Yatterman｜Anime
The Japanese TV animation Time Bokan Series Yatterman, produced by Tatsunoko Productions, famous as the company that produced Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gatchaman, two of the most popular Japanese animation series. The director is Hiroshi Sasagawa, who is also known as the king of gag animation, having worked on Heisei Tensai Bakabon and Obake no Q-taro.
Other directors involved were Akira Shigino, who had previously considered directing Pokemon and Crayon Shin-chan, and Masakazu Hishida, who had experience directing Sergeant Keroro and Inuyasha.
A total of 108 episodes were broadcast from 1977 to 1979; a remake and serialised TV animation series was broadcast in 2008.
A film was also released in 2009.
Synopsis
The protagonist Gan Takada (Takada Gan), the son of a toy shop owner, discovers that his father has stopped the production of a large dog-shaped robot halfway through.
He and his girlfriend, Ai Kaminari, are trying to complete the robot.
However, realising that if he completes the dog-shaped robot, his father may only use it as a means to make money, Takada Gan decides to use the dog-shaped robot for the sake of justice.
He then vows to become a hero who exterminates evil as ‘Yatterman’ together with Ai Kaminari.
Meanwhile, the Doronbou gang, villains who make money from their nefarious business, accept a condition from the mysterious man ‘Dokurobei’, who calls himself the ‘God of Thieves’, that if they collect all four skull stones scattered somewhere in the world, he will give them half the gold nuggets, and they follow Dokurobei and start looking for the skull stones.
Gan Takada and Ai Kaminari become Yatterman 1 and Yatterman 2 after learning of the Doronbow Gang’s plans, and together with their robot dog, Yatter One, stop the Doronbow Gang’s evil deeds in this story.
Yatterman | Recommendations
Yatterman” is a popular entry in the Time Bokan series. There is a clear line between right and wrong, and the punishment of the Doronbo gang is always interesting.
The main characters, Gan-chan and Ai-chan, aka Yatterman, are still a young couple, while their enemies Doronjo, Boyacki and Tonzler are a trio of idiots. The personalities of each character in the series are all unique and entertaining every time.
The way they are defeated by the surprise mecha that appear in every fight scene is different every time, and the gag-like robots are so funny that you look forward to them every time.
The timing of the appearance of the new mecha is a good way to keep “Yatterman” interesting, although there is a slight difference in the number of appearances of the various Yatterman mecha.
© Tatsunoko Production
