Future boy Conan
First, i want to say that while i was watching this anime i had numerous moments of a strange inner peace, like i was 10 again and i had no problems what-so-ever. I laughed many times and i smiled. This is an anime that gives you so much peace and joy, if you can appreciate an old time pure classic. I guess i am a classic too, because i am one year older than this anime :D I have to mention that is the first time when i watch this anime. I watched other anime classics that where aired on Romanian TV at that time, like Heidi and Sandybell. Of course, back then i had no idea that there were called anime. So if a 31yo can watch this old anime without getting bored, that says a lot about it. It stood the test of time very good although the animation can be called “dated”. No problem here with it, i like old things.
I will give you one more reason to watch this anime. You will see the name of Hayao Miyazaki in the ending credits. It is because he created the characters, wrote the story and even directed most of this anime except two episodes. It is his debut as a director, after he did extensive work as animator. layout drawing and even manga creation. Before this anime, he helped creating classics such as Panda Go Panda and Heidi: Girl of the Alps.
Now let us proceed to the review of Future Boy Conan, also called Conan, the Boy in Future. Produced by Nippon Animation, Future Boy Conan had the premier in 1978, lasting 26 episodes. The Japanese name is Mirai Shinen Konan.
The story takes place after the earth was rendered bare by a war with magnetic weapons that ravaged the surface, provoking earthquakes and causing the continents to sink in the oceans. few survived the devastation. One spaceship full of survivors managed to escape but soon crashed on a remote island which they called Remnant Island. There, they started to live their lives again.
After a few years, a boy is born and he was named Conan. He is grown and cared by his grandfather after his parents died. Unfortunately, as the years went by, all of the inhabitants of the island passed away, except the boy and his grandfather. Conan ended up a very strong and full of life kid, who likes to fish, laugh and spend time with his grandfather.
One day he finds a girl, stranded on the shore of the island. Her name is Lana, and she is running away from the soldiers of Industria, one of the major forces left in the world. They want Lana because her grandfather, Doctor Lao, is the only expert in solar energy left in the world. Lana is a very special girl, who can feel what the birds are saying and feeling.
But soon, Industria finds her and a plane comes to the island. A fight follows, and Conan’s grandfather is badly injured. Lana is taken on the plane and Conan tries to rescue her, but he cannot bring down the plane. He returns to the island, only to find his grandfather on the verge of death. With his last breath, the old man tells Conan to leave the island and live with other people like him. The death of his grandfather leaves Conan very angry and confused, and we can see his great power while he throws huge boulders in the air, smashing them in the ground. But he is a boy full of hope and his high spirit soon recovers. He leaves the island on a boat he made, to find Lana and to save her. In his journey, he manages to make another friend, a weird kid named Jimsy that he meets on a deserted island. Jimsy likes to hunt and one of his favorite food is… frog meat. I already spoiled too much for my taste, so that is all the story you will find out from me.
I liked the music a lot, a very joyful and adventurous theme, very fitted with the story. “Because the dawn is so beautiful!” Even more, the end credits song is very charming and beautiful.
You can easily find Miyazaki’s mark in the style of the characters. Although the animation is a little low on frames (nothing to be afraid of, was a trademark of that age), you can also see his style in the movements of the characters. Sometimes the animation can get kind of messy and a little blurred, but hey, it is an anime from 1978. The backgrounds are in the style of the those years, full of pastel colors that blend very well with the overall style of the anime. I liked very much the scene when Conan is inside the rocket tower and the wind is blowing in the night, raising the vegetation and making a sinister noise, giving a nice feeling of loneliness and desolation. Not every scene is colorful and bright, perhaps to remind us of the post-apocalyptic background of the story. It can be said that this is a science-fiction adventure anime.
What can three innocent kids can do against a cruel world? Will they stood up to the challenge or they fill falter? A classical beauty of the Japanese animation. Recommended from all my heart. Good night.
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