The appeal and reviews of Danchi Tomoo: An anime that depicts the reality of modern society

The appeal and reputation of Danchi Tomoo

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 6, 2013 - February 1, 2014
April 6, 2013 - Month, Day, 2013 Every Saturday from 9:30
Every Saturday from 17:30, Danchi Tomoyo selection broadcast

■Broadcasting station

NHK General TV

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 39

■Original Story

Oda Door

■ Director

Ayumu Watanabe

■ Production

Animation Production: Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment

■Works

©Oda Tobira, Shogakukan/NHK, NEP, ShoPro

■ Story

Tomoo Kinoshita is a fourth-grader who lives with his mother, who works part-time, and his elder sister, who is a junior high school student, in Building 29 of a mammoth housing complex. His beloved father is currently working away from home.
He comes from a middle-class family and is fairly popular in class. He's not good at sports or studying, but he's passionate about the things he enjoys and lives his life to the fullest.
The story is full of humor as it depicts the everyday antics of the laid-back Tomoo, along with his eccentric classmates and the quirky residents of his apartment complex.
A family animation set in a housing complex, full of laughs and tears!

■Explanation

Currently serialized in Big Comic Spirits. Original story by Tobira Oda

■Cast

・Tomo (Kinoshita Tomoo) / Sanpei Yuuko・Mother (Kinoshita Tetsuko) / Sakamoto Chinatsu・Father (Kinoshita Tetsuo) / Tone Kentaro・Big sister (Kinoshita Kimiko) / Makino Yui・Yoshimoto (Yoshimoto Masato) / Tamura Rikushin・Yoshinobu (Yoshida Yoshinobu) / Takeda Hana・Mitsuo (Kikugawa Mitsuo) / Nabatame Hitomi・Keriko (Kamakura Keiko) / Fujimura Ayumi・Yoriko (Hayama Yoriko) / Hitosugi Yoshisumi・Shimada-san / Naga Katsumi・Kashino-san / Chiba Shigeru・Aoto Hidemi / Uetake Kana

■ Main staff

・Original work / Tobira Oda・Director / Ayumu Watanabe・Director / Kyohei Ishiguro・Series composition & script / Takashi Yamada・Script / Mika Abe, Shigenori Tanabe, Rikei Tsuchiya・Character design / Mitsuru Kuwabata・CG director / Masumi Sato, Asuka Abe・Art director / Kenichi Tajiri・Art set director / Tsutomu Momonai・Color design / Tomoko Kohioki・Director of photography / Koichi Gonda・Sound director / Toshiki Kameyama・Music / Tomoki Hasegawa・Animation producer / Tetsuo Uchida・Production supervisors / Kimiko Fukuda, Keisuke Dobashi, Yuki Hasegawa

