Anime Column] Tokimeki☆Time Trip vol.14 "Utsukiten Kazoku" - The Three Scoops of a Raccoon, a Human and a Tengu! Heartwarming Comedy

I still love it when I look at it now!"
Why were they so popular with the ladies?"
There is a reason for everything interesting!　A female anime writer takes a look back at some nostalgic works that have become hits with female anime fans.

This time, we take a look at "Arikuten Kazoku" (2013), which is currently airing its sequel "Arikuten Kazoku 2".

Based on the novel "Tanuki Series" by Tomihiko Morimi, this is the second anime adaptation by Morimi after "Shijohan Shinwa Taikei".

Set in modern-day Kyoto, Japan, it has become a hot topic of conversation as a dusty fantasy for adults featuring raccoon dogs, humans, and tengu (a kind of dog).

Although raccoon dogs are the main characters, the four main brothers are quite handsome because they are disguised and live in human society. In addition, the raccoon dogs, who are called "fur balls," are very cute, rolling and wriggling around!　The complex relationships between the characters in the story and the deep enjoyment they bring to the story have also attracted adult female fans.

The author, who has been looking forward to the animated sequel, takes a look back at the charm of the first work in the series.

Fun is good!　A fantasy set in modern-day Kyoto

Since the relocation of the capital to Kyoto in the Heian period, raccoon dogs (tanuki) and tengu (tengu) have been living in Kyoto, mixing with humans. They interact with each other, scare each other, confront each other, and sometimes help each other. ......!

Yasaburo, the third son of the Shimogamo family, a family of raccoon dogs living in the Tadasu Forest, has the "blood of a fool" inherited from his father, who does not take things too seriously and focuses on enjoying himself in everything he does. His motto is "Fun is good! He takes care of his master, an old tengu named Akatama-sensei, and is moved by Benten, a beautiful human woman who uses her divine powers, and is involved in a daily battle with the brothers Kinkaku and Ginkaku, the rival raccoon tigers of the Ebisuwa family.

Tomihiko Morimi's novels are characterized by a slightly old-fashioned and unique writing style and a mysterious and lighthearted worldview. In addition to this series, other anime adaptations have included "Shijohan Shinwa Taikei" (2010), which gained popularity on Noitamina, and the movie "Yoru wa Tanshi Arukkeyo Otome" (2017).

Set in modern-day Japan, "Yuuten Kazoku" is a heartwarming fantasy that can be appreciated by adults, and its circle of popularity has expanded to include people who are unfamiliar with the original work.

While appealing to both men and women alike, the three key elements of "handsome men," "cute things," and "laughter" have firmly captured the hearts of female fans looking for comfort.

A bad-ass hottie!　The Four Shimogamo Brothers

The four Shimogamo raccoon brothers are the most attractive of all.

In their disguised forms, they are all handsome ......, but they are also a bunch of slackers (and that's a good thing). Their late father, Soichiro Shimogamo, was an outstanding chieftain of the raccoon world. The blood of this great father was divided into four parts and passed on to his children.

The blood of the third son, Yazaburo, is the blood of a fool. He is curious, dives into everything, finds everything interesting, and laughs at trouble. He accepts all the daily tragedies, joys, and sorrows, and his easygoing attitude is a kind of enlightenment.

He is often chastised for his absentmindedness, and is often lectured by his staunch eldest son, Yaichiro. However, of all the brothers, Yazaburo is the one who can be relied on to be quick-witted and strong in a pinch, and is the one who can be counted on in a pinch.

He is a rare raccoon who can transform himself into a high school girl, a young lady, a child, or a dharma doll. He has none of the weaknesses that other raccoon dogs tend to have, such as the tendency to lose his mask at such and such a moment. Yet, he has no ambition, and thinks that life is just about "living interestingly. That is why he is called a fool.

And what Yaichiro, the eldest son, inherited from his father is a sense of responsibility.
The second son, Yajiro, inherited his carefree spirit.
The fourth son, Yashiro, inherited a sense of purity.

Each of the four brothers is kind, and each has his own humanistic (if that sounds strange) concerns. The earnest Yaichiro, as the eldest son, does his best, knowing that he is not good enough to succeed his great father. The troublesome Yajiro, who has been unable to change back to his original form after being transformed into a frog, is revealed to have been deeply troubled and sad. The still young Yashiro is an immature boy who, when startled, peels off his disguise and his tail flicks out.

The four brothers may have their own qualities, but when compared to their great father, they are not as good as him, which is the hardest thing for children.

The mother's love warmly embraces the siblings. This mother is really good. It will make you cry. She believes in her sons and watches over them, no matter what anyone says.

The relationship between the four brothers is also a sight to behold. Each of them goes his own way, and the fact that they do not get along well with each other is like saying, "This is how male siblings really are.

