The appeal and evaluation of "Masamune Datenikuru": A fusion of history and entertainment

Masamune Dateniruku - A comprehensive review and recommendation of Masamune Dateniruku

■ Public Media

WEB

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ First appearance date

May 2, 2016 - March 31, 2018

■ How it first appeared

YouTube

■Frequencies

15 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 6

■Original Story

Ikoma

■ Director

Yoshinori Asao

■ Production

Animation Production: Gaina, Fukushima Gaina

■Works

©Gaina/Date City, Fukushima Prefecture

■ Story

It is the Sengoku period, and Date Masamune (14) is surrounded by enemies and in a desperate situation. Before his first battle, he prays for victory at Yanagawa Hachiman Shrine, which is associated with the Date clan. Then, a dragon, the clan deity, appears and he obtains the "Meiryugan" and 16 jewels, which are said to open the door to the underworld. However, Masamune is ambushed by a mysterious group of ninjas who are after them. Just when Masamune thinks he is in a desperate situation, the power of the "Meiryugan" is released and a mysterious man suddenly appears. The man overwhelms the enemy with his great strength, but to save Masamune from further danger, he unleashes his "Special Move! Ancestor Fusion". The "Meiryugan" is a sacred treasure that can revive 16 successive heads of the Date clan to the present world, and by combining them with Masamune, he creates overwhelming power. The first man to appear is none other than the legendary founder of the Date clan, Tomomune himself.
The Sengoku youth graffiti "Masamune Datenikle" begins here, depicting the exploits of Masamune and his ancestors as they fight against the enemies attacking them for the future of Date, equipped with the "Meiryugan" under their eyes!

■Explanation

A tale of youth from the Warring States period, woven together by the 17th lord, Date Masamune, and the successive heads of the family who supported him.
The setting is Date City, Fukushima Prefecture, the birthplace of the Date clan.

■Cast

・Date Masamune/Murase Ayumu・Aiki/Bridcutt Sarah Emi・Claude/Black Claude/Hoshi Soichiro・Katakura Kojuro Kagetsuna/Kobayashi Yusuke・Date Masamitsu/Osaka Ryota・Date Kojiro/Yamaguchi Tachibana・First Asamune/Morikawa Toshiyuki・Second Munemura/Ishikawa Kaito・Third Yoshihiro/Umehara Yuichiro・Fourth Masayori/Amatsutsuki・Goth Munetsuna/KENN
・The 6th Motomune/Yoshitsugu Matsuoka・The 7th Gyocho/Daiki Yamashita・The 9th Masamune/Toshiki Masuda・The 10th Ujimune/Hiroyuki Endo・The 12th Shigemune/Yuma Uchida・Sarumen/Kanehira Yamamoto・Torimen/Taiyonagi Tsubasa・Ryujin/Naomi Shindo

■ Main staff

・Planning and general director: Yoshinobu Asao ・Original story: Ikoma ・Director: Satoru Kiyomaru ・Character design: Satoshi Kimura ・Art director: Hiroki Matsumoto ・Color design: Harumi Takaboshi ・Director of photography: Takeshi Kuchiba ・Editor: Daisuke Hiraki ・Sound director: Yukio Nagasaki ・Music: Minako Seki ・Sound production: JTB Next Creation
Animation Production: Gaina, Fukushima Gaina Production: Date City, Fukushima Prefecture, Date City Commerce and Tourism Division, Date City Tourism and Products Association