■ Main Characters

・Tomo (Tomo Kinoshita)
The protagonist of "Danchi Tomoo" is a fourth-grade boy who lives in Edashima Danchi. He's average at sports, studying, and popularity, but he puts all his effort into playing and doing silly things.
Although he can be a bit rough around the edges, he has a strong sense of responsibility and a generous personality. He loves his father, Tetsuo, who is working away from home, and the popular comic "Colonel Sports."
・Mother (Tetsuko Kinoshita)
Tomoo's mother is a housewife who does housework and works part-time. She is a powerful mother who supports the Kinoshita family while the father is away on a business trip. She worries about becoming a typical aunt.
・Father (Tetsuo Kinoshita)
Tomoo's father is a businessman who is working away from home. He can only see his family once every few months, but he is a kind and caring father. He knows everything about Tomoo. But for some reason, he is never able to see his face.
・ Older sister (Kinoshi Kimiko)
Tomoo's older sister, the eldest daughter of the Kinoshita family. A second-year junior high school student. A reliable girl who is also good at studying. She is busy every day taking care of Tomoo. In junior high school, she is a member of the bio club.
・Yoshimoto (Masato Yoshimoto)
Tomoo's best friend. A bit of a mature character, he is Tomoo's good straight man. An honor student who is good at both studies and sports. He is good friends with Tomoo, but they often fight. He is sometimes called "Erohon".
・Yoshinobu (Yoshinobu Yoshida)
Tomoo's best friend. He has a gentle personality and often gets caught up in Tomoo's recklessness. He is a kind boy who cares about his friends. His special skill is eating a lot. He has a habit of putting food in his pocket even if it is half-eaten.
・Mitsuo (Mitsuo Kikugawa)
An honor student whose trademark is glasses. She likes reading and stargazing, and is a diligent person who takes notes on everything. She is best friends with Nezu, who is in the next class. She has some fancy hobbies.
・Keriko (Keiko Kamakura)
A tomboyish girl. She is famous for her strong legs. She is good at kicking and her nickname is "Keriko". Although she generally makes fun of boys, she actually gets along well with Tomoo. She loves Aoto-san, a high school girl who lives in the housing complex.
・Yoriko (Yoriko Hayama)
A girl with a kind personality. She is good friends with Keriko and often hangs out with her. She is good at drawing, has excellent grades, and is a reliable girl. She has a crush on Konno, the guy from the convenience store.
Shimada-san
A resident of Building 29. A member of the neighborhood association, he has a serious personality. He is always cleaning and doing chores around the complex, and he always looks grumpy. The children are scared of him, and the housewives in the complex dislike him. He is actually a kind person.
Toshizo Kashino, 89 years old. He lives in Building 5. He wakes up at 4:30 every morning, starts his walk at 5, visits the shrine, and buys breakfast at a convenience store. He follows the same rhythm every day.
・Aoto Hidemi
A high school sophomore living in Building 10. He studies hard but gets bad grades. He plays yo-yos to relax and becomes an expert at them.
・Colonel Sports A popular hero manga serialized in the manga magazine "Shonen Spitz" that Tomoo and his friends love to read. Apparently it has also been made into a TV anime. A cyborg who has undergone body modification, he is being pursued by a secret organization. He is accompanied by a bear and a crow.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1/Tomo makes a schedule for spring break/Tomo looks for extracurricular activities for spring break (2013/04/06)
