Sanshiro the Judoist (1981 TV Special)

すがたさんしろう

Aired: 1981

A television special anime produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha and broadcast on Fuji TV's 'Nissay Family Special' slot on June 8, 1981, adapting Tsuneo Tomita's classic novel 'Sanshiro Sugata.' Set during the early Meiji era's tumultuous embrace of Western civilization, the story follows a determined young man, Sanshiro Sugata, who throws himself into traditional jujutsu before encountering the new discipline of judo at the dojo of Shogoro Yano. Through fateful confrontations with his rival Gennosuke Higaki, he matures both as a martial artist and as a human being. Storyteller Sanyutei Ensuke narrates the period setting, while 'Lupin III' creator Monkey Punch provides the character designs, and pop star Hideki Saijo voices Sanshiro himself-an audacious creative team for the era. The result fuses faithful respect for the original novel with the distinctive presentational style of early-1980s TV special anime.