A thorough review of Washimo Special - Save the Future of Earth! Washimo vs. Washija

All-round evaluation and recommendation of "Washimo Special -Save the Future of the Earth! Washimo vs. Washija-"

Overview

"Washimo Special - Save the Future of the Earth! Washimo vs. Washija" is a TV special that aired on NHK Educational TV on March 21, 2022. The work is an animation based on the original picture book "WASIMO" by Kankuro Kudo, produced by Studio Deen and produced by NHK. It consists of one 60-minute episode and was directed by Toshifumi Kawase. This special depicts the confrontation between the grandmother-type robot "Washimo" and the newly introduced grandfather-type robot "Washija", and unfolds an adventure to save the future of the Earth.

■ Story

A grandmother-type robot named "Washimo" was made by the father of an elementary school girl named "Hiyori-chan" who cried every day after her grandmother passed away. When "Washimo" walks, the nostalgic clattering sound is heard because it uses the same dentures as its grandmother. It walks faster than a snail, but slower than an excited rhinoceros beetle. However, in reality, it can run faster than a bullet train. With such strange abilities, "Washimo" meets various people and has various experiences.

In this special, we will be introducing a grandfather robot called "Washija" who was sent to Earth from space. In order to "save the Earth", "Washija" turns everyone, including Hiyo-chan and Masao, into mechanical bodies. However, everyone who has now become mechanical bodies starts a commotion in search of oil, which is an energy source! In order to regain their original bodies and bring peace, the grandmother robot "Washimo" confronts "Washija" in the story.

■ Characters

The main characters of this work are as follows:

