is an
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
series, and the first to be produced by
Bones. The series was first aired on
NHK BS-2
, also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee.
NHK operates two terrestria ...
and ran for twenty six episodes, from October 24, 2000, till May 1, 2001. Created by
Shō Aikawa and directed by
Tetsurō Amino
is a Japanese anime director, born on October 10, 1955, in Chiba Prefecture. In 1988, he started using his name in katakana.
Works
* '' Arashi no Yoru ni: Himitsu no Tomodachi''
* '' Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!!''
* ''Bubu Chacha''
* ''DT Eightr ...
, the series' character designer and chief animation director was the late
Hiroshi Ōsaka
was a Japanese animator, character designer and illustrator, born in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture. He was a graduate of the Kyoto Saga University of Arts. He was the co-founder of Bones Animation Studio.
Profile
Ōsaka, while studying in the K ...
.
The series was subsequently aired by the anime television network
Animax, who also aired it across its
English language networks in
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
and
South Asia
South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...
.
Story
The series is set within the
Meiji period
The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization ...
of Japan, following a small boy named Hiwou. The townspeople have lived simply, making "Clockwork Dolls" or "karakuri" for festivals. Hiwou's father left the family on a long trip, and their mother has since died. The children live with friends.
Their simple life vanishes when the "Wind Gang" appears, destroys the city with their own clockwork dolls, and captures its citizens. Hiwō and his siblings and friends, Shishi, Machi, Tetsu, Mayu, Sai, and baby Jyobu (who are exploring a cave at the time), escape unharmed and embark on a quest to save the town. They take with them Homura, a huge clockwork doll that functions like a giant robot.
Along the way, they are forced to use their clockwork dolls as weapons - something they were never supposed to do, according to Hiwō's father. Early in the series, they meet Arashi, a member of the Wind Gang, and Hana and Yuki, two samurai daughters who ended up traveling with the group.
Hiwō and his friends encounter a number of historical figures, before these people entered the history books during the Meiji Restoration.
Production
Staff
*Director: Tetsuro Amino
*Music: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
*Original creator:
Shō Aikawa
*Character Design: Hajime Jinguji, Hiroshi Osaka
*Art director: Nobuto Sakamoto
*Mecha design: Junya Ishigaki
*Director of Photography: Youichi Ōgami
*Color Coordination: Kenji Chiba
*Historical Verification: Tetsunori Iwashita
*Main Animation Director: Hiroshi Osaka
*Sound director: Yasuo Uragami
*Animation Production: BONES
Cast
*
Houko Kuwashima
is a Japanese voice actress and singer.Doi, Hitoshi"Kuwashima Houko" ''Seiyuu Database''. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2011. She is capable of playing a variety of roles, ranging from young boys to feminine women. She is affiliated with ...
as Hiwō
*
Kaori Mizuhashi
is a Japanese voice actress who is employed by Arts Vision. Her major voice roles include Mami Tomoe in '' Puella Magi Madoka Magica'', Kuki Shinobu in ''Genshin Impact'', Lava and May in ''Arknights'', Vivio Takamachi in ''Magical Girl Lyrica ...
as Machi
*
Rikako Aikawa
is a Japanese actress and voice actress affiliated with Atomic Monkey. She was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. She was originally a child actress. Her real name after she married Mitsuo Iwata, a Japanese voice actor, is .
She appears in the ...
as Shishi
*
Akiko Yajima as Mayu
*
Haruna Ikezawa as Hana
*
Omi Minami as Yuki
*
Kazuhiko Inoue as Ryōma Sakamoto
*
Nobuo Tobita
is a Japanese voice actor and narrator from Ibaraki Prefecture. He is represented by Arts Vision.
He is most known for the roles of Kamille Bidan (''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam''), Albert Heinrich/004 (''Cyborg 009'' (2001)), and Sueo Maruo (''Chibi ...
as Sai
*
Shinasichiro Miki as Arashi
*
Yoko Teppouzuka
Yoko may refer to:
People
* Yoko (name), a Japanese feminine given name; variants include Yōko and Yohko
* Yoko Gushiken (具志堅 用高, born 1955), Japanese professional boxer
* Yoko Taro (横尾 太郎, born 1970), Japanese video game di ...
as Tetsu
*
Yuko Mizutani Yuko may refer to:
* Yuko (judo) (''yūkō''), a score in judo competition
* Yuko (Ukrainian band), a Ukrainian band
* Yūko, a Japanese female given name (including a list of persons with the name)
* Yuko, a Belgian band
* Yuko people, an Amerind ...
as Alexander
*
Yūji Takada as Aka
*
Masako Ebisu
Masako (written: , , or in hiragana) is a feminine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include:
*
*, (1888–1940), 6th daughter of Emperor Meiji
*, Japanese long-distance runner
* Masako Ebisu (born 1945), Japanese voice actress
* ...
as Narrator
*
Chisato Nakajima
is a Japanese actress and voice actress affiliated with Aoni Production. Her hobbies include painting, singing, and tennis.
She is most known for the roles of Mari-san, Alisa Mackintosh in ''Kinnikuman'' and Percy the Small Engine in the Japanes ...
as Child (ep 2)
*
Yukimasa Kishino
is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan. He is also active in the theatrical entertainment field and is the chairman of his own theatrical group, ''Gekidan Kishino Gumi''. Some of the members of this group include ...
as Gennosuke (ep 6)
Music
Opening theme
''Hiwou no Theme'' by ''
Hiroshi Yamaguchi''
Ending theme
''CROSSROAD'' by ''
Kumiko Endō''
References
External links
Official site*
1999 manga
2000 anime television series debuts
Bandai Entertainment anime titles
Bones (studio)
Kodansha manga
NHK original programming
Films with screenplays by Shō Aikawa
Seinen manga
{{Anime-television-series-stub