Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple: A Complete Analysis of the Classic Animation that Mystery Fans Must See

Agatha Christie's great detectives Poirot and Marple: Enjoy the world of mystery through animation

Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple is a TV anime series based on the works of mystery novel master Agatha Christie. Broadcast on NHK General TV from July 4, 2004 to May 15, 2005, this series of 39 episodes depicts the exploits of the great detectives Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple. Here, we will introduce the appeal and detailed information of this anime and delve deeper into its appeal.

Overview

This animation is set in England in the 1930s and tells the story of Poirot and Marple solving a number of difficult cases. After retiring from the Belgian police, Poirot opens a private detective agency in London and solves cases with his sharp mind and insight. Meanwhile, Marple is an elderly woman who lives in St. Mary Mead, a village near London, and solves cases with her extensive life experience and sharp observation skills. In addition, an original character, Mabel West, appears and plays the role of connecting Poirot and Marple.

Broadcast information

Broadcast period: July 4, 2004 to May 15, 2005 Broadcast station: NHK General TV Broadcast time: 30 minutes Number of episodes: 39

Production Staff

Original work: Agatha Christie Director: Naohito Takahashi Animation production: OLM Co-production: NHK Enterprises 21
Produced and copyrighted by NHK

Main Cast

Poirot: Kotaro Satomi Marple: Kaoru Yachigusa Mabel: Fumiko Orikasa Hastings: Hirofumi Nojima Oliver: Masako Shiro

Main Characters

Hercule Poirot <br> A great detective created by Agatha Christie. After retiring from the Belgian police, he opened a private detective agency in London. His trademark is a mustache shaped like a figure eight, set in place with pomade. He moves lightly despite his stocky build. He is a gentleman of the good old days, with a good sense of humor and a good conversationalist.

Jane Marple <br> An elderly woman who lives in St. Mary Mead, a village near London. She is called Miss Marple. She is elegant, but loves to chat. She knows everything about the village, including gossip. With her sharp observation skills, she solves difficult cases with ease. She lives a simple life, and her hobbies are knitting and gardening.

Mabel West <br> Daughter of Raymond West, Marple's nephew. A 16-year-old with a strong sense of curiosity and drive, she sometimes makes mistakes but is always lively. Aiming to become the best female detective of her time, she knocked on the door of the Poirot Detective Agency. Together with Oliver, sometimes as Poirot's rookie assistant and sometimes helping her respected great-aunt, she hones her skills as a detective.

Hastings <br> An assistant detective at the Poirot Detective Agency. In the original story, he is an old friend of Poirot's, but in this anime, he is a young man in his 20s. He is good at martial arts, and is looking for a chance to become more famous than Poirot. He teams up with Mabel and helps Poirot solve difficult cases.

Oliver <br> A baby duck who is always close to Mabel. Since Mabel was the first thing he ever saw, he has looked up to her like a mother. He is even more curious than Mabel and likes to stick his head into all sorts of places.

episode

Each episode is based on Agatha Christie's original novel, with Poirot and Marple taking on different cases. Here are some highlights:

• Episode 1: The Grand Metropolitan Jewels Heist (07/04/2004)
• Episode 2: The Mystery of Cheap Apartments (2004/07/18)
• Episode 3: An Unusual Will (2004/07/25)
• Episode 4: The Perfect Maid (2004/08/01)
• Episode 5: The ABC Murders - Part 1: A Challenge to Poirot (2004/08/08)
• Episode 6: The ABC Murders - Part 2: In the town of B, someone with the name B - (2004/08/15)
• Episode 7: The ABC Murders - Part 3: The Perpetrator Appears (2004/08/22)
• Episode 8: The ABC Murders - Part 4 Poirot Solves the Mystery (2004/08/29)
• Episode 9: The Prime Minister's Disappearance - Part 1: Pursuit in the Straits of Dover (2004/09/05)
• Episode 10: The disappearance of the Prime Minister - Part 2: The truth is in England (2004/09/12)