・Episode 2 / Me and Pipipi in the housing complex / The housing complex is better than flowers, Tomoo (2013/04/13)
・Episode 3: Tomoo volunteers to stay home alone / Is friendship a beautiful thing? (2013/04/20)
Episode 4: Tomoo thinks of his father during the long weekend / Tomoo climbs that hill (2013/04/27)
・Episode 5: Tomoo plans to build a kingdom / Experience counts more than a turtle's shell, Tomoo (2013/05/11)
・Episode 6: Don't answer Tomoo's sleep talking / Tomoo gets a room in the housing complex (2013/05/18)
・Episode 7/Tomo is manipulated by the game of telephone/Kaito and Tomoo believe in miracles(2013/05/25)
・Episode 8 / Aim for a high score, Tomoo / A glimpse into the past, Tomoo (2013/06/01)
・Episode 9 / It's okay to fool people like that, Tomoo / Can Cupid really do it? Tomoo (2013/06/08)
・Episode 10 / Is it okay to not plan things properly? / Tomoo is a high school girl's carrier pigeon (2013/06/15)
・Episode 11 / What would make you happy? / Your neighbor is your rival, Tomoo (2013/06/22)
・Episode 12/I'll ​​be the best vehicle, Tomoo/Don't underestimate morality, Tomoo (2013/06/29)
・Episode 13 / It's Hiraga Gennai, Tomoo / Mom is also sensitive, Tomoo (2013/07/06)
・Episode 14 / Singing in the Rain is Tiresome, Tomoo / Color the Answer Sheet Black, Tomoo (2013/07/13)
・Episode 15/Wipe the blackboard, Tomoo/It's a Hitchcock summer, Tomoo (2013/07/20)
・Episode 16/Tomo-o is going to summon his father/See you in Yurakucho, Tomoo (2013/07/27)
・Episode 17 / Tomoo, the one who mediates between the family / There's something in the picture, Tomoo (2013/08/03)
・Episode 18 / You should go with the flow with the times, Tomoo / How is your childhood friend doing, Tomoo (2013/08/24)
・Episode 19: Tomoo attempts a summer record / Tomoo can fly (2013/08/31)
・Episode 20/The housing complex is a lawless place, Tomoo/Tomo is growing up well (2013/09/07)
・Episode 21: Get Out of the Labyrinth, Tomoo / Suzu Shige Daro Tomoo (2013/09/14)
・Episode 22: I Found the Secret of the World, Tomoo / I'm Not Number One or the Only One, Tomoo (2013/09/21)
・Episode 23 / The system is also important, Tomoo / Bibibi... Tomoo (2013/09/28)
・Episode 24: Grandma is a dead end, Tomoo / It's hard to interact with people, Tomoo (2013/10/05)
・Episode 25 / Tomoo protects the honor of Class 3 / There's sure to be a 6 and a 7 too, Tomoo (2013/10/12)
・Episode 26: Quiz, Buzzer Game Tomoo / I want to run with my dad Tomoo (2013/10/19)
・Episode 27: Tomoo has too much free time / Tomoo eats a lot (2013/10/26)
・Episode 28: Say My Name, Tomoo / Bunt for a Home Run, Tomoo (2013/11/02)
・Episode 29 / Tomoo has acquired a skill and is at peace / I want to see my sister's life too Tomoo (2013/11/09)
・Episode 30/Tomo-o is more important than being hungry/Are you trying to make me die of laughter? (2013/11/16)
・Episode 31 / Tomoo buys safety for free / Boys, girls and toilets Tomoo (2013/11/23)
・Episode 32: Tomoo lives to protect and be protected / Tomoo wants to create a premium feel (2013/11/30)
・Episode 33: Don't spread it to me, Tomoo / What's the cause of the fight, Tomoo? (2013/12/07)
・Episode 34 / A Wish Upon a Star, Tomoo / Your Current Goal is Important, Tomoo (2013/12/14)
・Episode 35: Tomoo and Santa have a psychological battle / What do you see there? (2013/12/21)
・Episode 36: Even sleeping through the New Year is a happy time, Tomoo / Be someone else's kid, Tomoo (2014/01/11)
・Episode 37 / Will the victory tighten the straps of the helmet? / Tomoo's reunion with the unknown (2014/01/18)
・Episode 38/Club activities are not nap time, Tomoo/Cats move, so be careful, Tomoo (2014/01/25)
・Episode 39: Tomoo is the center of attention / Tomoo goes around (2014/02/01)

