Wolf Boy Ken
Wolf Boy Ken | |
| |
狼少年ケン (Ōkami Shōnen Ken) | |
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Anime television series | |
Directed by |
Sadao Tsukioka Isao Takahata |
Studio | Toei Animation |
Original network | TV Asahi |
Original run | November 11th, 1963 – August 16th, 1965 |
Episodes | 86 |
Wolf Boy Ken (狼少年ケン Ōkami Shōnen Ken) is the first anime series produced by Toei Animation (then Toei Doga).[1] The series is known for having more frames per second than other anime of the same time. The series also implemented sponsorship by a large corporation, in this case, Morinaga Candy Company. An English pilot was created to pitch for America but was scrapped.[2]
Plot
Ken is a young boy who was raised by wolves (similar to Mowgli) in a jungle in the Himalayan Mountains. One day a meteor hits the jungle, causing a drastic change. This eventually leads to famine and a need for certain animals to relocate. Ken tries to help the animals as much as possible, in particular he watches over two young wolf cubs named Chichi and Poppo. Jack, a one-eyed wolf, doesn't like Ken as he is a human living among them. One day, Ken saves Jack's life. Jack later has the opportunity to let Ken die when he is bitten by a poisonous snake, but decides to return the favor and save his life instead. This mutual affair causes a friendship to form between the two, and they team up to save the other animals from predators and humans.
Characters
- Yuuji Nishimoto as Ken
- Kenji Utsumi as Jack
- Hiroshi Masuoka as Kuma
- Hiroshi Ohtake as Black
- Jouji Yanami as Boss
- Kazue Tagami as Chicchi
- Yoko Mizugaki as Poppo
- Keiko Yamamoto as Wally
- Reiko Katsura as Dorothy
- Takuzou Kamiyama as Gorilla