The appeal and reviews of "Insect Land": A thorough analysis of the adventure in the insect world

Insect Land - A world of adventure and learning about insects

"Insect Land," which aired on NHK Educational TV from April 4 to August 29, 2022, is a TV anime series based on the nature education picture book "INSECT LAND" by Teruyuki Kagawa and Toma Romain. Set in "Insect Land," a small country where insects live, the series aims to convey the charm of nature and insects to children by depicting their unique ecology and adventures.

story

Insect Land is a land of tiny insects somewhere on Earth. Various insects live there, including fireflies, praying mantises, stag beetles, and rhinoceros beetles. They vary in size, color, shape, and where they live, and each has a completely different personality, such as flying, swimming, glowing, and being strong. The central theme of this anime is how the unique insects solve the incidents and events that occur in Insect Land.

For example, the first episode, "Firefly Adam and the Starry Sky Party," depicts the shy firefly Adam's struggle to join the night sky party. The second episode, "Beetle Gabriel, Forest Hero," depicts the brave beetle Gabriel's role as a forest hero. Through these episodes, viewers can learn about the ecology and behavior of insects.

character

Each character in "Insect Land" is unique and charming. Below are the main characters.

• Adam - Adam the firefly is a shy guy with a red hood as his trademark. He doesn't like to stand out, but when he gets surprised or nervous, his belly lights up.
• Mia - Mia, the seven-spotted ladybug, is a hard worker, always cheerful, and a mood maker who makes everyone feel happy and joyful.
• Charlotte - Charlotte the praying mantis is good at hide-and-seek, has a strong sense of justice and is a proactive character. She is the leader of Insect Land.
• Theo - Theo the bee is a very service-minded guy who can communicate with anyone. He has a large vocabulary and loves to entertain those around him.
• Eden - Eden the cabbage white butterfly is a kind and elegant character with a lovely smile who is always by her side with her friends in Insectland. She loves to dance with her white feathered dress spread out.
• Axel - Axel the White-spotted Dragonfly can fly in the sky as swiftly and coolly as the wind. He can hover and is good at flying long and high. His compound eyes allow him to see 360 ​​degrees, making him a great help in patrolling Insect Land.
• Gabriel - Gabriel the Hercules beetle is big and brave, with a long horn as his trademark. He is a kind, strong and sturdy character, and is the hero of Insectland.
• Raphael - Raphael the giant stag beetle is a mischievous bully. He looks a little scary, but he has a kind and gentle heart.
• Maxim - Maxim the leaf-cutter ant is a hard worker who tries his best to snip off leaves and carry them to his nest, despite his small size.
• Mr. Mantis - A character who gives a fun insect quiz at the end of the show.

Production Staff

Insect Land is being produced by a team of talented people. It is directed by Jun Kawagoe, with series composition and scriptwriting by Yuichiro Kido, and character design by Ayumi Kakei. Music is by Ayana Tsujita, and sound direction is by Keiko Urakami. Animation is by TMS Genies, and production is by the Insect Land Production Committee.

Of particular note is that Teruyuki Kagawa is involved as an executive producer. His passion for nature education is reflected in this work. In addition, MIKIKO is in charge of choreography, and the dance scenes are one of the highlights.

Broadcast information

"Insect Land" was broadcast on NHK Educational TV from April 4 to August 29, 2022, every Monday from 8:45 to 8:50. It consists of 22 episodes, each of which is only five minutes long, but the content is dense and provides children with a lot to learn.

It is also available for streaming online and can be viewed on Animehodai, ABEMA, Amazon Prime Video, au Smart Pass Premium, FOD, GYAO! Store, Gyao!, J:COM On Demand Mega Pack, d Anime Store, DMM.com, TELASA, Bandai Channel, Hikari TV, Video Market, Hulu, music.jp, Miru Plus All-You-Can-Watch Prime, and U-NEXT.

Theme song

The ending theme "Winged Lover" is sung by DREAMS COME TRUE, with lyrics and music by Miwa Yoshida and arrangement by Masato Nakamura. The choreography is by MIKIKO, so you can enjoy the dance scenes as well.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Insectland" aims to convey the charm of nature and insects to children, and it achieves that goal well. Although each episode is short, it carefully depicts the personalities and ecology of the insects, allowing viewers to empathize with their adventures and growth while learning from them. The show has also been praised for its attractive character designs and storytelling.

