Black Jack: A review and recommendation of a classic anime depicting medical ethics and human drama

Black Jack: The Story and Appeal of a Genius Surgeon

Tezuka Osamu's masterpiece "Black Jack" was broadcast as a TV anime series from 2004 to 2006, captivating many viewers. This work depicts the exploits of the genius surgeon Black Jack, and is highly praised for its deep story and human drama. Below, we will introduce detailed information about this anime and its appeal.

■Overview of the work

"Black Jack" is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Tezuka Osamu. A total of 62 episodes were broadcast on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV from October 11, 2004 to March 6, 2006. Each episode is 30 minutes long, and while remaining faithful to the original, it has been adapted to appeal to a wide range of viewers. In addition, special episodes "Karte:03" and "Special Karte" were broadcast on July 17, 2006.

■ Story

Black Jack is a genius surgeon who creates miracles with his godlike scalpel skills. He charges exorbitant fees and operates as an unlicensed doctor. The reason for this is unclear, but there are rumors that he did not obtain a license because he did not want to be trapped by formalities, and that his license was revoked for some reason. Black Jack's story depicts him taking on difficult surgeries and saving patients' lives.

■Explanation

"Black Jack" is a popular work that has been adapted into various forms, including movies, OVAs, and live-action TV dramas. This TV anime series is faithful to the original work, but has some changes to the depiction of the surgery scenes and the story development. In addition, Black Jack's dog Largo, and Sharaku and Wato Chiyoko from "The Three-Eyed One" have been added as regular characters, adding new appeal to the story.

■Cast

Akio Otsuka was cast as Black Jack, and Yuko Mizutani as Pinoko. Other notable voice actors include Yuko Sato as Sharaku, Ryoko Ono as Wato, and Kousei Tomita as the Master. The individuality of each character is brought out by the voice actors' performances, adding depth to the story.

■ Main staff

The director was Tezuka Makoto, the original story was by Tezuka Osamu, and the music was by Matsumoto Akihiko. It was produced jointly by Yomiuri TV and Tezuka Productions, with Kuwahara Satoshi as chief director and Kamimura Sachiko as main character designer. Takeshita Toshitaka also participated as a medical advisor, enhancing the realism of the surgery scenes.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are based on the original story and depict the various medical issues and human dramas that Black Jack faces. Here are some examples:

• Karte:00/Operation Order (2004/10/11)
• Karte:01/The missing needle (2004/10/11)
• Karte:02/Ant's Legs (2004/10/18)
• Karte:03/Purse-snatching dog (2006/07/17)
• Karte:04/Doctor's play (2004/11/01)
• Karte:05/The Man of the Sixth Magnitude Star (2004/11/08)
• Karte:06 / A teacher and a student (2004/11/15)
• Karte:07/White Lion (2004/11/22)
• Karte:08/Miracle Arms (2004/11/29)
• Karte:09/Water (2004/12/06)

■ Related works

There are many other works related to "Black Jack". Some of them are introduced below.

• Black Jack 21
• Black Jack 2-hour Special: Four Miracles of Life
• Black Jack: Two Black Doctors
• Dr. Pinoko's Forest Adventure

■ Theme songs and music

Different opening and ending themes were used for each episode. Below are some of them.

• OP1: Moonlight Flower/Janne Da Arc (episodes 0-28)
• OP2: Here I Am/globe (episodes 29-51)
• OP3: Fantastic / Suzuki Ami (episodes 52-62)
• ED1: Black Wagyu beef tongue grilled with salt 680 yen / Ai Otsuka (episodes 0-28)
• ED2: clover/hiro (episodes 29-51)
• ED3: careless breath/EXILE (episodes 52-62)

■ Evaluation and appeal

"Black Jack" is highly praised for its deep storyline and human drama. The character of Black Jack has a cold exterior and a kind heart, and his dual nature is appealing and draws viewers in. Each episode also contains many thought-provoking themes, depicting different medical issues and human relationships.

In particular, the scenes in which Black Jack takes on difficult surgeries to save the lives of his patients are moving and touch the hearts of viewers. In addition, the supporting characters such as Pinoko and Largo are also charming and add color to the story.

■Reasons for recommendation

"Black Jack" is not only a medical drama, but also an excellent human drama. Through Black Jack's exploits, the show is full of content that makes you think again about the preciousness of life and the importance of medical care. Also, each episode has a different story, so you can enjoy it without getting bored.

This is a work that is especially recommended for those who are interested in medicine and those who want to enjoy deep human drama. Also, fans of Tezuka Osamu's original work will not want to miss this work, which recreates the world of the original work in anime form.

Conclusion

"Black Jack" is a moving story about the exploits of a genius surgeon. This work, with its deep storyline, human drama, and fascinating characters, is sure to attract many viewers. Please try experiencing the world of Black Jack at least once.