Fusen no Doratarou

ふーせんのどらたろう

Aired: 1981

A television anime produced by Nippon Animation and broadcast on Fuji Television for 13 episodes, an unusual children's spin-off of Shochiku's beloved 'Otoko wa Tsurai yo' (Tora-san) film franchise, with Yoji Yamada-the director of those films-credited as original creator. The story centers on a young boy named Doratarou whose unreliable but warm-hearted brother is a wandering free-spirit much like Tora-san himself; together they meet a host of small-town characters on their travels, sharing laughter and tears as Doratarou grows. Folk singer Kenichi Nagira lends his earthy voice both to the protagonist and to the theme songs, suffusing the show with a downtown, neighborly nostalgia. Though short-lived, the series remains a rare and beloved example of Shochiku's signature 'Tora-san' atmosphere translated into children's animation.