Kiteretsu Daihyakka



Kiteretsu Daihyakka is a Science Fiction manga created by Fujiko Fujio in 1974. Adopting the same basic formula set by Doraemon, the child-friendly comic strip continued until 1977, after which it was adapted into animated form by Studio Gallop in 1988. Broadcast for a total of six years on Fuji TV, the Anime expanded the original storyline considerably, developing an extended Romance Arc as the principal characters matured. The cartoon finished up on June 9, 1996, having completed 331 episodes and one TV special.

The series' premise recycled elements of several earlier Fujio projects, particularly the everyboy hero with a magical helper. In this case, however, the usual character dynamic was reversed, with the protagonist being a child prodigy and the Robot Buddy being an incompetent twit.

At the outset of the story, young Eiichi Kite has been experimenting with various ingenious devices, all of which cause massive property damage when activated. Frustrated to the point of surrender, Eiichi takes heart when he learns that one of his ancestors was the Japanese Da Vinci (ie a brilliant engineer who constructed flying machines during the Edo period).

Investigating further into his family's history, Eiichi stumbles over an ancient manuscript - Kiteretsu's Encyclopedia - and discovers that his ancestor invented considerably more than bamboo hang-gliders. Using the codex, Eiichi successfully constructs a small (but completely useless) robot named Korosuke. Hilarity Ensues as the pair join forces to bring Kiteretsu's designs to life...with predictably catastrophic consequences.

This work provides examples of:

 * Applied Phlebotinum: Like Doraemon's four-dimensional pocket, Kiteretsu's Encyclopedia is an unending source of miraculous gadgets.
 * Animated Adaptation: The animated version ran considerably longer than the original manga, resulting in stronger plotlines and character development.
 * Art Evolution: A considerable amount during the anime's eight year run. Starting out rushed and rather cartoonish, the artwork grew progressively more sophisticated with each passing year.
 * Author Existence Failure: Hiroshi Fujimoto died of liver failure in 1996, and one may assume that his health had been in decline for some time beforehand. Significantly, the anime series ended the same year, barely three months before his death.
 * Bad Future: Largely averted in this case; it's established early on that Eiichi is destined to marry Miyoko. The opening to the final season even shows Miyo-chan dressing up in a bridal gown.
 * Barbie Doll Anatomy: Averted to some degree, due to Japan's more relaxed attitude to child nudity. As in most Fujio collaborations, bathing scenes were fairly common, especially where Miyoko was concerned.
 * Boring but Practical: Totally averted. Everything Eiichi builds is exciting but impractical.
 * Bamboo Technology: To the nth degree; all of Kiteretsu's designs are based on pre-industrial materials, allowing Eiichi to devise time machines from wooden planks and coconut shells.
 * Book Dumb: Maybe. While Eiichi is an engineering genius, it's suggested that he's only an average student.
 * Then again, Einstein's intelligence was frequently questioned during his childhood...
 * Bruiser with a Soft Center: Kaoru, aka Buta (Gorilla), the neighborhood bully. There's always one in every Fujio series, usually with soft spot for lost puppies and helpless babies.
 * Butt Monkey: Korosuke for the most part. In contrast to Doraemon, Koro-san usually takes the fall when one of Eiichi's experiments malfunctions.
 * Expy: Suneo (from Doraemon) is cloned under the name Tongari, serving as Eiichi's chief Rival in the manga. Amusingly, while Tongari has eyes for Miyoko, she barely even acknowledges his existence. (Eventually Tongari got a steady girlfriend, a traveling child singer).
 * Buta Gorilla is an expy of Gian from Doraemon as well.
 * Panty Shot: Miyoko. Usually Played for Laughs.
 * Romance Arc: Eiichi and Miyoko, more or less from day one. Interesting to note that Miyo-chan became a Breakout Character in the anime, indicating how important the relationship had become to the general storyline.
 * Grand Finale: Both the manga and the anime had a finale, although how it went out was different:
 * In the manga
 * In the anime