The appeal and reviews of "Flying Babies Petit": An anime experience not to be missed

Flying Babies Petit - The charm and full story of this hula exercise comedy

■Overview of the work

"Flying Babies Petit" is a TV anime series that aired on TV Tokyo and AT-X from January 8 to March 25, 2020. Although it was a short 12-episode series of just 5 minutes each, it made a big impact on viewers. This anime is an original story by Yoshinobu Asao. It was also directed by Yoshinobu Asao, and animation was produced by Fukushima Gaina. It aired every week from 7:30 a.m. as part of "Kinder TV."

■ Story

"Flying Babies Petit" tells the story of girls from a hot spring town who form a hula dance club to enliven the town. With the main character Suzu at the center, the story follows the girls as they grow through hula dancing and contribute to revitalizing the town. The anime is based on the concept of a "relaxed and fun hula exercise comedy," and viewers can enjoy the hula lessons together. Each episode introduces the basic movements and steps of hula dancing while delving deeper into the personalities and relationships of the characters.

■Character Introduction

Tin

Suzu, a first-year junior high school student, starts a hula dance club with her childhood friend Fumi, hoping to enliven Yumoto Onsen. She has a laid-back personality and prefers relaxing in a foot bath after school rather than practicing. Suzu's character plays an important role in making viewers feel relaxed and conveying the joy of hula dancing.

Shiina

Shiina, who is in charge of accounting for the student council at the same junior high school as Suzu and her friends, helps start up the hula club, but she is also a reliable person who never forgets to present the terms of exchange. Although she gives off a cool impression, she also has a surprising side to her: she's a cat girl. Shiina's character is indispensable as the team's leader.

Mona

Mona, a transfer student who comes to Suzu's school, is half Japanese and half Finnish, but has a unique background in that she doesn't quite understand either language. Mona, who has a cheerful and unconventional personality, is an important character who breathes new life into the story.

Fumi

Fumi, Suzu's childhood friend since kindergarten, started a hula dance club with Suzu. She has a kind personality and is willing to listen to Suzu's whims and problems, but the contrast between her personality and her dark side is also charming. Fumi's character is a good friend of Suzu's and an essential presence in the story's progression.

Nagisa

Nagisa, who is a member of the Iwaki FC Girls soccer team, is currently undergoing rehabilitation after an injury. She has a straightforward personality, is always cheerful, and is a positive character who doesn't worry about small things or big things. Nagisa's character is depicted as taking on new challenges through hula dancing.

Moe

Moe, who plays the ukulele in the Ukulele Babies, usually performs with Miku in the Manzai Study Group under the name "Nomazukuwazu." She is a laid-back girl with a unique twist: her hair color changes to green when she starts performing. Moe's character symbolizes the fusion of music and hula dancing.

Miku

Miku, who is in charge of selling with Moe as part of the "Ukulele Babies," has the unexpected ability to throw in the funny parts while appearing to be the straight man. She's a petite girl with sharp movements and smiling eyes who loves to keep the mood going in the team. Miku's character is active as a mood maker for the team.

■Cast

The cast of "Flying Babies Petit" is as follows:

• Suzu/Haruka Yoshimura
• Shiina/Ryoko Yamaguchi
• Mona/Suzuko Mimori
• Fumi/Miki Sasaki
• Nagisa/Sarah Emi Bridcutt
• Moe / Moe Toyoda
• Miku / Miku Ito
• Teacher Chizuru/Hoshiko Ueda
• Rei/Rika Kinugawa
• Summer / Spring Bloom Warmth
• Phosphorus/Hyumi Yuka

■ Main staff

The main staff of "Flying Babies☆Petit" are as follows.

• Original concept, series composition, scenario: Ikoma
• Director: Yoshinobu Asao
• Original character design: Ryozo Ominato
• Character design: Emi Ikemori
• Edited and directed by: Takao Sato
• Sound Director: Kisuke Koizumi
• Music/FMF
• Sound production/JTB Next Creation
• Animation Production: Fukushima Gaina
• Produced by: Flying Babies Parents Association

■Production background and intent

"Flying Babies Petit" has as its theme the revitalization of hot spring towns, and aims to convey the charm of the region through hula dancing. Director Yoshinobu Asao wanted to provide viewers with a new form of entertainment by fusing the atmosphere of hot spring towns with the rhythm of hula dancing. In addition, despite the short length, he managed to create a work that viewers can easily relate to by clearly portraying the personalities of the characters.

■Animation and Music

Fukushima Gaina, who was in charge of animation production, succeeded in realistically depicting the scenery of the hot spring town and the movements of the hula dance. Ikemori Emi, who was in charge of character design, adopted designs that highlighted the individuality of each character, capturing the hearts of viewers. FMF was in charge of the music, and the songs that matched the rhythm of the hula dance livened up the story. In particular, the performance scenes of Moe and Miku of the Ukulele Babies left a strong impression on viewers.

■ Evaluation and acceptance

Although "Flying Babies Petit" was short, it attracted many viewers with its unique worldview and the charm of its characters. The hula dance lesson scenes in particular not only conveyed the joy of hula dance to viewers, but also inspired many people to actually start hula dancing. In addition, the theme of revitalizing hot spring towns attracted attention from the perspective of regional development. After the anime aired, the number of tourists visiting Yumoto Onsen increased, contributing to the local economy.

■ Related works

"Flying Babies Petit" is related to "Flying Babies." "Flying Babies" is also directed by Yoshinobu Asao and is a highly entertaining anime themed around hula dancing. "Flying Babies Petit" is positioned as a spin-off work and has a stronger comedic flavor.

■ Recommendations and how to watch

"Flying Babies Petit" is recommended for those who are interested in hula dancing and the atmosphere of hot springs, and those looking for an anime that can be enjoyed in a short amount of time. It is also a perfect work for those who want to enjoy the personalities and relationships of the characters. The recommended way to watch it is to check the broadcast on TV Tokyo or AT-X, or to use the official distribution service. DVDs and Blu-rays are also available, so you can keep it on hand and enjoy it over and over again.

Conclusion

"Flying Babies Petit" is a unique anime that depicts the charm of hula dancing and a hot spring town. Although it is a short anime, it clearly depicts the personalities and relationships of the characters, providing viewers with fun and healing. The hula dance lesson scenes and the ukulele babies performance scenes left a strong impression on viewers and contributed to the development of the local area. Please watch it at least once and enjoy the unique world view and the charm of the characters.