• Washimo : A grandmother robot made by her father for Hiyo-chan, who cried every day after her beloved grandmother passed away. The nostalgic clattering sound that can be heard when she walks is because she has the same dentures as her grandmother. She walks faster than a snail, but slower than an excited rhinoceros beetle, but when she switches to serious mode she can run faster than a bullet train, and has some pretty useless apps and 88 secret functions, among other strange abilities. She lives in Hiyo-chan's house, loves drinking oil, and sucks it whenever she has free time.
• Hiyori : A first-grade girl who loves playing with Washimo. She likes the faint scent of incense that comes from her grandmother, and she also loves the grandmothers and grandfathers who are her tea-drinking buddies. Her trademark is her twin tails that move freely depending on whether she's happy or sad, and she has a kind personality that allows her to quickly become friends with anyone. However, she's also a reliable girl who is able to stop Washimo when he gets too excited and starts to get out of control.
• Masao : Hiyo-chan's older brother, he knows a lot for an elementary school student, and is a bit of a nerd. He especially knows a lot about the superhero Cymbalman, but regrets that he doesn't have a chance to show it off. He doesn't have much confidence in his strength and athletic ability, so he often has to ask me for help, but in most cases, it backfires and makes him even more depressed...
• Dad : I've loved tinkering with machines since I was a child, and I made my first robot when I was in elementary school. Now I'm an accomplished engineer who develops various machines. I made this robot for Hiyo-chan, and even I was surprised at how human-like its performance was. I love my family and always want to be a respected dad, but I'm a bit timid and can't stand up to Mom. But I'm always smiling and a very kind dad.
• Mom : She's a little easygoing, but when she gets really angry her face turns red and she speaks loudly, so she's a bit scary and respected by her family. She loves high-end cosmetics and was a super idol, Lonely Terakawa. Her childhood dream was to become a super idol called "Noichigo Ichigo", but that dream didn't come true. Still, she lives happily every day surrounded by her loving dad and children. She's a bit airheaded and a little strong, but she's also kind and cute.
• Rinko : Hiyo-chan's classmate and good friend. Her name is Geki Rinko. Because of her catchphrase "I got it!" and her competitive personality, people around her think she's always angry, but she's actually a very kind-hearted girl who cares about her friends. She loves her big, kind mother, her father who always works hard, and her slightly scary but always energetic grandmother, Rin-san.
• Hajime : A soothing old man with a mysterious trademark cape and nose hairs that rides around on a motorcycle. He has a gentle and laid-back personality and loves to doze off on park benches. His hobby is fishing, and when he puts on his ostentatious sunglasses and holds his fishing rod, he becomes a completely different person and speaks in a hard-boiled style. He's a very kind old man who always greets me with a smile, even when I'm pushing him around and causing him trouble.
• Tsune : A cute old lady who is Washimo's tea-drinking buddy. She is good at gateball and sometimes plays the game with Hajime and Washimo. Despite her appearance, she is a good athlete and is also good at juggling. She is very knowledgeable, so she teaches Washimo and Hiyo things that they don't know, but sometimes she pretends to know the wrong thing and causes trouble... She is also good friends with Washimo, but they sometimes feel rivalry over various things.
• Mr. Bearded Catfish : Hiyo-chan's class teacher, a very kind teacher with a long, catfish-like beard that grows from under his nose. He may not look very reliable, but he is actually a master of karate and is very dependable in times of need. His dream is to make his debut as a film director with a screenplay he wrote himself, but when he happened to meet a famous Hollywood director and showed his screenplay to him, he was brushed off and that was the end of it. Despite this, he is a man of hard work and passion who continues to pursue his dream.
• Murohashi Sensei : Hiyo-chan's elementary school PE teacher. He is good at hammer throwing and loves protein. He drinks protein every day and trains his muscles, which he is proud of, but he once lost a strength contest with me, so he secretly respects me. His specialty is twitching his chest muscles and ripping his jersey with them. He stands tall anytime and anywhere, speaks loudly and clearly, and has the energy and guts to face anything with full energy.
• Police Officer : A kindhearted police officer. He is a little tired of working in a peaceful town every day, and while he secretly imagines himself solving a major incident in a cool way, he sighs and writes in his work diary, "Today was another peaceful day with nothing happening in the town." Sometimes he chases after snatch thieves, but when he is in serious mode, he is often caught first... He has few encounters with women and is still single.
• Saburo : He usually works as the manager of a conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Washimo Town, but due to the company's policies, he sometimes works as the manager of a dumpling shop or as a private tutor. He is a very busy and talented chef. When he first met Washimo, he fell in love at first sight with his design and personality, or should I say robotic pattern. Now, when he is in trouble, he relies on Washimo for anything.
• Lonely Terakawa : A celebrity who was once a super idol and had a big hit with "If There Were Stars in the Night Sky". Now, he lives in the same town as me, and is a self-proclaimed superstar celebrity who does a wide range of work, from being a reporter to hosting events in the shopping district. His relaxed attitude towards everyone has earned him many passionate fans. Incidentally, Hiyo-chan's mom is one of them, and her dad is a bit jealous of Lonely. He himself says that his next big hit will be released soon, baby! He has declared his return as a super idol.
• Rinko's father : Rinko's father is a family-oriented person who always works hard. When Rinko saw him and said she wanted a robot, he even built one for her... Rinko loves her big, kind mother.
• Rin : Rinko's grandmother is very energetic, but a little scary when she gets angry. She is very good friends with Tsune and I, and we drink tea together and play gateball. Apparently, she and Tsune went to the same girls' school.
• Cymbalman : A superhero from Masao's favorite TV show. Usually, he's an ordinary, unreliable older brother, but when a monster appears or an incident occurs and the townspeople are in trouble, he takes out his trademark cymbal and transforms into the superhero Cymbalman. He gets into the giant Cymbal Robo robot, shouting "Cymbal in!", and goes on a roll, defeating villains and monsters. By the way, it seems that the plastic models of Cymbalman and Cymbal Robo are constantly selling out and are hard to come by.
• Dentures-kun : A resident of the Ireba world who always calmly observes the events that occur around us and us. His specialty is observing our actions with his two big, protruding eyes and making comments while rattling his dentures. None of us are aware of his existence, so he feels a bit lonely. But he doesn't let that get him down, and he works hard every day to be the toughest commentator for us!