Theme songs and music

Opening theme : A bouquet for a lucky girl Lyrics, composition and arrangement: Tatsuro Yamashita Sung by: Tatsuro Yamashita

Ending theme <br> Wasurenaide Lyrics: Mariya Takeuchi Composition and Arrangement: Tatsuro Yamashita Vocals: Tatsuro Yamashita

Appeal of the work

The greatest appeal of this anime is that it faithfully reproduces Agatha Christie's original novel while creating its own unique worldview. The character settings of Poirot and Marple and the process by which they solve the case are very satisfying for fans of the original novel. In addition, the introduction of an original character called Mabel allows you to enjoy the story from a new perspective not found in the original novel.

Don't miss the detailed background art, which recreates the customs and townscapes of 1930s England. The beautiful backgrounds, created by art director Hisayoshi Takahashi, greatly enhance the visual appeal of the film. Character designer Sayuri Ichiishi's designs also capture the image of the original work while adding a cuteness that is characteristic of anime.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this anime. The opening and ending theme songs by Tatsuro Yamashita perfectly match the atmosphere of the story and capture the hearts of viewers. In addition, the background music by Toshiyuki Watanabe also effectively creates tension and suspense.

Character Appeal

Hercule Poirot <br> Poirot's performance as voice actor Kotaro Satomi is very impressive. His humorous tone and confident attitude when solving cases are just like the original Poirot. His pomaded moustache and well-built physique also closely replicate the image of the original.

Jane Marple <br> Marple is voiced by Kaoru Yachigusa and is superbly portrayed. Her elegance and love of chatter are well expressed, just like the original Marple. Her sharp powers of observation and her reasoning, which makes use of her rich life experience, are also beautifully portrayed.

Mabel West <br> Mabel's voice acting is very charming, performed by Fumiko Orikasa. Her inquisitive personality, drive, and positive attitude of taking on challenges even though she sometimes fails resonate with viewers. She also provides a new perspective to the story by playing the role of connecting Poirot and Marple.

Hastings <br> Hastings' voice acting by Nojima Yuji is impressive. His youthfulness and ambition to get a chance to become more famous than Poirot create a new charm that is different from the original. In addition, by teaming up with Mabel, he also plays a role in supporting her growth.

Oliver <br> Oliver's adorable voice acting by Masako Jo soothes the hearts of viewers. Her love for Mabel and her curious personality add humor and warmth to the story. Also, her involvement in cases together with Mabel brings a smile to the viewers' faces.

Reasons for recommendation

Agatha Christie's famous detectives Poirot and Marple are works that can be enjoyed by anyone, even if they are not a fan of mysteries. For fans of the original work, not only can you enjoy Poirot and Marple's exploits once again in the anime, but you can also enjoy the story from a new perspective through the new character of Mabel. Also, for those who are new to mysteries, you can experience the charm of mysteries by following Poirot and Marple's deductions.

Furthermore, this anime is packed with visual and auditory attractions, such as detailed background art that recreates the customs and townscapes of 1930s England, and music by Tatsuro Yamashita. Viewers can experience the atmosphere of 1930s England while enjoying the mystery solving of Poirot and Marple.

This anime can also be enjoyed by the whole family. While Poirot and Marple's detective work is aimed at adults, Mabel and Oliver's adventures are enjoyable for children as well. By watching it together as a family, you can share the charm of mystery.

summary

Agatha Christie's great detectives Poirot and Marple are a TV anime series based on the works of mystery master Agatha Christie. This anime, which depicts the exploits of Poirot and Marple, will satisfy fans of the original work, and will be an opportunity for mystery novices to experience new charms. It is also full of visual and auditory appeal, with background art that recreates the customs and cityscapes of 1930s England and music by Tatsuro Yamashita. This anime can be enjoyed by the whole family, and even those who are not mystery lovers can enjoy it. Be sure to enjoy the atmosphere of 1930s England while enjoying the deductions of Poirot and Marple.