The distant calls of yodeling punctuated by the rustle of the wind in the tall fir trees over head… the smell of the soft green grass below… the crisp blue sky, the mountains, the grazing goats… welcome to the Swiss Alps, or at least an animated version of it. Welcome to one of Japan’s greatest accomplishments in anime, which has reached out and touched audiences both natively and throughout the world. Welcome to an anime that displayed the skill and craft of two of Japan’s then-young auteurs, showing a glimpse of their future career promise. A very welcome indeed to Heidi, Girl of the Alps.
Johanna Spyri’s novel Heidi has been reinterpreted more times than I can count on both my fingers and toes, but there is something special about this 1974 version that was released under the then Calpis Comic Theater, which later became the better known World Masterpiece Theater. As anime fans, this is our holy grail/de facto version and even more so for fans of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. See, very special! Both men would be key to laying down the look and feel of this TV series and with Takahata at the helm as director, you know this is going to have a strong guiding hand at the wheel.
Mostly following the original source, we witness Heidi, our young orphaned heroine, during her early childhood in a small town in the Swiss Alps followed by her sojourn to Frankfurt, Germany where she befriends a wheelchair bound Clara Sesemann. Eventually succumbing to severe homesickness and depression we transition to a third act where Heidi returns home and finally the last chapter, which is devoted to the miraculous visit of Clara to Heidi’s home. Well paced, and never boring for a moment, Heidi shows the typical quality control of Miyazaki and Takahata that we know very well today. Superb craftsmanship and choreography in every line and detail is seen in the artwork and it is in my opinion that this was an example of a TV series made in the 1970s that raised the bar in terms of visual quality… it is still gorgeous to behold.
Throughout the 52 episode run I laughed and cried and enjoyed the unfolding story at hand. But many times I felt moved, deeply moved by the acts of kindness and sincerity occasionally seen in Heidi. I get very emotional often and this show moved me to tears too many times… and I am not complaining! Excuse me while I have a Hallmark moment, lol. Particularly in the last section with Clara’a visit to Heidi’s home. Watching her gain the strength and will to try to walk was almost like watching a good sports anime. “COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT! YEAH!” In many ways that section could have had the subtitle attached, Clara, the Caged Princess from Frankfurt. Living primarily in an environment that catered to her ‘disability’ with helicopter adults, her only life experience would be mostly trapped at home with her educational lessons. Clara’s visit to the Swiss Alps was more than just simple therapy, it was life changing! Welcome to the big wide world Clara, it has been generously waiting for you. She is and was my favorite character!
When the final episode drew to a close I was mixed in emotions. I felt a sense of closure and finality and yet, I wanted to see Heidi, Clara and Peter (Heidi’s goatherd friend) spend one more day in the sun having fun, laughing, playing, eating and appreciating their shared company. The joys of innocence and wonder from childhood abounded with Heidi and I often looked back to my youth. I have a sister named Claire who I am very close with, but I don’t feel we spend as much time together as we did as kids. We mixed up our toys in play scenarios and enjoyed the woods that was part of our home. Often times it was just us and we made the best of it and I treasure those memories. Heidi in its own way helped me remember that life was not perfect as a kid, eventual divorce as an example, but when times were good, it was pure heaven. Thank you for those times and for those that are to come.
Expecting much of a plot summary from me on this show will be a definite no no this time round. Heidi, Girl of the Alps is a show to be experienced on your own personal level and I do not want to ruin any surprises. Heidi is a grand mix of Takahata’s patient subtlety and Miyazaki’s showmanship…. a story about the joys of simple living, loving nature and giving and receiving love. This is my favorite Takahata directed production, Only Yesterday comes a close second. Truly a magnum opus, Heidi, Girl of the Alps is in one word, just… beautiful. Thank you gentlemen and all those who made this show. For us fans of anime this is our Heidi, and I wouldn’t want any other substitute. Bonus… spot all the Heidi references in The Castle of Cagliostro 🙂
p.s… Johanna Spyri said it best in the original novel as this is a book “for children and those who love children”. The same holds true for Heidi, Girl of the Alps 🙂
Hashire Melos… Run Melos… An Olympic Fable: Run For Life… call it what you will. Produced by Toei and directed by long time veteran Tomoharu Katsumata, Run Melos would debut as a one and done TV special. Our story begins with Melos at home preparing for the wedding of his beloved sister and their close friend out in the countryside. Afterwards he sets off towards the city for some last minute shopping when by accident he gets into trouble with the law. The city’s ways have changed under the rule of their king as he has become much more strict and there is an air to the atmosphere that feels a little off and corrupt.
Melos soon goes to trial for the alleged incident and encourages a friend to be brought forth to offer testimony. Despite this, Melos is sentenced to die. Trying to prove his innocence Melos and his friend offer a bargain which allows Melos three days to return home to watch his sister get married. Melos would then return to accept his sentence and in exchange, his friend would take his place as a form of collateral. If Melos does not return, the friend would receive Melos’ punishment. Can Melos get back to his home in the country to fulfill his obligations and return to the city on time?
Originally this was a short story by Osamu Dazai, which is a reinterpretation of Friedrich Schiller’s Die Bürgschaft, which is a version of Gaius Julius Hyginus’ take on the Greek legend of 
Before this anime I had only one reference to the name of Melos. The opening theme from Blue Comet SPT Layzner is named Melos no Yō ni Lonely Way. Main protagonist Eiji is seen running, or piloting the Layzner, while the rocking guitar track accompanies. So now I know where that song comes from, more so the original short story than the anime perhaps. Run Melos is classic late 70s/early 80s Toei through and through from the look, the feel and… even the smell. Well maybe not smell, but I thought it would be funny. Many of my first anime experiences are Toei products from that era and now I can add this to my listing as well.
Masao Kume was from some minor research, a well known and popular author, playwright and poet. The adaptation of his story Student Days would become part of the large omnibus show Animated Classics of Japanese Literature, except this narrative would be broadcast a year after the initial season of the show as a special follow up. Spanning only one episode we follow Kenkichi, a young man looking to give his second attempt to apply to Ichiko. For him a lot is on the line, he must get into this school which includes impressing a friend of his sister, Sumiko, who he has a crush on, who seems to have taken a liking to him. With so much encouragement what could go wrong?
Well… one of Kenkichi’s friends we find out decided to take the entrance exam for another school which is easier to get in to… bummer. Another friend is just squandering his family’s money because all he has to do is just take the test, no strings attached here to succeed… grrr. And finally we arrive at the nail in the coffin, the arrival of younger brother, Kenji, who plans on taking the Ichiko test as well. Yet Kenji has no expectations, it’s only practice, a trial run… no strings attached. Even Sumiko has shown some interest in Kenji. What is Kenkichi to do? Give everything he has for duty, a hope that getting into Ichiko will solve his problems and lead to happiness.
Student Days takes the obsession of college entrance perfectionism to a logical extreme, which by the end made me ask, how did it all come to this? What began as a hope for the future would eventually turn sour. Kenkichi’s blind ambition towards a goal out of a duty to look acceptable to others instead of following something more sincere is such a common occurrence in the human experience. What we do for an occupation, or the manner in which we move up the social ladder, in the end is not truly who we are, but in youth we often don’t realize this. Be careful for what you think you desire, it may do more harm than good.
The Classic Anime Museum 
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