A Small Plane Party on a Southern Island: A fascinating story and a deep character review

Small plane party on a southern island - Minami-no-shima-no-chiisana-hikouki-party

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

December 26, 2005 - November 7, 2007

■Broadcasting station

NHK

■Frequencies

10 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 105

■ Director

Bob White Flag

■ Production

・Animation production: Studio Deen ・Co-production: Sogo Vision ・Production, copyright: NHK

■Works

©NHK, Sogo Vision, Studio Deen

■ Story

This is Bird Paradise Island, a small island floating in the southern sea. Birdie is a novice small airplane pilot who has been working at Bird Paradise Airport on this island for two years. Aiming to become the leading airplane someday, he works hard day and night on sightseeing flights with his rival small helicopter, Philip, and his good friend, the goldfish-shaped helicopter, Annie. Birdie the small airplane flies with his fun and unique friends!

■Explanation

An original animation produced by NHK. Birdie, a small, rookie airplane, has a great time with his unique and fun friends on a southern island! It was aired from December 2005 to November 2006 and was a big hit with children, and is currently being aired again.

*Quoted from Studio Deen's official website

■Cast

Birdie / Kumai Motoko (episodes 1-60), Kanzaki Chiro (episodes 61 onwards)
・Philip/Fujiko Takimoto・Annie/Megumi Toyoguchi・Big Papa/Unsho Ishizuka・Big Mama/Kikuko Inoue・Patrick/Kujira・Robert/Shinnosuke Tachibana・Palmer/Chafurin・Johnny/Masanori Takeda・Panchos/Masashi Yabe・Mosquito/Riichi Nishimoto・Fly/Akiko Matsuzaki・Bee/Mitsuhiro Ichiki・Morgan/Eiji Maruyama・Sergeant, Sky Shark/Yoshitsugu Ishii・Whale/Sakiko Tamagawa・Dru/Sachi Kunitachi・Fin/Reimi Hanamura・Bogey/Tsubuyaki Shiro・Nancy/Mayumi Asano・Margaret/Aya Yamakawa・Stanley/Kan Tanaka

■ Main staff

・Director / Bob Shirahata ・Series Composition / Tetsuo Tanaka, Junji Nishimura ・Animation Supervision / Jimmy Murakami ・Music / Haruomi Hosono, Takashi Okada, Haru Koshimi, Yasuo Kimoto, MCU, Atsushi Yamaji ・Character Design / Masaaki Kawanami ・Art Setting / Masaaki Kawanami ・3D Director / Shudai Baba ・Animation Producer / Kazunori Noguchi ・Producer / Yuji Shibata ・Production Supervisors / Atsuko Kashiwagi, Masato Usui ・Animation Production / Studio Deen ・Co-production / Sogo Vision ・Production, Copyright / NHK