■ Theme songs and music

OP
・Period: 1 to 39
・Danchi DAN! RUN!
・Lyrics／
・Composition:
・Arrangement:
・Song: Dohatsuten feat. Kiyosaku (MONGOL800)

ED1
・Period: 1~
・Start Line Lyrics／
・Composition:
・Arrangement:
・Song: Sonar Pocket

ED2
·period/
・Super Miler ・Lyrics／
・Composition:
・Arrangement:
・Song: LIFriends

The appeal and reputation of Danchi Tomoo

"Danchi Tomoo" is a 39-episode TV anime series that aired on NHK General TV from 2013 to 2014. It is based on a manga by Oda Tobira that is currently being serialized in Big Comic Spirits, directed by Watanabe Ayumu, and animated by Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment. This family anime is set in a housing complex and depicts the warmth of everyday life with a mix of laughter and tears.

Story and Characters

The protagonist, Kinoshita Tomoo, is a fourth-grade boy who lives with his mother and older sister in Building 29 of Edashima Housing Complex. His father is away on a business trip, so he can only see his family once every few months. Tomoo is not good at sports or studying, but he is a lively boy who puts all his effort into anything fun. His laid-back daily life is depicted with plenty of humor, as he interacts with his unique classmates and fellow residents of the complex.

Tomoo's family are also fascinating characters. His mother, Tetsuko, is a powerful mother who works part-time while doing the housework, supporting the Kinoshita family in the absence of their father. His older sister, Kimiko, is a second-year junior high school student who is good at studying and a reliable girl, but she is busy taking care of Tomoo every day. Tomoo's father, Tetsuo, is a kind father who cares for his family and understands Tomoo very well, but for some reason he is never seen.

Tomoo's friends are also unique. Masato Yoshimoto is Tomoo's straight man, and is an honor student who is good at both studying and sports. Yoshinobu Yoshida has a gentle personality and is often caught up in Tomoo's reckless behavior. Mitsuo Kikukawa is an honor student whose trademark is glasses, and he likes reading and stargazing. Keiko Kamakura is a tomboyish girl with strong legs and a knack for kicking. Yoriko Hayama is a kind-hearted girl who is good at drawing and has excellent grades.

The residents of the housing complex are also charming. Shimada-san is a member of the housing complex residents' association and has a serious personality, but he is actually a kind person. Kashino Toshizo (Kashino-san) is an 89-year-old elderly person who lives the same rhythm every day. Aoto Hidemi is a second-year high school student who has become an expert at yo-yos while playing them to take a break from studying.

Animation production and direction

The anime for "Danchi Tomoo" is produced by Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment, with director Ayumu Watanabe and character designer Mitsuru Kuwabata. The series is written and scripted by Takashi Yamada, with Mika Abe, Shigenori Tanabe, and Rikei Tsuchiya also contributing to the script. Art direction is Kenichi Tajiri, color design is Tomoko Kohioki, director of photography is Koichi Gonda, sound director is Toshiki Kameyama, and music is by Tomoki Hasegawa.

The anime's direction places emphasis on depicting Tomoo's daily life in a humorous way. Tomoo's easy-going behavior and the interactions between the unique characters provide laughs for the audience. In addition, by setting the story in a housing complex community, it depicts the connections between family, friends, and neighbors, creating a heartwarming story.

Theme song and music

The opening theme is "Danchi de DAN! RUN!", sung by Dohatsuten feat. Kiyosaku (MONGOL800). This up-tempo song symbolizes Tomoo's energetic daily life, and serves to draw the viewer into the world of the anime. The ending themes are "Start Line" (Sonar Pocket) and "Super Miler" (LIFriends). These songs also match the atmosphere of the anime, and are sure to stay in the viewers' minds.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Danchi Tomoo" is an appealing work that depicts the small everyday events in a humorous way, while also telling a story that values ​​the bonds between family and friends. Tomoo's easy-going behavior and the interactions between the unique characters will bring laughter and emotion to the audience. In addition, by setting the story in a housing complex community, you can feel the connections and warmth between the neighbors.

This work is recommended as a family anime that the whole family can enjoy. In particular, children from elementary school to junior high school will be able to sympathize with the main character Tomoo and his friends. Adults can also empathize with the relationships between Tomoo's family and the residents of the housing complex and enjoy the heartwarming story.

Furthermore, "Danchi Tomoo" has been praised for its storytelling, which uses small everyday events to draw out larger themes. Various themes such as Tomoo's growth, family ties, friendship, and neighborhood relationships are skillfully depicted, deeply moving viewers.

The anime has also been highly praised, with character design, art, music, and more all working together to create a humorous portrayal of Tomoo's daily life. Character designer Mitsuru Kuwabata's work in particular has been particularly successful in bringing out the personalities of Tomoo and his friends, while music composer Tomoki Hasegawa's work also contributes to the anime's atmosphere.

"Danchi Tomoo" is a family anime that will make you laugh, cry, and enjoy a heartwarming story. By watching it with your family, you will be able to reaffirm the importance of family ties and friendship through Tomoo's daily life. Please watch this work and enjoy Tomoo's energetic daily life.