Eleking the Animation - A thorough analysis of the new appeal of monster anime

Eleking the Animation - A world of laughter woven by unique characters

Overview

"Eleking the Animation" is a TV anime series based on the popular four-frame comic strip "Eleking" by Tsuyoshi Ohashi. A total of 13 episodes were broadcast on Kids Station from November 10, 2007 to February 9, 2008. The original work was serialized in Kodansha's "Morning", and its unique world view and distinctive characters have captivated many fans.

■Production information

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

November 10, 2007 - February 9, 2008 Kids Station November 10, 2007 - February 9, 2008 (1st - 13th)

■Broadcasting station

KIDS STATION

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

Tsuyoshi Ohashi (serialized in Kodansha's "Morning")

■ Director

Kenjiro Yoshida

■ Production

・Production: Zuiyo ・Production: "Eleking" Partners

■Works

©Tsuyoshi Ohashi, Kodansha/"Eleking" Partners

■Explanation

"Eleking the Animation" is a work that depicts a variety of laughs brought on by unique characters such as "Oi-san", a non-store drug seller who sells by the pill, "Mr. Cat" who preaches about life while wearing a full-body costume, "Aka-san", a cool guy who looks good in diapers, and "41-year-old student", a guy who always wears a stiff collar. Tsuyoshi Ohashi's unique worldview has been animated, providing viewers with a new kind of laughter.

■Cast

• My nephew/Yanagi Noriyoshi
• 41-year-old student / Yusaku Yara
• Akasan/Wataru Takagi
• Mr. Cat/Wataru Takagi
• Sleepless Mother / Tomie Kataoka
• Sleeping Dad / Minoru Inaba
• Questioner / Rikako Aikawa
• Answerer/Minoru Inaba
• Ramen Shop Owner/Minoru Inaba
• The Cat's Way / Rikako Aikawa
• Julie/Minoru Inaba
• Yurashiya (wife) / Rikako Aikawa
• Yurashiya (husband) / Wataru Takagi
• Pete/Wataru Takagi
• The Boy with Pete / Rikako Aikawa

■ Main staff

• Original work: Tsuyoshi Ohashi "Eleking"
• Published in "Morning"
• Publisher: Kodansha
• Produced by Zuiyo
• Director: Kenjiro Yoshida
• CG Director: Shohei Murai
• Sound Director: Yasuo Urakami
• Sound production/AUDIO PLANNING U
• Sound effects: Masahiro Shoji (Fizz Sound Creation)
• CG production: Yasuyuki Toda, Juri Taniguchi
• Production management: Tomoshige Takahashi
• Produced by: "Eleking" Partners

■ Main Characters

• Oisan A medicine seller (by the pill) with an adult air who calmly accepts any situation. No store.
• 41 years old student Although he is a student, he may be a repeat student. He is surprisingly difficult to understand. He is a man of many talents.
• Akasan: It would be inappropriate to call him a "baby," so I'll call him "Akasan" out of respect.
• Mr. Neko is a descendant of a walking dictionary that was once found in every neighborhood. He faces strong criticism.
• A sleepless mother. Married for 20 years. A housewife who can't sleep at night these days. I'm not sure if she's worried or not.
• Sleeping Dad has been married for 20 years. He's become good at making jokes to his wife (actually, he's wearing a wig).
• He asks questions that are far more difficult than Zen quizzes. It is unclear whether he is a quiz fanatic.
• An earnest man who answers the questions of the answerer/questioner dutifully. It is unclear whether he is smart or not.
• Ramen Shop OwnerThe owner of a ramen shop stays in high spirits from the moment he wakes up until the moment he falls asleep. This must be bad for his health.
• Although she may be old, she is still a young grandma at heart. I won't tell you where I met the 41-year-old student.
• Director As a child, he wrote an essay about his future and decided to become a director, which he achieved. Everyone admires him, but they don't respect him.
• He is called this because he has a small whisker pattern that resembles the whiskers of Oi-san the cat. His relationship to Oi-san is unknown.
• Julie is a police officer whose strong sense of justice leads to him running around aimlessly. He is suspicious and prone to delusions. His hat is his defining feature.
• Yurashiya (wife)
  A person thought to be the cause of hay fever. In appearance, he may be a monster or a fairy.
• Yurashiya (husband)
  A person thought to be the cause of hay fever. In appearance, he may be a monster or a fairy.
• Pete is a calm dog who only seems to think about food and treats. In fact, he has no other thoughts.
• A boy with Pete dreams of becoming a veterinarian. He loves dogs so much that he tends to neglect his studies, which is a cause for concern.

