Ganbare! Lulu Lolo - A thorough analysis of the touching story and the charms of the characters

Ganbare! Lulu Lolo - A heartwarming anime about children's growth

■Overview of the work

"Ganbare! Lulu and Lolo" is a 26-episode anime series that aired on NHK Educational Television in 2013. It is based on the picture book series "The Bear School" written by Aihara Hiroyuki and illustrated by Adachi Nami, and is a heartwarming story that depicts the daily lives of children. The main characters are twin bear girls, Lulu and Lolo. Set in a rural town, the story depicts the girls taking on new jobs every day and growing as they go.

■Broadcast information

The series aired on NHK Educational TV every Thursday from January 17, 2013 to July 11, 2013. Although each episode was only five minutes long, the content was easy for children to understand.

■ Production staff

The film is directed by Tetsuro Kodama, written by Hiroyuki Aihara and Mari Okada, and animated by Fanworks. It is produced and written by the Lulu Lolo Project. The film faithfully reproduces the original picture book while incorporating movements and expressions unique to anime.

■ Main characters

・Lulu (voiced by Shimizu Shion): An orange bear girl. She has a lively and cheerful personality and takes an active approach to everything she does.
・Roro (voice: Chikasada Tsukino): A yellow bear girl. In contrast to Lulu, she has a slightly quiet personality, but the two sisters get along well and take on the challenge of their jobs.
・Maggie (voice: Kojima Ichika): A girl who lives in the neighborhood and dreams of becoming a princess.
・Grandma (voiced by Shoko Tsuda): Lulu and Rolo's kind grandmother. She bakes delicious cookies.
・Mother (voiced by Noriko Hidaka): A reliable mother. She goes out for work during the day.
・Dad (voiced by Takuma Suzuki): A laid-back dad. Like Mom, he goes out for work during the day.
・Lumberjack Uncle (voice: Shinpachi Tsuji): A friend of the grandmother who lives in the forest, he teaches Lulu and Rolo various things.

■ Story and episodes

"Go for it! Lulu and Lolo" depicts Lulu and Lolo taking on a new task each time. For example, doing laundry, shopping, taking care of a baby, and other small tasks for adults are big missions for children. They take on the challenge with a "Heigh ho!" and although they sometimes fail, they regain their energy with cookies from their kind grandma and somehow manage to complete the task. They are then shown taking a comfortable nap with a sense of accomplishment.

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: The Bubble Ghost
• Episode 2: Babies are hard!
• Episode 3: Hey, take a look
• Episode 4: An Errand to the Keito Shop
• Episode 5: Mommy's sick!
• Episode 6: A Wonderful Princess
• Episode 7: Party Feast
• Episode 8: Ring Ring Phone
• Episode 9: I Love You
• Episode 10: Half and Half
• Episode 11: Not Sleepy, Not Sleepy
• Episode 12: The Scary Old Man
• Episode 13: Tricycle Race
• Episode 14: Laundry is great
• Episode 15: I Hate My Dad!
• Episode 16: Protect the Flower!
• Episode 17: Fun Fishing
• Episode 18: The Twin Carrots
• Episode 19: A Letter to the King
• Episode 20: My Favorite One Piece
• Episode 21: In a Dream
• Episode 22: Lost Lulu and Lolo
• Episode 23: Grandma's Errand
• Episode 24: Baby Kotori
• Episode 25: I Remember
• Episode 26: The Forest Fairy

■The appeal of the work

The greatest appeal of "Ganbare! Lulu and Lolo" is the depiction of everyday events from the children's perspective. Doing laundry, shopping, taking care of a baby, and other tasks are big challenges for the children, and they sometimes fail and cry, but the story shows them overcoming these challenges and growing as adults. The presence of a kind grandmother and the depiction of family ties are also heartwarming elements.

The animation is also carefully crafted to faithfully reproduce the atmosphere of the original picture book, with a focus on movement and facial expressions. In particular, the changes in Lulu and Lolo's facial expressions and the way they work are depicted realistically, making it enjoyable for adults as well as children.

■ Evaluations and Awards

"Ganbare! Lulu and Lolo" has been highly praised as an anime for children. In particular, the storyline depicting the growth of children and the episodes depicting family ties were well received by many viewers. In addition, the original picture book was a huge bestseller, so it has also been highly praised by existing fans.

Specific awards received include the Children's Program Award from NHK Educational Television in 2013. This award is given to works that are recognized for their high educational value from a children's perspective, and "Ganbare! Lulu Lolo" was highly praised in this respect.

■ Responses from viewers

The response from viewers has been very positive, with many children saying, "I love Lulu and Rolo!" Additionally, many parents have said, "I can see my children growing up watching this," and the show has been praised as an anime that the whole family can enjoy.

Additionally, comments such as "Lulu and Lolo's energetic appearance gives me energy" and "Grandma's cookies look so delicious I want to eat them myself" can be seen on social media, showing that this is a show that has a close relationship with its viewers.

■ Related Products

The following related products are available for sale:

• Picture books: Many picture books based on the original "The Bears' School" series are available.
• DVD: All 26 episodes are available on DVD so kids can watch them whenever they want.
• Character Goods: There is a wide selection of character goods available, including Lulu and Rolo stuffed toys and cookie recipe books.

■ Recommendation and Summary

"Ganbare! Lulu and Lolo" is a heartwarming anime that depicts the growth of children. The episodes that depict the energetic Lulu and Lolo and the family ties are enjoyable for both children and adults. In particular, the children's attempts to tackle small everyday challenges and their growth despite failures are deeply moving to viewers.

This work is recommended not only as an anime for children, but also as a work that the whole family can enjoy. Please enjoy the adventures of Lulu and Lolo together.