The strange world of Mangataro - the appeal of unique worldview and storytelling

"The World's Strangest Man★Gatarō" - An invitation to a fantastical world

"The World's Strangest Man☆Gatarō" was released as an OVA in 2009 and is based on the manga of the same name by Man☆Gatarō. The OVA is made up of two episodes, each of which is made up of several short stories. It features a unique concept and a humorous storyline that will surprise and laughter the viewer.

■Overview of the work

The World's Strangest Man☆Gatarō was released on March 6, 2009 and distributed by Liverpool. It is a 34-minute OVA divided into two episodes. It was written by Man☆Gatarō and directed by Ashina Minoru. It was produced by Panda Factory Co., Ltd. and Studio PuYUKAI, with production support from Jolly Roger and Medicrea. It was produced by the World's Strangest Committee (Shueisha, Liverpool, Panda Factory). Copyright belongs to Man☆Gatarō/Shueisha and 2009 World's Strangest Committee.

■About the original work

The original work, "The World's Strangest Man★Gatarō," is currently being serialized in Shueisha's "Business Jump," and the sixth volume was released on February 19, 2019. It is known as a bizarre omnibus work that expands on the imaginative world of Gatarō. According to the explanation on the Amazon official website, it is described as "a bizarre omnibus work that expands on the imaginative world of Gatarō."

■Cast

The OVA cast is impressive, with different voice actors performing in each episode. Volume 1 features Daisuke Gori, Kenichi Ogata, Kazuya Nakai, Kaori Nazuka, Sora Murashima, Rekka Katagiri, Mickey Miki, Shinpei Ogasawara, Yusuke Futamata, Yuka Maruyama, Miki Yasukawa, Yumi Yamazaki, and Hitomi Aizawa. Volume 2 features Daisuke Gori, Kenichi Ogata, Kazuya Nakai, Kaori Nazuka, Kimiko Saito, Rika Takahashi, and Riki Kasumi. These voice actors bring the unique characters to life.

■ Main staff

The main staff includes the original author Man☆Gatarō, director and scriptwriter Minoru Ashina, producers Panda Factory Co., Ltd. and Studio PuYUKAI, production partners Jolly Roger and Medicrea, and the production company The Strange World (Shueisha, Liverpool, Panda Factory). This team has worked together to faithfully recreate the worldview of the original work while bringing out its appeal as a film.

■Subtitle

The OVA is divided into two volumes, each with a different subtitle. Volume 1, "It Begins," contains "#1/Busu Jack," "#2/A UFO Called Hope," "#3/The Mobile Time Machine," and "#4/Rebellious Period." Volume 2, "Ha-Hi-Ha-Fu-Hoon," contains "#5/Blooming Musician," "#6/Hikikomori," "#7/Video Fool," and "#8/New Year's Card from Shimura." These short stories condense the essence of the original work, and viewers will not tire of it.

■ Story and Rating

The stories in "The World's Strangest Man★Gatarō" are full of unusual ideas and humor. Each episode has a different theme that surprises the audience. For example, "Ugly Jack" is a comedy about a robber who targets a beautiful woman but mistakenly kidnaps an ugly woman. "A UFO Called Hope" is the story of a boy who travels into space on a UFO, depicting dreams and hopes. "Mobile Time Machine" is a science fiction comedy about time travel using a mobile phone. "Rebellious Period" is a humorous work that depicts the relationship between parent and child.

Volume 2, "The Blooming Musician," tells the story of a musician who blossoms through music, depicting the gap between dreams and reality. "Hikikomori" is a moving story about the growth of a reclusive young man. "Video Baka" is a story of a man who becomes so obsessed with videos that he loses sight of reality, and will make you laugh and cry. "New Year's Card from Shimura" depicts the strange events that occur after receiving a New Year's card from a fictional character named Shimura.

These stories bring out the charm of the original to the fullest extent, leaving a strong impression on the audience. In particular, each episode has a different theme and development, so you can enjoy it without getting bored. In addition, the voice actors' performances are excellent, bringing out the individuality of the characters.

■Production details

The production of "The World's Strangest Man★Gatarō" shows a commitment to faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work. In particular, the character designs and background art are carefully crafted to faithfully recreate the atmosphere of the original work. Additionally, the music that matches the theme of each episode is also an important element in evoking the emotions of the viewer.

Director Minoru Ashina has succeeded in capturing the essence of the original work while bringing out its appeal as a visual work. The script is also entertaining, keeping the humor and eccentricity of the original. Thanks to the efforts of the production staff, the film has been completed as a work that can be enjoyed not only by fans of the original work, but also by viewers experiencing the film for the first time.

■ Viewer reactions

"The World's Strangest Man★Gatarō" has been highly praised by fans of the original work. In particular, the visuals that faithfully recreate the worldview of the original work and the performances of the voice actors have been highly praised. Viewers have also praised the interesting themes and developments of each episode. On social media and review sites, comments such as "It's full of laughs and surprises, so you never get bored of watching it" and "The charm of the original work has been faithfully portrayed in the film" can be seen.

On the other hand, some viewers feel that the short format makes the story unsatisfying. However, overall, the original ideas and humorous storylines entertain the viewers, and it has become a work that is loved by many people.

■ Recommendations and related works

"The World's Strangest Man★Gatarō" is recommended for those who enjoy a bizarre story and humor. It is especially a must-see for fans of the original work and those who like short omnibus works. Also, pay attention to the voice actors' performances and music.

Related works include "Crows" and "WORST," both of which are also by Man☆Gatarō. These works are also characterized by their unique ideas and humor, and are definitely worth checking out for fans. We also recommend the "Tales of the Unusual" series, which also has strange stories.

■ Summary

"The World's Strangest Man★Gatarō" is an OVA that is full of fantastic ideas and humorous stories. It faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work while bringing out its appeal as a visual work. Thanks to the efforts of the splendid cast and staff, it has been completed as a work that will entertain the audience. It is a work that I would highly recommend to those who enjoy unusual stories and humor.