Urikupen Kyūjotai Explained

Urikupen Kyūjotai
Ja Kanji:ウリクペン救助隊
Ja Romaji:Urikupen Kyūjotai
Type:TV series
Director:Hiroshi Sasagawa
Music:Shunsuke Kikuchi
Studio:Tatsunoko Production
Network:FNS (Fuji TV)
First:September 30, 1974
Last:March 29, 1975
Episodes:132

is a 1974 anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Production and directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. The series premiered on Fuji TV on September 30, 1974, and ended on March 29, 1975.

Much later in 1991, Saban Entertainment has licensed and adapted the anime series for a worldwide release outside of Japan under the name, Jungle Tales and has condensed the 132 5-minute (serialized) episodes into 22 half-hour episodes. The voice casting and the English language dubbing production was done in-house by CINAR Studios, Inc. in Montreal, Canada. It has been broadcast on YTV in Canada. Heavy changes were made to the adaptation dub of the series. One being such is a new music score that was all digitally composed and sampled with an E-mu Proteus 2 Orchestra synthesizer. Other changes involve different character names used and gender changes for two characters. At the end of each condensed episode, a 3-minute music video was added to summarize the episode's plot. Many foreign dubs of the anime series would be mere translations of the dub.

Plot

Setting in the country of Urikupen kingdom, a rescue team consisting of animals goes onto missions to rescue forest animals in disastrous locations. A mobilization scenario is shown once a week stating "this week's Lifetime Achievement Award" which is given to the rescue workers.

Characters

Character Name(s) Japanese / English Voice Actor
Boss Lion (ライオンのボス Raion no Bosu) / King LeoUnknown / Aron Tager
Narrator (ナレーション Narēshon)Rokurō Naya / Patricia Rodriguez
Seitaro Usagi (ウサギの征太郎 Usagi no Seitarō) / Rhonda Rabbit Michie Kita / Sonja Ball
Gindai Pengin (ペンギンのギン太 Pengin no Gindai) / Pete Penguin Tetsuo Mizutori / Rick Jones
Hachigorō Kuma (クマの八五郎 Kuma no Hachigorō) / Barney Bear Shōji Satō / Gary Jewell
Rinrin Tsuru (ツルのリンリン Tsuru no Rinrin) / Petula PigeonYōko Asagami / Jane Woods
Chocho Inoshishi (イノシシのチョチョ Inoshishi no Chocho) / Harry HogUnknown / Terrence Scammell
Mu Tonakai (トナカイのムーさん Tonakai no Mu-san) / Donny DearUnknown / Michael O'Reilly
Pinsuke Ritsu (ペンギンのギン太 Ritsu no Pinsuke) / Scooter Squirrel Unknown / Rick Jones
Koara (コアラ Koara) / Koko Koala Unknown / Sonja Ball
Wolf (ハングルフ Hangurufu) / Wolf Bain Tetsuo Mizutori / Terrence Scammell
Condor (コンドル Kondoru) / Vic the Vulture Unknown / Gary Jewell
Crow (カラス Karasu) / Jo-Jo Crow Unknown / Terrence Scammell

Release

The series was produced by Tatsunoko Production and directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. The anime has been licensed by Saban Entertainment in North America.

The opening theme is "Ganbare! Urikupen Kyūjotai" by Ichirou Mizuki and Columbia Yurokago Kai.