Let's leave for a new world!　Eight works that bring "Journey" to life

Each season has its own anime that can be enjoyed only at this time of year!　Our anime writers will introduce you to good new and old works related to seasonal topics.

March is the season of graduation. Many people will be entering a new life in April, going on to higher education or finding a new job.

Life is often compared to a journey. Leaving a familiar hometown and moving on to a faraway land, encountering various people and events, all in pursuit of one's own goals. Anime, too, has many stories that begin with the start of a journey.

Venturing into a new land is an adventure, but you may end up gaining irreplaceable treasures beyond the difficulties. Here are some anime that begin with a departure and live on a journey that will make you want to set out on a journey in search of new encounters.

One Piece" (on air since 1999)

The main character, Luffy, met the pirate Shanks at a young age, ate a rubbery fruit, and became a "demon fruit expert. With this determination, he leaves the village of Fusha, where he was born and raised. After gathering his friends, Luffy goes through the "Great Passage (Grand Line)" and, after many hardships, eventually reaches the "New World, the Last Sea" in the latter half of the Grand Line. ...... His adventurous journey still continues!

This is a venerable "travel and adventure" anime that represents the current era. The islands that he and his friends visit are so varied that even Gulliver of "Gulliver's Travels" would be pale in comparison: an island ruled by fishmen, a desert island, an ice island, an island in the sky, a dragon palace inhabited by mermaids, and an island inhabited by dwarfs. ......

The people you will meet are not just humans, but also giants, dwarfs, fish, mermaids, and many other races, and you will meet friends in the same boat, powerful enemies, and comrades who will support you. Along with these encounters, the world's great mysteries and social problems, such as the disparity in status, are gradually revealed.

The anime started in 1999, and after 16 years of broadcasting, there is still no end in sight. How far this unparalleled epic anime will go in the future is like a journey through time in itself.

The latest movie version "ONE PIECE FILM GOLD" is scheduled to be released on July 23 this year. I am looking forward to it.

Future Boy Conan" (broadcast in 1978)

Conan is a wild boy who lives with his grandfather on an isolated island called "Nokosarejima." One day, he meets a girl of the same age, Lana, who has washed up on the beach. Lana and Conan have a heart-to-heart talk, but Monsley, a soldier from Industria who is searching for the whereabouts of Lana's grandfather, Dr. Rao, kidnaps Lana. Conan sets sail on his handmade boat in accordance with his grandfather's will and sets off to rescue Lana in the wide world he has yet to see.

This TV series is known as the first film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. In the sense that it is a lively animation in which a young boy fights against villains and protects a mysterious girl, it is very similar to the popular masterpiece "Laputa: Castle in the Sky," so if you have not seen it, it is a must-see for you.

If you live in an island country, traveling is the same as "crossing the sea. Perhaps that is why I get excited just by watching a ship sail across the sea. The exhilarating opening scene of a sailboat with Conan and Lana on board running across the blue ocean is symbolic.

Incidentally, in this medieval world, in 2008, World War III broke out, the earth's axis was twisted, and the earth was almost destroyed once. When I saw this movie a long time ago, I thought it was a story of the future, but it has already passed!　I am surprised.

Treasure Island" (broadcast in 1978)

Jim Hawkins, a young boy who runs a tavern and inn "Benbow Inn" with his mother after his father, a sailor, dies, suddenly obtains a pirate treasure map and sets out on a treasure hunt with his father's friends, Livesey and Trelawney, who are doctors. However, the Hispaniola, which is bound for the treasure island, is boarded by pirates of unknown identities who want to rob the treasure. Can you protect yourself from the pirates, outwit them, and get the treasure? ......

This is a bold adaptation of Stevenson's "Treasure Island" and director Osamu Izaki's poetic depiction of a young boy, Jim, as he grows up. The battle begins in earnest with the landing on Treasure Island. With limited resources and actions, tactics, treachery, and scheming fly in the air as they vie for the treasure.

John Silver's presence shines through in this work. This is what it means to be cool!　Although he is a villain, he is portrayed as a charming adult man with wisdom, boldness, judgment, leadership, discretion, and cruelty. Jim admires Silver, is eventually betrayed by him, but is still drawn to him somewhere deep inside. It is a story of a boy's departure from his childhood, and it leaves a deep impression on the viewer.

Naja of Tomorrow" (broadcast in 2003)

Nadja, a young girl growing up in an Applefield orphanage near London, England, learns that her mother, whom she thought was dead, is alive, and leaves the orphanage to join the Dandelion troupe of traveling entertainers as a dancer. The troupe travels to England, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain, pursued by mysterious men in search of clues about her mother. They eventually discover that Nadja's mother is the daughter of an Austrian nobleman, but great difficulties and intrigue lie ahead.

