As various long time Japanese anime producers work through their extensive catalogs, they run into the problem of how some shows have not… aged well. That has them bringing out interesting disclaimers about how the work was an expression of the period of time and does not reflect how they feel now. Which is good, because they also make it clear that it’s worth preserving these works for historical understanding of the time and place as well. Such is the case with Umeboshi Denka, a twenty-six episode series that aired in the spring and summer of 1969. Created by F. Fujio Fukio, who also created Doraemon, the show was a TMS/Studio Zero series that has some less than flattering elements about it in how it portrays various people.
The distributor is bringing out the complete series on DVD next year on January 6th, 2015 priced at 24,800 yen. The release information says it’ll be 52 episodes, but I get the impression that they’re 52 stories done in the 26 episode format. Due to lost materials, the ninth episode will be video only as no audio could be salvaged for it. The set will come with a 36 page booklet as well as the clean opening and closing sequences. It’ll be a four disc release.
Plot concept: The goofy tales of a king and his family who make their way to Earth after their planet explodes.
[Source: Umeboshi Denka DVD-Box]
Pre-ordered the set! Love those black and white anime!
“Umeboshi Denka”, unlike “Perman”, “Q-Taro”, and “Kaibutsu Kun”, never managed to get a second show in color. Not from lack of trying, however. They made a 30-minute theatrical film in 1994 (paired with a “Doraemon” movie) that served as a pilot for a revival, but it never happened. The 1969 black and white show was the only time the character ever got a television run.