THE VERY FINE OF THE BASEBALL
The coolest baseball player is Tatsunoko |
Original title: Ippatsu Kanta-kun
Characters: Ichiro, Jiro, Shiro Tobase, Itsuko and Motsuko, Hisashi, Kumiko Tabase, Yokichi, Juheiei Yakyu, Toshiko Ota
Author: Tatsuo Yoshida
Production: Tatsunoko
Directed by:
Hiroshi Sasagawa, Mizuno Nishikubo
| Country: Japan
Year: September 18 1977
Broadcast in Italy: 1985
Gender: Sportsman
Episodes: 53
Duration: 24 minutes
Recommended age: Children from 6 to 12 years old |
Kanta, a boy who is certainly not too physically gifted, is the protagonist of the anime manga series, produced by the animation studio Tatsunoko in 1977 and arrived on Italian television screens in the early 80s. The story of this little hero develops through 53 episodes, during which a series of curious and funny characters alternate, but with a moral teaching that in the end will prevail over everything: nothing is impossible if you really want to achieve something.
And no doubt Kanta has a dream she doesn't want to give up: becoming a baseball champion.
But for the realization of his dream there is an obstacle because the father of Kanta, a baseball player, in fact, dies during a game and from that moment the life in his family changes radically. The mother, Kumiko, in fact, is sure that the fault of everything is precisely this sport which becomes a forbidden topic in her home. For the boy, however, the passion for baseball - inherited from his father - becomes stronger and stronger, so much so that he decides to form a team with his brothers. Initially the mother opposes this passion, but in the end she is forced to give in to their insistence enough to become the coach of the team. Obviously at the beginning the group is clumsy and not very gifted but in the end, thanks to the tenacity and obstinacy it manages to emerge during the student championship. Il Fichissimo del Baseball is a cartoon that, when compared to the current ones, for graphics and content, can not help but smile. Yet during the 80s it had a good following and continues to have it even now, which is broadcast on some thematic channels. The nostalgics of the time cannot have forgotten even the theme song, particularly catchy and cheerful, sung by the Knights of the King and written by Riccardo Zara. In short, quite a success for this little scribble with thick eyebrows and clumsy movements. And with him a series of characters, from 7 brothers to 2 sisters, from the mother to the funny dog Jube, who causes trouble but is always present on every occasion, ready to give advice. In fact, he doesn't look like an animal but rather a human being, who talks to the boy and trains with him at dawn, when everyone is asleep and no one can see them. This is how the first episode of the series begins, entitled “Kumiko's Secret” during which the characters are introduced and the story begins to take shape. The mother, during the breakfast of her large family, even forbids reading the newspaper where there are articles that talk about this sport, recalling the tragic end of her husband.
But Kanta does not give up and goes in search of the field where the players train. Just during a game, he accidentally finds himself having to replace an injured player, indeed in reality, since the injured players are two, even the dog Jube is involved in training, giving rise to a series of comical-idiotic situations. But both are discovered by their mother and it is on this occasion that Kanta confesses that he wants to become a great player, despite the memories of his father's death resurface. So many are Kanta's insistence, his passion in defending this sport that his mother eventually gives up, asking him to demonstrate what he is capable of doing.
The coolest baseball player is Tatsunoko |
After disappointing beginnings, her mother, moved by such passion, grants Kanta permission to play. At this point Kanta will only have to demonstrate his skill, not only to his mother, but also to all his friends and especially to the girls of the school and in particular to Anako, the one he likes so much but who has eyes only for the champion of the moment, tall, handsome and with an enviable uniform. So the boy's problem is to have a nicer baseball uniform and the only thing for him to do is ask his mother for it. In the episode "A uniform for Kanta" this is the goal to be achieved, replacing the shirt with the number 3 with a new and highly effective one. But Mom, of course, disagrees. The boy shares this desire with his brothers, since they are a team, and everyone would like a new uniform even if they know that it would be too big an expense for mom. Thus they find themselves on the baseball field and their mother shows them that they are so inept and incapable that they do not deserve a uniform. But everything changes when the mother is proposed to play with a local team who, for the occasion, will wear a new uniform. Meanwhile, Kanta decides to work as a street sweeper in the municipality, to get the money for the much sought-after uniform. But Jube gets into trouble and the boy gets kicked out of work. Meanwhile Kumiko would like to satisfy the wishes of her boys, but she does not have the necessary money and so she asks her poor husband for advice, hoping for help from heaven. For their part, the boys try to put together the money to buy a manager's uniform for her and try to make her happy. By chance she listens to everything and is moved by the goodness of her children. So she decides to satisfy their wishes, buying uniforms with the savings set aside by her and their dad. The team, even if ramshackle and bizarre, really begins to form. And so episode after episode continue the skirmishes between the brothers, the training of the team, the dreams of Kanta, the commitment of the mother and the many difficulties despite the desire to become champions, all accompanied by the constant presence of the dog Jube, more and more funny and messy, despite constantly showing his friendship to the boy. These are the themes common to the episodes that follow, such as "the homers fans", "a van for Kumiko", "Hanako's meatballs", "dad's old baseball", "game regulations", "al hell baseball! " or "beat the silver foxes". Relationships in the family, however, are not always idyllic and Kanta often has to clash with his brothers who accuse him of dedicating too much time to sports and little to housework. So the boy asks his mother to be able to help her in her work by assisting her, that is, at her food and drink kiosk until late at night. But Mum prefers not to accept his help and instead advises him to continue to devote himself to baseball, pointing out that they are a team with all that that entails.
The coolest baseball player is Tatsunoko |
Despite the simplicity of the animation and the story, it is a television series capable of transmitting important values. One of these, which cannot escape anyone who has seen the episodes is that of the sense of family. The sweetness of the mother, Kumiko, who despite the pain of the loss of her husband, manages to understand the passion of the children and, above all, of Kanta. Her great love allows her to overcome her fears by following and supporting her boys and even becoming their manager. For their part, the nine boys are animated by a deep passion for baseball, but also by a great attachment to each other and to their mother. Many demonstrations during the episodes, such as the one that leads them to play against an unbeatable champion in order to give her a new van for work. Despite the skirmishes and quarrels, normal between boys, a great affection emerges that binds them not only as brothers but also as a team. All this can be understood in various episodes, such as in the case of "Mitsuko's mistakes", "the bet", "a strange coach", "the idol of baseball", "an eventful vacation" or "Tomoe's dream. ". And then there is Jube, the curious dog who talks as if he were a human, often walks on two legs and dispenses advice to his beloved master Kanta. Not without, however, making trouble or being the favorite outlet during the boy's black periods. But even in this case there is unconditional love and affection on both sides. Tenacity and passion always win and so, at the end of the 53 episodes, there is the redemption of a team born by chance and grown with the power of love and union alone. How to miss "The Last Challenge" after meeting the characters and participating in their adventures? Impossible for lovers of the manga genre.
Finally, some technical information on the series is a must. In Italy it is known as "the Coolest of Baseball" while the original title is "Ippatsu Kanta Kun" was written by Tatsuo Yoshida under the direction of Hiroshi Sasagawa and aired in the early 80s on various local networks and, subsequently, it could also be found on VHS. Collectors can still find some copies on the net. Each episode lasts approximately 24 min and is currently airing on the Man-ga thematic channel. But fans will already know. Good vision, then! The baseball fichissimo and all names, images and registered trademarks are copyright Tatsunoko and those entitled to it and are used here for cognitive and informative purposes.
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