Hanakappa's appeal and reviews: An anime that can be enjoyed by both children and adults

Hanakappa - Adventure and friendship in the lush Yamabiko village

Hanakappa is an anime series that aired on NHK Educational TV in 2010 and is based on a picture book by Tadashi Akiyama. Set in the lush village of Yamabiko, the series follows the fun adventures and friendships of a kappa family with flowers on their heads and the characters around them. It aired from March 29 to December 10, 2010, with a total of 75 episodes. Animation was handled by Group Tac, XEBEC, and Signal.MD/OLM, and production was handled by Hanakappa Project (KADOKAWA, Group Tac, XEBEC, OLM, SIGNAL.MD, Toho, GAGA).

story

Each member of the kappa family living in Yamabiko Village has a different flower on their head. Grandpa has a lotus, Grandma has a baby's breath, Dad has a sunflower, Mom has a dandelion, and the main character, Hanakappa, has a "temporary flower." The kappas all have a variety of flowers that bloom before they become adults, but among them, Kurobaya Chobei and his gang appear in Yamabiko Village, plotting various evil schemes to obtain a flower that rejuvenates them called a "wakaran." Hanakappa and his friends struggle to make new flowers bloom every day, thwarting Chobei and his gang's evil schemes and protecting the peace of the village.

character

Hanakappa is the main character of this story, a lively young kappa. He lives with his family in Kappa Pond and has a "temporary flower" on his head. He loves playing with his friends and enjoys new adventures every day. His family includes his father Himagoro, who grows sunflowers, his mother Popporine, who grows dandelions, his grandfather Hasujiro, who grows lotus flowers, and his grandmother Kasumibaa, who grows gypsophila flowers.

The Kurobaya Chobei Gang is a group centered around Chobei, who lives outside Yamabiko Village. Chobei is a rich collector who wants to get his hands on anything, but recently he has been concerned about his wrinkles and wants to look younger. His servant Garizoo and his grandson Ageru-chan plot various evil schemes to get Wakaran, but they always fail.

Hanakappa's friends include Momokappa-chan, Sugiru-kun, Tereterebouzu, Carabacho, Kokeyan, Fujiyama, Tsunenari, Beya-chan, and Mirorin. Each of them has their own unique character, and they enjoy various adventures with Hanakappa.

Production Staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of "Hanakappa." The original story and character concept was by Akiyama Tadashi, the director was Nonaka Kazumi, the series composition was Yasumi Tetsuo, the character design was Hayashi Kazuya, the concept design was Takemura Natsuki, the prop design was Ishikawa Taketomo, the art director was Matsumiya Yumi, the cinematographers were Miyazaki Tatsuya, Kikuchi Tatsuya, and Takahashi Fumika, the sound directors were Fujiyama Fusanobu and Tateishi Yayoi, the color settings were Arakaki Junko and Ban Natsuyo, the editors were Furukawa Masashi, Niimi Motoki, and Murakami Yoshinori, the music was Kasamatsu Miki, the sound production was by Jinnan Studio, and the animation production was by Group. The project is produced by Group TAC, XEBEC, and Signal.MD/OLM, with animation producer Koyama Makoto, producers Kama Hideki, Shioiri Daisuke, Yamanaka Kazutaka, Nishizawa Masatomo, Kane Masahiro, Minagawa Yuzuru, and Terakawa Hidekazu, and associate producers Murata Yuichi, Furusawa Yoshihiro, Takahashi Akito, Chino Takatoshi, Yamada Shinya, Naito Sumie, Sugita Midori, and Tsuda Naoko, and produced by Hanakappa Project (KADOKAWA, Group TAC, XEBEC, OLM, SIGNAL.MD, Toho, and GAGA).

Broadcast information

"Hana Kappa" was broadcast on NHK Educational TV from March 29 to December 10, 2010, every Monday to Friday from 7:15 to 7:25. There were 75 episodes in total, each consisting of a short 10-minute episode.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Colorful" with lyrics by akko, music by Yuya Matsuura, arrangement by Masato Minagawa, and singing by My Little Lover. The ending theme is "Onnaji Kimochi" with lyrics by Chihiro Kurosu, music by Itsuki Fujisue, arrangement by Hiroshi Matsui, and singing by Tokyo Girls' Style. These songs are important elements that liven up the atmosphere of the anime.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Hana Kappa" was a very popular children's anime. Set in the lush Yamabiko Village, the story of the kappas' fun adventures and friendship gave children hope and dreams. In addition, each character had a rich personality, and many of them were loved by viewers. Children especially enjoyed Hanakappa's energetic appearance and the scenes in which he thwarts the evil schemes of Kurobaya Chobei and his gang.

The animation quality was high, and the lush greenery and cute kappa designs were visually appealing. The music also matched the atmosphere of the anime, drawing viewers in. Overall, "Hana Kappa" can be said to be a very successful children's anime.

Related Titles

"Hanakappa" has run from season 2 to season 11, and is still airing as of April 2020. In addition, various related works have been produced, such as the special version "Hanakappa Special: Our Great Adventure," the anthology versions "Hanakappa Selection," "Hanakappa Mini Selection," and "Hanakappa Mini," and the movie version "Hanakappa the Movie: Bloom! Pop-a-Pocket! Great Adventure in Butterfly Country." These works also further expand the world of Hanakappa and provide entertainment for viewers.

Recommendation

"Hana Kappa" is an anime that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. It is especially recommended for those who love nature and those who like stories with themes of friendship and adventure. It is also perfect for those who want to enjoy the cute designs of the kappas and the lush scenery of Yamabiko Village. Please give it a watch.

Conclusion

"Hana Kappa" is an anime set in the lush Yamabiko Village that depicts the fun adventures and friendship of kappas. It is a very popular children's anime that has given viewers dreams and hope. The animation and music are also of high quality, making it a very successful work overall. Many related works have been produced, allowing you to enjoy the world of Hanakappa even more. Please give it a watch.