Ojamanga Yamada-kun (Theatrical Version)

おじゃまんがやまだくん げきじょうばん

Aired: 1981

A theatrical anime produced by Tsuchida Production and Visual 80, adapting Hisaichi Ishii's deadpan four-panel gag manga 'Ojamanga Yamada-kun.' Released on March 14, 1981 through Toho-Towa/Herald distribution as a feature-film spin-off of the ongoing Fuji Television series of the same title (then airing since 1980), the picture was double-billed with a live-action 'Gekko Kamen' (Moonlight Mask) film. The story revolves around the everyday Yamada household-father, mother, eldest son Noppo, eldest daughter Fumiko, younger son Noboru and younger daughter Matsuko-and the gently cynical, warmly absurd vignettes of working-class family life that Ishii's manga is famous for. Composed and written by Masayuki Yamamoto and sung by the men's vocal group Korogi '73, the laid-back theme song captures the comfortably slack mood at the heart of the franchise.