A thorough analysis of the moving and moral lessons of the war fairy tale "Kiku-chan and the Wolf"

War fairy tale Kikuchan and the wolf - Sensou Douwa Kikuchanto Ookami

■ Public Media

TV Special

■ Original Media

Picture books

■ Broadcast period

August 15, 2008 - January 1, 0000

TV Asahi August 15, 2008 (1 episode) Friday 10:05-11:00

Yamagata Television August 15, 2008 (1st time) Friday 10:00-10:55

Niigata TV 21 August 30, 2008 (1st time) Saturday 6:00-6:55

Nagano Asahi Broadcasting August 18, 2008 (1st episode) Monday 10:30-11:25

Me-Tele August 15, 2008 (1 episode) Friday 10:05-11:00

Asahi Broadcasting August 15, 2008 (1 episode) Friday 10:05-11:00 *The broadcast date and time may change due to the postponement of high school baseball games.

Setonaikai Broadcasting August 22, 2008 (1st time) Friday 10:35-11:30

Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting August 14, 2008 (1st episode) Thursday 10:45-11:40

Oita Asahi Broadcasting August 22, 2008 (1st episode) Friday 10:45-11:40

Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting August 13, 2008 (1st episode) Wednesday 9:55-10:50

■Broadcasting station

TV Asahi Network

■Frequencies

60 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Akiyuki Nosaka

■ Director

・General Director: Tetsuo Yasumi

・Director: Hirai Minetaro

■ Production

Produced by TV Asahi and Shin-Ei Animation

■Works

©K2/Shinei

War fairy tale Kikuchan and the wolf - Sensou Douwa Kikuchanto Okami Review

The War Fairy Tale Kiku-chan and the Wolf is a TV special broadcast on the TV Asahi network in 2008. It is a moving story based on the original work by Akiyuki Nosaka. Set in Manchuria in 1945, the work depicts the misery of war and the kindness of humans. Below is a detailed review and recommendation of the work.

Depth of story

The story of this work begins with an encounter between an old wolf living in Manchuria and a young girl named Kiku, who was separated from her family during the war. At first, the wolf intends to eat Kiku, but is touched by her purity and kindness and is moved by her. Kiku mistakes the wolf for her own dog and becomes affectionate towards him, which is very memorable. This scene symbolizes that the pure heart of humans remains even in the devastation of war.

Through Kiku-chan's story, the effects of war are shown to have torn families apart, causing suffering to many people. The scene in which Kiku-chan's father is taken to war and she is separated from her mother deeply moves the viewer. Furthermore, the setting in which Kiku-chan is ill shows not only the direct damage of war, but also its indirect effects.

The scene where the wolf carries Kiku-chan on its back and heads to a place where the Japanese are likely to go is very moving. The dead bodies of Japanese people that they see along the way remind us of the cruelty of war. As Kiku-chan's condition worsens, the actions taken by the wolf deeply move the viewer. While depicting the horrors of war, this story also conveys the bond between humans and animals, and a sense of hope.

Character Appeal

Kiku-chan is the central character of this work, and her purity and strength support the story. Ayako Kawasumi's voice acting expresses Kiku-chan's emotions realistically, drawing the audience in. Masako Nozawa's voice, who plays the wolf, also skillfully expresses the anguish and kindness of the old wolf.

The other characters also play their own roles, especially Sumi Shimamoto's performance as Kiku-chan's mother, which conveys a deep sense of a mother's suffering and love. Each character's background and emotions are carefully drawn, allowing the viewer to empathize with their fates and be drawn into the story.

Visuals and Music

The visuals of this work realistically depict the desolate landscape of Manchuria. Thanks to the skill of the character designer and animation director, the characters' expressions and movements are expressed in detail, enhancing the viewers' emotions. In addition, the art directors Minoru Nishida and Mariko Tazaki add to the beauty and realism of the backgrounds.

Music is also an important element in enhancing the appeal of this work. Masae Sagara's music enhances the atmosphere of the story and stirs the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the theme song "Tabishuu" and the insert song "Hamabe no Uta" are sung by Reina Takahashi's beautiful voice, which further deepens the moving feeling of the story.

Credit to the director and staff

The general director, Tetsuo Yasumi, and the director, Minetaro Hirai, have a deep understanding of the theme of this work and have succeeded in conveying it to the audience. The script is also very carefully written, and the story unfolds naturally, drawing the audience in. In addition, the cooperation of the production companies, TV Asahi and Shinei Animation, has made it possible to produce high-quality animation.

Recommendation

"Kiku-chan and the Wolf" is a moving story that depicts the misery of war and the kindness of humans. It is especially recommended for those who want to learn about the history of war and those who want to feel the bond between humans and animals. This work will also appeal to those who want to enjoy beautiful images and music.

This work is a one-episode TV special that depicts a deep theme in a short 60-minute time. Through the story of Kiku-chan and the wolf, viewers will be able to feel the horror of war and the strength of humanity. Please watch this moving work and let its message be engraved in your heart.

Furthermore, to get a deeper understanding of this work, we recommend reading the original work "War Children's Stories" by Akiyuki Nosaka, which contains many more episodes and gives a glimpse into the various aspects of the war. You can also learn more about the history of Manchuria and the impact of the war by watching related history books and documentaries.

The war fairy tale Kiku-chan and the Wolf is a work that will deeply move and teach viewers, and is one that I would recommend to many people.