When it comes to dramatic journeys and growth, anime for girls is no different. The main character meeting various people while traveling for some purpose is a tradition that can be traced back to the shoujo anime of the 1970s.

The beautiful artwork, which meticulously recreated early 20th-century Europe, was a sight to behold. The opening and closing scenes, with their twirling and moving movements, are very cute!　On the other hand, the drama involving greed and jealousy, and the developing romance between twins Francis and Keith, were in a way more mature.

Yona of the Dawn (aired 2014)

On the night of her 16th birthday, Yona, the princess of the kingdom of Gohwa, loses her country and her identity when her cousin Suwon, the man of her dreams, murders her father, the king. Protected by her childhood friend Hak, her personal bodyguard, Yona narrowly escapes with her life, but in her life on the run, she realizes once again her helplessness and wonders what to do. At the end of her journey, she receives an oracle and decides to search for the "Four Dragon Warriors" with Haku. ......

Kisyu Ryuritan (貴種流離譚) is still very romantic. It is also a legitimate story where the heroine grows stronger and more positive as a human being as she learns the harshness of her journey. You can enjoy both the gravity of an ancient Asian-style epic drama and the fun of being surrounded by handsome men. Popular voice actors are assembled, so voice actor fans will also want to check this out.

Since the original serialization continues, fans are eagerly awaiting the second season. The story ends with the gathering of the four dragons, so it will be interesting to see what happens next in the anime.

Nils' Mysterious Journey" (aired in 1980)

Nils, a boy from southern Sweden, was a naughty boy who bullied the animals on his farm. He then joins a flock of geese, Morten the goose, and Carrot the hamster, who travel north to Lapland in the summer. As the seasons change, the flock of geese heads south. Home is approaching, but will Nils be able to return to his original form?

The word "journey" itself is in the title of this anime. The highlight of the film is that Nils, who started out as a bad boy, learns the magnitude of nature and the importance of life during his journey, and grows into a boy who is considerate of others and acts with courage.

The carefully drawn nature and life in Scandinavia are beautifully depicted, and you can feel as if you are traveling with the geese. The birds' movements, realistic or comical, are well depicted. Nature lovers can also enjoy it with ease.

Kino's Journey -the Beautiful World-" (broadcast in 2003)

This is a story about Kino, a traveler who looks like a boy but is actually a girl, who travels around various countries with her partner, Hermes, a motrado (two-wheeled vehicle). Rather than a journey with a purpose, the story is a series of short stories that connect events in countries with very different values and customs.

Each one is like an independent fable. The dark tales of human greed and emotions are picked up and depicted in a straightforward manner. Kino and Hermes are, so to speak, witnesses and bystanders. It is like reading a science fiction short story to see what kind of ending they will settle on.

The movies "Kino's Journey to Do Something -life goes on.-" (released in 2005) and "Kino's Journey to the Land of Illness -For You-" (released in 2007) have also been produced.

Galaxy Express 999" (broadcast in 1978)

In a world where the planets of the galaxy are connected by a "galactic railroad," the wealthy people persecute the poor people with their mechanical bodies and eternal lives. Tetsuro loses his mother in a "human hunt" by the Machine Count, and is given a galactic railroad pass by a mysterious beauty, Mater, and together with her, he boards Galaxy Express 999 to a planet where he can receive a free mechanical body.

This is one of the representative works of the original Leiji Matsumoto animation. The TV series follows the original comic book, one by one, depicting different dramas and incidents between the people they meet on the unknown planet they arrive at. Each episode is complete, and "what planet will we go to next?" was a pleasure in itself.

The film version of "The Galaxy Express 999" (released in 1979), which condenses the essence of Leiji Matsumoto's works, is a story of Tetsuro's growth, and includes the total appearance of Harlock, Emeraldus, Tochiro, and others. The theme song "The Galaxy Express 999," sung by Godaigo, will be familiar to all of you. The timeless beauty of the drawings is worth seeing. It is a masterpiece that offers a taste of the best of hand-drawn celluloid animation.

There are many more animations that incorporate a "journey" as a stage setting. Even if it was a journey to get somewhere, the process is more important than the result, and when it was over, the time and experience of the journey itself was a great asset. I think that's what traveling is all about. That's why it can be compared to life.

If you enjoy traveling anime, you can go on a real trip to see a different scenery and have a different experience than usual.

(Text by YAMAYU)