The appeal and reviews of "Ijiijikun": A moving story and deep characters

"Ijiijikun": A short animation about a troubled frog and a positive monkey

overview

"Ijiijikun" is a short anime series that was broadcast on BS Fuji's "Be Ponkikki" from July 21 to August 15, 2008. It consists of 20 episodes, each lasting just one minute, and tells the story of a troubled frog called "Ijiijikun" and a positive monkey called "Ukiukikun." This anime is an original work by Yukiko Mishima, directed by Yukio Kuwajima, and produced by Fuji TV KIDS.

Broadcast information

"Ijiijikun" was broadcast on BS Fuji and Fuji TV KIDS. The broadcast period was from July 21 to August 15, 2008, every Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 8:00. Specifically, episodes 1 to 20 were broadcast on BS Fuji's "Be Ponkikki".

story

"Grandpa" is a short anime that depicts the daily lives of a troubled frog named "Grandpa" and a positive monkey named "Ukiuki". Grandpa is a character who tends to worry about many things and gets upset over even the smallest of things. Meanwhile, Ukiuki is always cheerful and positive, and struggles to solve Grandpa's problems. Through the interactions between the two characters, viewers can learn about the difficulty of having worries and the importance of living a positive life.

character

The main characters of "Ijiijikun" are as follows.

• Ijiiji-kun : A frog who is prone to worries. Voiced by Shota Shunputei. He worries about even the smallest things, but tries to overcome his worries with the help of Ukiuki-kun.
• Ukiuki-kun : A positive monkey. Voiced by Mayumi Sato. Always cheerful, he tries his best to solve Grandpa-kun's problems.
• Grandpa Choir : A choir that expresses Grandpa's worries through song. Voiced by Goko Nishikawa.
• Newscaster : The newscaster. Voiced by Takashi Matsuo.
• Teacher : The teacher who gives advice to Ijiiji-kun and Ukiuki-kun. Voiced by Yasuteru Iwamoto.

staff

The following staff members were involved in the production of "Ijiijikun".

• Original idea, planning, direction : Yukiko Mishima
• Screenplay : Yukiko Mishima, Tadanari Suda
• Animation director, character design : Yukio Kuwajima
• Produced by : Fuji Television KIDS

Evaluation and Impressions

"Ijiijikun" is a work that succeeds in conveying a profound message in a short time. Through the contrast between a troubled character and a positive character, viewers are given an opportunity to face their own worries and anxieties. Although each episode is only one minute long, the story is well-drawn and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to adults.

The voice actors' performances are particularly superb, realistically portraying Grandpa's worries while bringing out the cheerfulness of Ukiuki-kun. Shunputei Shota as Grandpa and Sato Mayumi as Ukiuki-kun bring out the best in their characters. Nishikawa Goko's Grandpa Choir and Matsuo Takashi as the newscaster are also impressive, helping to liven up the atmosphere of the entire series.

Recommended points

I recommend "Ijiijikun" for the following reasons:

• A deep message in a short time : Each episode is only one minute long, but it conveys the importance of facing your worries and anxieties. It is a content that even busy modern people can easily watch.
• Appealing characters : The contrast between Ijiiji-kun and Ukiuki-kun is appealing, and viewers can easily project themselves into the characters. The voice actors' performances are also excellent, bringing out the individuality of the characters.
• Enjoyable for both children and adults : The story is well-drawn and can be enjoyed by both children and adults. It's also perfect for watching with the whole family.

Related information

The following links provide related information about "Ijiijikun."

• Fuji TV KIDS official website
• BS Fuji official website
• Yukio Kuwajima Official Website (LOVEMONKEY)

summary

"Ijiijikun" is a short animation about a troubled frog and a always positive monkey. It succeeds in conveying a profound message in a short time, and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The characters are charming and the voice actors' performances are wonderful, so please give it a watch.