Pony Canyon has set a new DVD release for the Japanese market with the announcement that Kappa no Sanpei will finally be getting a home video release. The 1993 film will be released on DVD in regular and limited edition form on April 20th, 2016 priced at 3,800 yen and 4,500 yen respectively. The limited edition version will come with a booklet and versions of the sheet from the original theatrical release reproduced in smaller form. On disc extras include the theatrical trailers and notices.
The 90-minute feature is based on Shigure Mizuki’s original work with Toshio Hirata directing based on Shunichi Yukimuro’s screenplay.
Plot concept: Sanpei is a lazy little 7 year old boy who rarely concentrates on anything beside eating his school dinners. Despite being constantly jeered at by his classmates for looking like a Kappa, Sanpei is a relatively happy go lucky boy that is quite content with living alone with his grandfather in the mountains. One day, Sanpei’s school announces that it will hold a swimming gala with the top prize being an all expenses paid trip to the big city of Tokyo. Sanpei resolves to enter the contest so that he can have the chance to visit Tokyo and meet with his Mother who seems to have been working there for as long as he can remember.
Unfortunately, Sanpei is not a very able swimmer and so decides to sneak off to a nearby lake to practice in secret. Sanpei quickly finds himself dragged under the water by a strong undercurrent and drowns only to find himself regain consciousness within the magical realm of the Kappa. Thus begins Sanpei’s journey as he befriends one of the Kappa children, Gartaro, and begins to learn the real whereabouts of his Mother and the reason behind his Fathers disappearance…
[Source: Kappa no Sanpei]
