The first work is "Luchka the Harinezumi", a very popular picture book that has been a long seller for more than 10 years! Aniphone" will continue to produce short animations of picture books in the future!
- The following is content from the press release -
We are pleased to announce the start of the "Aniehon" project, in which Kodansha's picture books are made into short animated cartoons and shown on TV commercials and on the web!
The original story for the first commemorative edition is "Harinezumi no Ruchika," which has been a long seller for more than 10 years and has long been loved as a picture book that can be enjoyed by children from one year old to adults.
The "Aniphone "Harinezumi no Ruchika"" will feature two versions of the most popular first work in the original "Harinezumi no Ruchika" series, a long version and a short version, which will be broadcast and distributed starting today, May 10 (Fri.) at 12:00 noon. The 30-second short version will be aired nationwide, while the director's cut version, a 3-minute long version, will be available on the website. The English subtitled version will also be available on the web, making it a film that can be enjoyed by people from overseas as well.
The warm and gentle world of the original work has been preserved and beautifully and colorfully reproduced in this animation production by Funworks, which has produced the "Sumikko Gurashi Movie" series and "Aggressive Retsuko" (NETFLIX), etc. Masanori Numaguchi, director of NHK E-TV's "Inadvertent Penelope" 4th series, etc., is in charge of the production. The film is a delicate and fantastic 3D animation of "a story of gentle friendship among mysterious creatures in the mysterious land of Ferrier" directed by Masanori Numaguchi, who also directed the fourth series of NHK E-television's "Careless Penelope.
Aiming to further develop the visualization of this work, we plan to exhibit a booth and make a presentation on stage at MIFA, the largest animation content market in Europe, which will be held during the Annecy Festival (June 9-15, 2024).
We will continue to develop "Aniehon" to make picture books more accessible to children and their families.
Official WEB site:https://cocreco.kodansha.co.jp/special/ruchika
About "Luchka the Harinezumi" by Aniehon
summary
Luchka is a harpy who loves to make jam and sing.
This is a heartwarming tale of the mysterious creatures of the land of Ferrier.
One day, they go looking for mole soles and red currants to make red and sweet jam, but...
Character Introductions
lutica
A gentle hearted hedgehog.
I love making jam and singing.
He always walks with an apple on his head.
Sol
Mole.
He is weak-minded and picky.
Sol's shovel was used to break up the soil,
Any plant can grow lively.
false or crocodile fish (Boschniakia rossica)
Big fish come with the rain and go with the rain.
They have been traveling through the sky since long, long ago.
Nico.
Ladybugs.
The beautiful sounds of the whole forest are collected in the pochette.
Lucre and Kupru
Two sisters, a white cat and a black cat.
They are excellent cooks, and parties are held at their house whenever they want to.
The house where they live is called "Lucpul's House" by the forest inhabitants.
Japanese sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicus, esp. referring to an adult)
She is a little bit of a lazy forest fairy girl.
I love wearing rabbit headgear.
He is a juggler and always carries a red ball with him.
Information on "Luchka the Harinezumi" (Harinezumi no Ruchika)
Aniehon" is a project name that combines the words "anime" and "ehon" (picture book).
Distribution channel: "Aniehon" channel
Delivery date: Friday, May 10, 2024, 12:00 noon
Broadcast: Broadcast in TV commercial slots nationwide
Official site:https://cocreco.kodansha.co.jp/special/ruchika
Official X (former Twitter): @ruchika_anime
Production: Fun Works
Director: Masanori Numaguchi
Voice: Luchka: Minami Shinoda, Sol: Fukuko Yukifukayama, Narration: Ikeru Hota
©Yuko Kanno, Hagu Kitami, Kodansha/ANIMEHON Project
Director's Comment: Masanori Numaguchi
I am very grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the production of "Harinezumi no Ruchika. Kanno-san and Kitami-san have spent many years building a wonderful, wonderful world, and I was humbled to accept the opportunity to visualize it.
In the production, we were careful not to spoil the warm atmosphere of the original work, while maximizing the appeal of the characters and expressing them as if they were there vividly. Thanks to the enthusiastic cooperation of the entire staff, we were able to produce a good production. We hope that you will see the film and feel the charm of the original work in a new way.
This time we produced it as a short animation, and we sincerely hope that this series will be further developed.
About the original work "Luchka the Harinezumi
Ruchka the hedgehog series
Written by Yuko Kanno Illustrated by Hagu Kitami
summary
Luchka is a cheerful house mouse. He lives in the country of Ferrier.
The land of Ferrier is located in the world where we live. It is a secret place that only those who believe in it can see.
Big and small, lively and quiet, and with different faces and shapes, these creatures have created their own perfect homes in their favorite places and are living together in harmony.
Works
The "Ruchika the Harinezumi" series has been a long seller for more than 10 years as children's stories that nurture kindness and consideration for friends. Picture books and children's stories for younger children have also been published since then.
Publication Information
Ruchika the Harinezumi" by Yuko Kanno and Hago Kitami
Harinezumi no Ruchika" series for ages 1 to adult
- picture book
Book of Illustrations "Luchka the Mouse: Can You Apple Pick an Apple? Read aloud from 1 year old
Reading "Luchka the mouse" from 4 years old - fairy-tale
Luchka the mouse, the egg, the baby, who is it? From 1st grade
Luchka the Harinezumi" (from 3rd grade elementary school) *All the following are from 3rd grade elementary school
Luchka the Harinezumi: The Key to the Key
Luchka the Harpy Mouse: The Wonderful Tram
Luchka the Harpy Rat: The Night the Stars Were Born
Luchka the Harpy Rat: Adventures in an Illustrated Book, Book 1
Luchka the Harpy Rat: Adventures in an Illustrated Book, Part 2
Luchka the Harpy, Halloween Lights.
Luchka the Harinezumi: A New Year in the Land of Ferrier.
Luchka the Harpy Mermaid: The Mermaid's Island
Ruchka the Harpy Rat: The Secret of Turi
Luchka the Harinezumi: The Rainbow Egg
Luchka the Harpy, The Little Night Music Concert
Luchka the Harpy Mouse: Where the Spirits Live.
Author's comment: by Yuko Kanno
I started writing "Harinezumi no Ruchika" in 2011. It was born from the thought that if I could write a story that would light a small light in the hearts of those who are still in sorrow from the disaster, I would be able to .......
I've been writing since the first volume was published in 2013 until today, but I never thought I'd see the day when the lutkas would come alive and move on. If I told myself back then, I'm sure I would have rolled my eyes in amazement.
The completed animated film is warm, beautiful, and full of tenderness. I hope that the animated film "Harinezumi no Ruchika" will be loved by many people.
Author's comment: Illustrated by Yoko Kitami
When I began to draw this story, I wondered what kind of world Luchka the house mouse would live in.
I recall a succession of images: a slightly mysterious forest, a lutica with a basket shaped exactly like my own, Sol the Mole with a shovel slung over his shoulder.
I never thought that those children would start to move! I was filled with emotion and gratitude. It was so cute to see them running around with their adorable voices and gestures amidst the warm narration and beautiful music.
The animated work "Harinezumi no Ruchika" reproduces the world of Ruchika, who is full of compassion, as it is. We hope many people will enjoy it.
▼YouTube Link
URL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCmZceVM-3Q5cn0t6GSPSkA
When publishing this release, please include the following copyright information
©Yuko Kanno, Hagu Kitami, Kodansha/ANIMEHON Project
©Yuko Kanno, Yoko Kitami, KODANSHA /ANIMEHON Project
©Y,Y,K/AP