■ Main Characters

・Birdie is a second-year member of a small sightseeing plane. He's still a beginner, but he's always looking forward and, once he sets his mind to something, he goes all out. He's really fond of his own propeller. In fact, he hates thunder.
・Philip: A small sightseeing helicopter with 2 years and 3 months of service. He is proud of the fact that he is equipped with a computational memory device, and he loves calculations and collecting data. He is a good rival of Birdie.
Annie's first-year small sightseeing helicopter. A special edition with a goldfish design, she is the idol of Bird Paradise Airport. Whether it's work or play, she has to have fun right now.
・Big Papa: A veteran controller with a wealth of experience. He has a strong sense of responsibility and always gives precise instructions. He is the reliable father figure of Bird Paradise Airport.
・Big Mama A hangar where everyone can rest after a hard day's work. She is the mother of Bird Paradise Airport. Some hangars are used for repairs and maintenance.
・Patrick is a large helicopter for transporting people. He is proud of his strength and speed. He is always eager to carry any load of luggage.
Robert's latest mid-size jet passenger aircraft. He is a show-off who is proud of his beautiful fuselage and shiny polished lower tail.
Palmer is a medium-sized passenger plane. It was once the royal plane of a certain kingdom. It usually operates regular flights to the United States, but whenever a VIP comes to Bird Paradise Island, he is always in charge.
Johnny is a Coast Guardsman who is very reliable in times of emergency. He is proud of his agile twin-engine jet planes, but he can also be a bit clumsy.
・A Coast Guard teamed up with Panchos Johnny. He is amphibious and is active on the sea. He is good at surfing!
Mosquito
A twin-engine jet plane with six landing gears. The boss of the trio Fla-B-Moth. He admires bad guys and is always picking on Birdie and the others.
Fly is a bullet-like kid who is always trying to flatter the Mosquito by grinding his front wheels together, but once he starts running he can't stop.
・A technician who can hover with the Bee propellers pointing upwards. The most calm of the three?
Morgan is a mail plane that has been in service for 70 years. It is a veteran that has been working for 70 years without missing a single day.
Sergeant Skyshark A nihilistic biplane. Birdie's favorite hero. But his true identity is shrouded in mystery.
・A large airship whose work includes whale tours, advertising, and event campaigns. An entertainer who is good at singing.
・Dru & Finn: A small airship used for advertising and campaigns. It is in its first year of operation. They are twins who always float in the sky and love to gossip.
・Bogie fuel truck. Very pure. No matter who the other person is, whether they are happy or sad, they always go at their own pace. That heals everyone.
・Nancy Bird Paradise Airport's fire truck. It usually sprays water to clean planes and keep them busy.
・Margaret Ambulance. Although she is a bit of a hasty and anxious person, she is kind, pure and cute and everyone's idol.
Stanley is a towing tractor that performs its work efficiently and technically. It is the driving force behind Bird Paradise Airport. It is strict about regulations.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: A special flight Episode 2: Birdie becomes a mother Episode 3: Philip gets covered in mud Episode 4: A stormy mail flight Episode 5: Artists of the sky Episode 6: Skyathlon competition!
Episode 7: The Takeover Mission Episode 8: The Nice Guy on the Southern Island Episode 9: Birdie's Gentlemanly Training Episode 10: The Flying Bogey Episode 11: The Fearsome Bomb Episode 12: Big Papa Walks!?
・Episode 13/The Singing Airship ・Episode 14/The Sky Shark Appears!
・Episode 15: Secret base discovered!?
・Episode 16: Go Propeller!
・Episode 17/Don't be late!
Episode 18: Koi Koi Panic Episode 19: Annie's Special Plan Episode 20: Cheer Up Mission Episode 21: Fighting the Strong Wind Episode 22: Catch That Wave Episode 23: Aircraft Inspection is a Rule Episode 24: Fashion Mission Episode 25: Sky Shark Returns Episode 26: I'm an Idol!
・Episode 27: Go Sky Fire Brigade!
・Episode 28: Fishing Challenge!
Episode 29: Airport Crisis!
Episode 30: A Salamander Appears?
Episode 31: Bogie flies too high in the sky!?
・Episode 32/Snow Santa ・Episode 33/Whale Landing!
・Episode 34/Good Luck Yellow・Episode 35/Idol Mask is Born・Episode 36/Clip Has Arrived・Episode 37/Big Mama's Big Transformation!?
Episode 38: The Mystery of the Crop Circles Episode 39: Annie's Lucky Forecast Episode 40: The Legendary Fireworks Episode 41: Selfish Morgan Episode 42: Another Sky Shark Episode 43: Wonderful Margaret Episode 44: Good Luck Philip!
Episode 45 / CM Strategy Episode 46 / Fun Spring Cleaning Episode 47 / Flabby Moss Becomes a Dad Episode 48 / The Duo Breaks Up? Coast Guard Episode 49 / Bogey Talks to the Sky Episode 50 / Palmer and the Two Madames Episode 51 / Don't Take the Detour!
・Episode 52/I want to be your underling ・Episode 53/Aerial soccer match!
・Episode 54: Flabymos's intensive training!
・Episode 55 / Idol Mask Returns ・Episode 56 / Happy Clover ・Episode 57 / Annie is a Lady?
・Episode 58/I'm the Coast Guard ・Episode 59/An action star is coming!
Episode 60: Sky Sharks are Devil Sharks?
Episode 61: Birdie turns into a jet plane!?
Episode 62 / Farewell to BeardsEpisode 63 / Flaby Moss Broadcasting StationEpisode 64 / The Outcome of the FightEpisode 65 / Airplane GraveyardEpisode 66 / They Don't Look AlikeEpisode 67 / Philip's Employment TestEpisode 68 / Bogey is Swept AwayEpisode 69 / Red RibbonEpisode 70 / The Two Stick TogetherEpisode 71 / Aim to Be the Star NewscasterEpisode 72 / Another Idol MaskEpisode 73 / Come Out StanleyEpisode 74 / Meditation Training with MorganEpisode 75 / Where is the Treasure!?
・Episode 76 / Happy Honeymoon・Episode 77 / Beyond the Blue Sky・Episode 78 / Sky Shark and Cleaning Duty・Episode 79 / Flabby Moss vs. Nancy・Episode 80 / Bogey's Straw Millionaire・Episode 81 / The Bird God・Episode 82 / Birdie and the Palm Tree・Episode 83 / Message Bottle・Episode 84 / Birdie Runs Away・Episode 85 / Mystery on the Beach・Episode 86 / A Power Outage Causes a Big Crisis・Episode 87 / A Traveling Hot Air Balloon・Episode 88 / I Can Hear You, Birdie・Episode 89 / Damp Birdie・Episode 90 / The Perfect Plan・Episode 91 / Can Birdie Be Eaten?
・Episode 92: A Star is Born!?
・Episode 93 / Big Mama's Misfortune ・Episode 94 / A Thrilling Fan Letter ・Episode 95 / Will Birdie Get Sick?
Episode 96: Mole Panic!
・Episode 97/Big Papa's Misfortune・Episode 98/Big Mama Gets Angry・Episode 99/The Truth About the Blue Sky・Episode 100/Biri Biri Ba Dy・Episode 101/God's Bow・Episode 102/What is the Best Fuel?
・Episode 103/The Queen is Coming ・Episode 104/The Phantom Island ・Episode 105/Is Birdie the Culprit?

