
• Sound effects: Shoji Kato
• Edited by: Shigeo Miyagi
• Music: Yuki Nakajima
• Sound Director: Shimizu Katsunori
• Producers: Akio Shimai, Terumitsu Komuro, Satoshi Dezaki
• Production cooperation: Iwate Prefectural Association for the Promotion of the Anime "Aterui" Production and Screening Movement, Iwate Prefecture, Mizusawa City
• Production: Anime "Aterui" Film Production Committee, Cinema Tohoku, Indies, Magic Bus

■ Theme songs and music

• TM1 "GLORY"
• Lyricist: Kohei Otomo, Goro Matsui
• Composer: Takashi Minowa
• Arrangement: HOUND DOG
• Sung by: Kohei Otomo
• ED1 "ATERUI will HERO"
• Lyricist: Izutomo
• Composer: Yuichi Ikuzawa, KAZ
• Arrangement: KAZ
• Vocals: Yuichi Ikuzawa

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Aterui" has touched many viewers as a time-slip anime film where history and fiction intersect. In particular, the story, which is set against the backdrop of Iwate Prefecture's history and culture, has been a source of great pride for the local people. Director Dezaki Tetsu has realistically depicted the lives and battles of the ancient Emishi, successfully allowing viewers to experience that era. In addition, the setting in which the main character, Tobito, travels back in time from the present to ancient times is also easy for children to relate to.

The cast is also impressive, with the performances of the voice actors, including Otomo Kohei as Aterui and Kuwashima Houko as Raraka, adding excitement to the story. In particular, Aterui's brave figure and Amababa's mysterious presence left a strong impression on viewers. Music is also an important element in enhancing the story, with TM1's "GLORY" and ED1's "ATERUI will HERO" striking a deep chord with viewers.

This film has sparked a reevaluation of Iwate Prefecture's history and culture, communicating its value not only to locals but to audiences across the country as well. It will surely be passed down for generations to come as a work that inspires children living in the 21st century with pride in their hometown.

■ Recommendation points

• A fusion of history and fiction : The story is fascinating in that it realistically depicts the lives and battles of the ancient Emishi while skillfully incorporating the fictional element of time travel.
• Local pride and love : Stories set in the history and culture of Iwate Prefecture inspire great pride among locals and communicate those values ​​to audiences across the country.
• Emotional Music : TM1 "GLORY" and ED1 "ATERUI will HERO" are important elements that further deepen the emotion of the story.
• A star-studded cast : The performances of the voice actors, including Kohei Otomo and Houko Kuwashima, add excitement to the story and leave a strong impression on viewers.
• Child-friendly : The time travel setting is easy for children to understand and stimulates their interest in history.

Related information

"Aterui" has become a catalyst for reevaluating the history and culture of Iwate Prefecture. When you visit tourist sites and historical spots in Iwate Prefecture, you can recall the story of this movie and feel a deeper sense of the history of the area. In addition, the movie's production background and interviews with the staff are also interesting, so it is recommended for those who want to know more.

Conclusion

"Aterui" is a time-travel animated film that intertwines history and fiction, and has touched many viewers. The story, set against the backdrop of Iwate Prefecture's history and culture, has been a source of great pride for the local people and has been able to convey that value to viewers across the country. The stellar cast and moving music also enhance the story, making it a work that is easy for children to relate to. This film will surely continue to be passed down in the future as a work that makes children living in the 21st century feel proud of their hometown.