However, when the family is in danger, they do their utmost to confront it. The climax of the film, in which the four brothers, who are said to be very poor at what they do, do their best to turn things around, is an exhilarating experience that takes away the sadness of the previous episodes.

It is not only heartwarming!　It is cute, cruel, sad, and cheerful.

The story unfolds in a comical and heartwarming way, but at the same time it is also quite cruel.

Soichiro Shimogamo, the father of the four brothers, met his end when he was eaten by a human as part of a tanuki nabe (raccoon dog stew).

Soichiro was eaten by the Friday Club. They are the natural enemy of the raccoon dogs.

At the same time, however, the raccoon dogs disguise themselves as humans and enter the human world to talk and eat with them.

Yazaburo is also attracted to Benten, a beautiful woman who is a disciple of Akadama-sensei and a member of the Friday Club. Benten is dangerous because she says of Yazaburo, "I love her so much I want to eat her. Talking with someone who could eat you, you are swayed, sometimes deceived, and sometimes saved. It is a mysterious relationship.

In the latter half of "Arigaten Kazoku," the truth about the death of Soichiro Shimogamo, the father, is revealed, and it is quite serious and weighty. Yaichiro wails when he learns the truth, and Yazaburo looks up at the night sky with dry eyes.

However, "Arigaten Kazoku" does not plunge into a revenge battle from there. He accepts the reality, is not crushed by hatred, and gets by without blaming anyone, which is a strength that only Yazaburo, with his strong "blood of stupidity," could have.

Raccoons, humans, and tengu. The relationship between raccoon dogs, humans, and tengu, a three-pronged relationship that is not mentioned in the story.

The relationship between raccoon dogs, humans, and tengu in this story is not a simple one. Everyone is an adult, so they don't speak their mind and don't tell each other what is on their mind, but they are calm on the surface.

In terms of power relations, tengu look down on humans and raccoon dogs, humans are afraid of tengu and eat raccoon dogs in a raccoon-pot, and raccoon dogs are free to do as they please, sometimes even fooling humans and tengu.

The tengu is represented by Akatama-sensei, the human by Benten, and the raccoon by Yazaburo.

It is interesting to note, however, that love weakens people (even raccoon dogs).

The old Akatama sensei falls in love with his pupil Benten, who pays him a tribute with tengu tools and then leaves him to run free. And Yazaburo is still attracted to Benten, his first love, even though he fears her.

Benten is an enigmatic beauty. She seems to be an evil woman, and she seems to be playing with Akadama-sensei and Yazaburo. But she is also a victim of being kidnapped by a tengu a long time ago, and she is just living free. She also seems to have feelings for Akadama-sensei and Yazaburo.

And Yazaburo, too, has a debt to Akatama-sensei, though it is not explained in detail in the anime. He tricked and deceived Akatama in the "Maosugi Incident" and injured him, which led to Akatama's downfall.

It is like a three-way game of rock-paper-scissors: everyone is strong against someone and also weak against someone else. And knowing this, Yazaburo properly stands up to the troublesome Akatama-sensei and runs away from Benten, Akatama-sensei does not blame Yazaburo or Benten for his sins, and Benten smiles coquettishly and occasionally gives a glimpse of loneliness and tears.

When I see it, I want to go to Kyoto!

The scenery of Kyoto that appears in the work are all places that exist in real life. Watching the anime makes you want to go to Kyoto.

Shimogamo Shrine is located near the Tadasunomori forest where the raccoon dogs of the Shimogamo family live.
Rikudo-Jinnoji Temple, where there is a well where Yajiro, who has turned into a frog, lives.
Kamo Ohashi Bridge, where the riverside scenery has appeared many times.

The "Isikawa Power Plant," where the Isikawa family's factory is located.
Rokkakudo," where the fake-emon election rally was held.
The "Eizan Train" where Yajiro was good at disguising himself.

The arcaded "Demachi Masugata Shopping Arcade," which appears several times in the film, is also the model for the setting of "Tamako Market," an animated film also set in Kyoto.

Fantasy works that feature a mixture of human and non-human races, magic, and magic and witchcraft are often set in faraway "somewhere other than here," but this work is set in modern Japan, which is a delightful touch. In ancient times, "tales of wonders" such as yokai and ghost stories were rooted in the local climate and were right next to the reality in which we live.

This high-quality fantasy comedy is filled with the charm of Kyoto, a city that evokes the otherworldly world. Fans will be very happy to see the sequel in anime again.

For those who started with "Arikiten Kazoku 2," be sure to check out the first anime. The characters' emotions and past stories are described in great detail, so we also recommend reading the original novel after watching the anime.

(Text by YAMAYU)
(c) Tomihiko Morimi, Gentosha / "Yujoten Kazoku" Production Committee