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・My Feelings・Lyrics by Akiko Yano・Music by Haruomi Hosono・Arrangement by Haruomi Hosono・Singer by Mei Kurokawa

・ED1
・FLY ME
Lyrics: Akiko Yano Composition: Akiko Yano Arrangement: Haruomi Hosono Singer: Akiko Yano

Southern Island Small Plane Party - Detailed evaluation and recommendation of Southern Island Small Plane Party

"Southern Island's Small Airplane Party" is an original animation produced by NHK that was broadcast from December 26, 2005 to November 7, 2007. This animation is set on Bird Paradise Island, a small island floating in the southern seas, and tells the story of novice small airplane Birdie and his friends. Although it is a long series consisting of 105 episodes, each episode is only ten minutes long, so it was loved by a wide range of people from children to adults.

Story and Characters

Birdie is a novice small plane who has been working at Bird Paradise Airport for two years. He aims to become a full-fledged plane someday, and works hard every day on sightseeing flights with his rival, a small helicopter named Philip, and his best friend, a goldfish-shaped helicopter named Annie. Birdie is positive and hardworking, but he also has a weakness: he's afraid of thunder. This character setting gives viewers a sense of familiarity and makes them want to root for him.

Philip is a small helicopter equipped with a computational memory device, and is a character who excels at data collection and calculations. As a good rival to Birdie, they are depicted as deepening their friendship while stimulating her competitive spirit. Meanwhile, Annie is a specially designed goldfish helicopter, and is popular as an airport idol. Her bright and fun personality adds color to the story.

In addition, there are many other characters with unique personalities, such as the veteran control tower Big Papa, the hangar's Big Mama, and Patrick, the large transport helicopter. The story woven by these characters not only gives children hope and dreams, but is also enjoyable for adults.

Production and staff

The anime was animated by Studio Deen in collaboration with Sogo Vision. It was directed by Bob Shirahata, with series composition by Tetsuo Tanaka and Junji Nishimura, and music by Haruomi Hosono and other talented members. Character design and art direction are by Masaaki Kawanami, and 3D direction is by Shudai Baba. The collaboration between these staff members resulted in beautiful visuals and a fascinating story.

In particular, the music by Haruomi Hosono is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the anime. The opening theme "Boku no Kimochi" is sung by Mei Kurokawa, and the ending theme "FLY ME" is sung by Akiko Yano, both of which are masterpieces that resonate with the hearts of viewers.

Episodes and themes

Various episodes are depicted in the long series of 105 episodes. For example, in the first episode, "A Special Flight," Birdie tries his hand at his first sightseeing flight, and in the 14th episode, "Sky Shark Appears!", Birdie's hero, Sky Shark, appears, bringing a new development to the story. Also, in the 32nd episode, "Snowy Santa," viewers were surprised by the unusual situation of snow falling on a southern island.

These episodes depict universal themes such as friendship, hard work, and growth. In particular, Birdie and his friends overcome difficulties in an inspiring way, inspiring viewers to do their best. Each episode also features a different character, whose personality and background are explored in depth, allowing viewers to deepen their understanding of the characters and become even more immersed in the story.

Viewer reactions and ratings

"Southern Island's Little Plane Party" was hugely popular with children when it was first broadcast. It was particularly popular for its short time slot, but the content was dense, and every episode was full of new discoveries and moving moments. It has also been rebroadcast, and it still has many fans today. Viewers have a strong attachment to characters such as Birdie, Philip, and Annie, and children in particular have been fascinated by their adventures.

It has also been well received by adults, who say it brings back memories and soothes the soul. The beautiful scenery of the southern islands and the humorous exchanges between the characters are said to have the effect of allowing viewers to escape from their busy daily lives and refresh their minds. The quality of the music and visuals has also been highly praised, and the work is generally considered to be of high quality.

Recommendations and how to watch

"A Small Plane Party on a Southern Island" is an animated film that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. In particular, watching it with the whole family can deepen communication between parents and children. In addition, the film depicts themes such as friendship, effort, and growth, making it useful for children's education.

This anime is rebroadcast on NHK, so you can watch it on TV. It is also available on DVD and Blu-ray, so you can enjoy it at your own pace. In addition, it may be available on streaming services, so you can easily enjoy it over the Internet.

"A Small Plane Party on a Southern Island" is a wonderful animated work that combines a heartwarming story, charming characters, beautiful visuals and music. Please watch it and experience its charm.