■ Main Characters

・17th Generation Date Masamune Masamune is the protagonist of this work and the 17th generation head of the Date clan, 15 years old. He cares about the Date clan more than anyone else and wants to protect the land for the people.
During his all-night prayer before his first battle, he obtains the "Meiryugan" from the dragon god, his guardian deity, which allows him to seal the underworld and the present world and bring his ancestors down to earth. However, in order to do so, he becomes embroiled in a deadly battle with a mysterious group of ninjas.
Motto: I will protect Date!!
・Aiki
A princess who married Masamune from the Tamura family at the age of 11.
She is cheerful and energetic, and everyone's idol. She worries about Masamune, who is too kind for a military commander, and although she always says mean things to him, she really does care about him.
Catchphrase: This idiot!!
A visual kei ninja who protects the young Masamune together with Claude Kagetsuna and conducts espionage activities. There is much mystery surrounding his birth, and his career is also unknown. He usually prefers solitude and is quiet and cool, but his inner thoughts are passionate and he will risk his life on the battlefield to fight for Masamune.
Nickname: Haguro's Crow Tengu, Katakura Kojuro Kagetsuna's sister, Kita, was Masamune's wet nurse, and so he has been protecting Masamune as a personal attendant since he was a child. His motto is to be skilled in both the arts and martial arts, and his sword skills are unmatched. He has a bright and cheerful personality and is a mood maker in any situation, but due to his natural airheadedness, he is often ignored by those around him, making him a disappointingly handsome man.
Special skill: Flute (no particular effect)
・First Generation: Date Tomomune Tomomune, the founder of the Date clan, was originally a military commander in Hitachi Province (present-day Ibaraki Prefecture).
In the Battle of Oshu in 1189, Tomomune's four sons served in the army of Minamoto no Yoritomo and played an active role.
In recognition of his achievements, Tomomune was given the "Date County" and moved to this area, changing his surname to "Date," thus beginning the history of the Date clan!

■ Related works

・Reconstruction Support Masamune Datenikle Combined Edition +

■ Theme songs and music

・TM1
・Mikazuki Resize・Lyrics by Mafumafu・Composition by Mafumafu・Arrangement by Mafumafu・Singer by Amatsuki

Evaluation

"Masamune Datenikuru" is an original anime series starring Date Masamune from the Warring States period, which was distributed on YouTube from 2016 to 2018. Although it was a short series of six episodes, its unique setting and charming characters drew viewers in. The series was created with the aim of promoting the local area of ​​Date City, Fukushima Prefecture, and is characterized by a story that skillfully incorporates local history and culture.

The story begins when 14-year-old Date Masamune obtains a sacred treasure called the "Meiryugan" before his first battle. This "Meiryugan" revives 16 previous heads of the Date clan into the present world, and when combined with Masamune, it exerts overwhelming power. The story depicts Masamune's battle with a mysterious group of ninjas over the sacred treasure, and is a highly entertaining work that combines the history of the Warring States period with fantasy elements.

The character settings are also attractive, and the main character, Date Masamune, is particularly impressive for his strong will and struggle to protect the Date clan despite being only 15 years old. Sub-characters such as Aiko, Claude, and Katakura Kojuro Kagetsuna are also unique, and liven up the story as they support Masamune. In particular, Claude's setting as a visual kei ninja makes the story visually enjoyable.

Gaina Fukushima Gaina, the animation production company, is committed to producing anime that is closely tied to the local community, and "Masamune Datenikuru" was produced as part of that effort. The scenery and culture of Date City, Fukushima Prefecture, is depicted in detail, making it a work that local people can be proud of. It will also be a good opportunity for viewers to learn about the charms of Date City.

In terms of music, the theme song "Mikazuki Resize" sung by Amatsuki adds to the atmosphere of the work. With lyrics, composition, and arrangement by Mafumafu, it is a song that will resonate with viewers.

Recommendation

"Masamune Datenikuru" is a unique work that combines the history of the Warring States period with fantasy elements. It is especially recommended for viewers who can empathize with Date Masamune's youth and strong will, and for those who are interested in anime aimed at regional development. Although it is a short series, it is packed with a dense story and attractive characters, making it a work that can be enjoyed even by those who are short on time.

It is also recommended for those who want to know about the scenery and culture of Date City, Fukushima Prefecture. You can feel the charm of the local area through the anime, and it will be useful as a reference for your trip. Also, the theme song of Amatsuki, "Mikazuki Rissai", is worth listening to, so music lovers will also enjoy it.

Overall, I recommend "Masamune Datenikuru" to people who like history and fantasy, people who are interested in regional development, and people who want to enjoy a short series with a deep story. Please give it a watch.