■ Production staff

The production staff for this work are as follows:

• Original story: Kankuro Kudo (author), Hajime Anzai (illustrator) (from "WASIMO")
• Director and series composition: Toshifumi Kawase
• Character design: Satoshi Kosaka
• Screenplay: Mitsuhiko Fujiki
• CG Director: Miki Omata
• Color design: Takazumi Osuga
• Art director: Tomomi Iwase
• Director of photography: Katsuaki Kamata
• Sound Director: Takuya Hiramitsu
• Music: EDISON
• Animation producer: Norimitsu Urasaki
• Production Supervisor: Yuko Yonemura, Izumi Nakazawa
• Animation Production: Studio Deen
• Produced by NHK Enterprises
• Produced and copyrighted by NHK

■Cast

The cast of this production is as follows:

• Me too: Rika Matsumoto
• Hiyori: Aimi Tanaka
• Masao: Ayaka Asai
• Dad: Shigeru Ushiyama
• Mom: Ai Orikasa
• Denture Boy: Kosuke Okano
• Hajime: Hajime Anzai
• Tsune: Kiyoko Miyazawa
• Rinko: Yui Watanabe
• Bearded Catfish Teacher: Toshitaka Hirano
• Narration: Reiko Suzuki

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs and music for this work are as follows:

• OP1 "My Song"
• Lyricist: Kankuro Kudo
• Composer: EDISON
• Arrangement: EDISON
• Vocals: Kimura Kaela
• ED1 "Grandma's Password"
• Lyricist: Kankuro Kudo
• Composer: EDISON
• Arrangement: EDISON
• Sung by: Ansako

■ Related works

The following works are related to this piece:

• WASIMO TV Series
• Washimo Broadcast Start 5th Anniversary Special

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Washimo Special - Save the Future of the Earth! Washimo vs. Washija" is a heartwarming story about family love, friendship, and the future of the Earth. In particular, the showdown between Washimo and Washija is full of highlights, and is enjoyable for both children and adults. Below, we will give a detailed evaluation of this work and recommend it.

Story and Themes

The story of this special depicts the grand theme of saving the future of the Earth through the confrontation between Washimo and Washija. It begins with Washimo being a robot created for Hiyo-chan, and depicts the importance of family love and friendship while also setting out on an adventure to protect the future of the Earth. In particular, the scene in which the robotic bodies get caught up in a big commotion in search of oil is a mix of humor and tension that has the power to draw viewers in. Washimo's confrontation with Washija also symbolizes courage and hope, teaching children the importance of having dreams and goals.

character

Each character in this work is unique and leaves a strong impression on the viewer. In particular, the unique setting in which Washimo uses his grandmother's dentures is appealing, and his quirky abilities, such as his walking speed and secret functions, invite laughter. Additionally, many characters appear who give a sense of family ties, such as Hiyo-chan's kind personality, Masao's geekiness, Dad's kindness and Mom's strength. Furthermore, supporting characters such as Rinko, Hajime, and Tsune are also unique and add color to the story. In particular, Denture-kun's role as a calm observer provides viewers with a new perspective, allowing them to enjoy the story more deeply.

Production and direction

The animation produced by Studio Deen offers colorful and beautiful visuals. In particular, the confrontation scene between Washimo and Washija is a highlight, with powerful images that make full use of CG technology. Director Toshifumi Kawase's direction skillfully blends humor and emotion, and has the power to draw the viewer into the story. Furthermore, the music by EDISON not only enhances the atmosphere of the story, but also has the power to stir the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the opening theme "Washimo no Uta" and the ending theme "Obaachan no Password" have impressive lyrics and melodies that symbolize the theme of the story, and are sure to remain in the viewers' hearts.

Recommended points

This work is a heartwarming story about family love, friendship, and the future of the earth, and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. In particular, the confrontation scene between Washimo and Washija is full of highlights and has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, the unique characters add color to the story and warm the hearts of viewers. In addition, the beautiful visuals by Studio Deen and the moving music by EDISON are not to be missed. Be sure to watch this work and enjoy the adventures of Washimo and Washija.

■ Summary

"Washimo Special - Save the Future of the Earth! Washimo vs. Washija" is a heartwarming story about family love, friendship, and the future of the Earth. Through the confrontation between Washimo and Washija, a story that symbolizes courage and hope unfolds, moving viewers. The unique characters, beautiful visuals, and moving music are also highlights not to be missed. Be sure to watch this work and enjoy the adventures of Washimo and Washija.