Ikkyū-san (TV series) explained

Ikkyū-san
Ja Kanji:一休さん
Genre:Historical, comedy
Type:tv series
Director:Kimio Yabuki
Producer:Chiaki Imada
Minato Sakanashi
Tomiro Kuriyama
Yoshio Takami
Music:Seiichirō Uno
Studio:Toei Animation
Network:TV Asahi
First:October 15, 1975
Last:June 28, 1982
Episodes:296
Type:film
Ikkyū-san and the Mischievous Princess
Director:Kimio Yabuki
Producer:Chiaki Imada
Music:Seiichirō Uno
Studio:Toei Animation
Released:March 18, 1978
Runtime:15 minutes
Type:tv film
Ikkyū-san: Rampage of the Mischievous Princess
Director:Kimio Yabuki
Iku Ishiguro
Takeshi Shirado
Akinori Orai
Producer:Chiaki Imada
Music:Seiichirō Uno
Studio:Toei Animation
Released:August 25, 1980
Runtime:50 minutes
Type:film
Ikkyū-san: It's Spring! Mischievous Princess
Director:Kimio Yabuki
Producer:Chiaki Imada
Music:Seiichirō Uno
Studio:Toei Animation
Released:March 14, 1981
Runtime:15 minutes
Type:film
Congming de Yixiu: Fan Dou Gongzhu
Mischievous Princess & Ikkyū-san
Director:Jiancheng Lei
Jianzhong Wu
Music:Roc Chen
Studio:Shanghai Shendong Culture Communication
Released:April 30, 2014

Ikkyū-san (Japanese: 一休さん, pronounced as /ja/) is a Japanese historical comedy anime series produced by Toei Animation, based on the recorded early life of Zen Buddhist monk Ikkyū during his stay at Ankoku-ji Temple.[1]

The Ikkyū-san anime was directed by Kimio Yabuki and written by Makoto Tsuji, Tadaki Yamazaki, Hisao Okawa, Tatsuo Tamura, Hiroyasu Yamaura and Keisuke Fujikawa. It aired on TV Asahi from October 15, 1975 to June 28, 1982.

The series was received by all ages in Japan and throughout Asia, as it is mostly non-violent. Even when violence appears, it is usually presented in a mild or necessary way (for example, there are occasional references to the Ōnin War). In 1976, there was also a theatrical film released as part of the Toei Manga Matsui film festival in the summer of that year. A film retelling of the Mischievous Princess film was released in 2014.

Summary

Ikkyū-san (一休宗純, Ikkyū Sōjun) was born in 1394 in Kyoto. He was the son of Emperor Go-Komatsu and Mrs. Iyo. Ikkyu and his mother had to leave the palace because of the political problem of Japan. When he was 5 years old, he was separated from his mother and was sent to be ordained at Ankoku-ji Temple. Great artistic liberties are taken with regards to the depiction of Ikkyu's cartoon version and his real-life counterpart. In the anime, he is so cute and very neat. In the series, Ikkyū relies on his intelligence and wit to solve all types of problems, from distraught farmers to greedy merchants. A running gag of Ikkyū-san is that whenever Ikkyū is trying to think of a plan, he sits in a lotus position, wets his two index fingers, and rotates them above his head.

Cast

Reception

In 2005, Japanese television network TV Asahi conducted an online web poll for the top one hundred anime, and Ikkyū-san placed 85th tied with Hana no Ko Lunlun.[2]

This animation has become one of the most famous Japanese anime in China. So, this anime was chosen to promote international tourism.[3]

Trivia

This series is referenced in 2008 by Tokine Yukimura in a flashback on episode 50 of Kekkaishi.

Wednesday Campanella have a song and PV named after Ikkyu-san.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ikkyu-san, the Clever Little Monk. Essays in Idleness. 2015-11-18.
  2. Web site: September 23, 2005. TV Asahi Top 100 Anime. Anime News Network. December 19, 2012.
  3. Web site: ANIME NEWS: Toei's 'Ikkyu-san' anime to promote tourism in Kyoto - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun. AJW by The Asahi Shimbun. 2015-11-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20151118204402/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/cool_japan/anime_news/aj2011101214192. 2015-11-18. dead.