■Subtitle

• Episode 1: Sudden encounter / Taro falls into a 50m hole / Meat bun fight
• Episode 2: Auntie whispers in my ear... / Grandpa carries 100 kilos / Aka-san looks for a part-time job
• Episode 3: At lunchtime... / Genetically modified... / My husband's constellation?
• Episode 4: The True Tale of Yurashiya / Pizza Pizza Pizza / Chinese Set Meal Akiresuken
• Episode 5: Hot Milk / Egg and Udon / Auntie in the Daytime
• Episode 6: The ball on the tree / Mr. and Mrs. B have a child / The sleepless beauty in the park!?
• Episode 7: What a nice bath! / 3 million yen New Year's gift / The cat and the saury
• Episode 8: The Yurashiya and the Beehive / Raise Your Hands / My Beard is Itchy!
• Episode 9: Today's Cooking!? / Mr. A has an eggplant / Mr. Cat vs. Mosquito
• Episode 10: Currently in self-training / A-kun brings B-kun / Welcome!?
• Episode 11: Let's go for an eye exam! / Ichiro thinks about Jiro / The director also takes an eye exam
• Episode 12: Leave Me Alone... / Taro Drinks Alcohol / Late-night Egg Rice
• Episode 13: The Missing Medicine Box (Part 1) / The Maid... / The Missing Medicine Box (Part 2)

■Detailed evaluation

"Eleking the Animation" is a work that faithfully reproduces the unique worldview of the original work while taking advantage of the expressive power that only anime can offer. Below, we will explain in detail the content of each episode, the appeal of the characters, the background of the production, and more.

■ Episode Contents

Each episode is based on the original four-panel comic, but new scenes and character movements have been added to complement the story when it is made into an anime. For example, episode 1, "The Encounter Was Sudden," depicts a scene that is not depicted in the original, in which the uncle meets the 41-year-old student, helping viewers to gain a deeper understanding of the characters' relationships. Additionally, episode 13, "The Disappearing Medicine Box (Part 1)/The Maid.../The Disappearing Medicine Box (Part 2)," depicts an episode from the original in two parts, heightening the tension of the story.

■Charm of the characters

The greatest appeal of "Eleking the Animation" is its diverse characters. The unique charms of each character, such as the calmness of Oi-san, the versatility of the 41-year-old student, Aka-san's coolness, and Mr. Cat's outlook on life, draw viewers in. The performances of the voice actors also bring out the individuality of the characters, with Yanami Joji's calm tone and Yara Yusaku's humorous performance leaving a strong impression. In particular, Takagi Wataru's dual roles as Aka-san and Mr. Cat skillfully express the differences between the characters, bringing new discoveries to viewers.

■ Background of the production

"Eleking the Animation" was produced by an animation production company called Zuiyo. Director Yoshida Kenjiro worked with CG director Murai Shohei and sound director Urakami Yasuo to pursue the expressiveness that only animation can offer while respecting the worldview of the original work. In particular, the technical skills of CG producers Toda Yasuyuki and Taniguchi Juri shine, recreating the movements of the characters and the depictions of the backgrounds with great realism. Additionally, the sound effects by Shoji Masahiro are an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

■Recommendation details

"Eleking the Animation" is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the original work, but also to those who like anime. It is especially perfect for those who like unique characters and those who want to laugh. Also, for fans of the four-panel manga, the anime adaptation will allow them to enjoy the original work from a new perspective. It is also recommended for those who are interested in the performances of voice actors and CG technology. Please give it a watch.

Related information

As related information for "Eleking the Animation," we will also introduce the original manga and other anime works. The original "Eleking" is serialized in Kodansha's "Morning" and is also available in book form. Other popular works by Ohashi Tsuyoshi include "Salaryman Kintaro" and "Kurosagi." These works are also attractive for their unique characters and humorous stories. In addition, for anime fans, we recommend anime based on four-panel comics such as "Crayon Shin-chan" and "Sazae-san." These works can also be enjoyed with family and friends.

■ Summary

"Eleking the Animation" is a work that is appealing with its unique characters and humorous story. While faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work, the production makes use of the expressive power that only anime can provide, providing viewers with a new way to laugh. The voice actors' performances and CG technology are also highlights, making it a work that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people. Please give it a watch.