It is especially noteworthy that the Nature Conservation Society of Japan is involved in supervising the show to ensure that the ecology of insects is portrayed accurately. This allows children to gain accurate knowledge while having fun. The insect quiz at the end of the show also captures the interest of viewers and provides an opportunity for learning.

This work is enjoyable for both children and adults, making it perfect for watching with the whole family. It is recommended for people who are interested in nature and insects, parents who want to provide nature education for their children, and even anime fans. It is especially worth watching for those who are interested in the ecology and behavior of insects.

Detailed episode introduction

Below are the details of each episode:

• Episode 1: Firefly Adam and the Starry Sky Party - Adam struggles to attend the night sky party. The story depicts the shy Adam having fun with his friends.
• Episode 2: Gabriel the Beetle, Hero of the Forest - This episode shows Gabriel as a hero of the forest. His bravery and kindness are emphasized.
• Episode 3: Ladybug Mia Touches the Sky - This episode depicts Mia's adventure to touch the sky. Her cheerfulness and hardworking nature are charming.
• Episode 4: It's Showtime with Hachi no Theo♪ - This episode shows Theo enjoying showtime. His spirit of service and communication skills shine in this episode.
• Episode 5: Raphael the Stag Beetle, the Secret of the Wild One - Raphael's mischievous side and kind heart are depicted. The theme is his growth and friendship.
• Episode 6: Eden the Butterfly, the Smiling Magician - This episode depicts Eden supporting her friends as the Smiling Magician. Her kindness and elegance are emphasized.
• Episode 7: Axel the Dragonfly's Hurried Flying Adventure - This episode depicts Axel's adventures in the sky. His speed and coolness are fascinating.
• Episode 8: Maxim the Ant's Great Adventure - This is an episode about Maxim's great underground adventure. It shows his hardworking nature and his complex about his small body.
• Episode 9: Hide and Seek with Charlotte the Mantis - Charlotte is shown enjoying a game of hide and seek. Her sense of justice and leadership are highlighted.
• Episode 10: Theo Enjoys Dancing - Theo is seen enjoying dancing. This episode highlights his cheerfulness and service-oriented spirit.
• Episode 11: Helping others is a pain! - This episode shows the friends in Insectland helping each other out. Cooperation and friendship are themes.
• Episode 12: Splish splash! Playing in the rain♪ - This episode depicts the friends of Insect Land having fun on a rainy day. Playfulness and creativity are emphasized.
• Episode 13: A mysterious hero appears! - A mysterious hero appears in this episode. The themes are adventure and friendship.
• Episode 14: Raphael's Super Gasharinko! - This episode shows Raphael in action as a Super Gasharinko. His mischievousness and kindness are emphasized.
• Episode 15: Why Can't I Say It? - This episode depicts Adam's difficulty in expressing his feelings. The themes are self-expression and growth.
• Episode 16: Everyone's Picnic - The friends from Insect Land are enjoying a picnic. The themes are friendship and cooperation.
• Episode 17: The Battle of the Rhinoceros Beetle and the Stag Beetle! - This episode depicts a battle between a rhinoceros beetle and a stag beetle. The themes are competition and friendship.
• Episode 18: Charlotte and the Lily of the Valley Telephone - Charlotte uses the lily of the valley telephone to communicate with her friends. The themes are friendship and communication.
• Episode 19: A Ghost Surprise! A Big Fuss - The friends from Insect Land are surprised by a ghost. The theme is fear and friendship.
• Episode 20: Mori's Inspiration Game Party - The friends of Insect Land are enjoying a game party. The theme is creativity and friendship.
• Episode 21: Everyone's Ants' Thank You Medal - This episode depicts the friends in Insect Land expressing their gratitude to each other. The theme is gratitude and friendship.
• Episode 22: Theo and Axel's Bumpy Adventure - Theo and Axel enjoy a bumpy adventure. The themes are friendship and adventure.

summary

"Insect Land" is a series that aims to convey the charm of nature and insects to children by depicting the unique ecology and adventures of insects. Although each episode is short, the content is dense and offers viewers a lot to learn. The attractive character designs and storytelling have also been praised, making it enjoyable for both children and adults. This is a series recommended for people who are interested in nature and insects, parents who want to provide nature education to their children, and even anime fans.