An event for the anime "Animation Travelogue 'The Adventures of Marco Polo'" that was broadcast on NHK from 1979 to 1980, "Animation Travelogue 'The Adventures of Marco Polo' All Fan Festival ★ Premium Screening & Talk Show" was held on April 13th at SKIP City Sainokuni Visual Plaza (Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture). Ichiryusai Shunsui (Asagami Yoko), who played Miriam, Koyama Mami, who played Bidoa, and Mizushima Yutaka, who played Dana, looked back on the recording of the "phantom anime."
It was produced based on "The Travels of Marco Polo," which records Marco Polo's 24-year journey to the East from Venice, and was broadcast in 43 episodes. Only the first and final episodes were preserved by NHK, and it was called a "phantom anime," but materials stored by viewers and people involved in the program were unearthed, and all episodes were collected in their entirety in 2021. After about 46 years since its broadcast, all episodes will be rebroadcast on NHK.
Tomiyama Kei, who passed away in 1995, played the main character, Marco Polo. Ichiryusai said, "It was like that from the time of Yamato (Space Battleship Yamato), but Kei was a kind person. He always wore a suit and was stylish. He would arrive at the studio early." Mizushima added, "He liked alcohol." Koyama nodded and said, "He was a kind person."
Mizushima said of her feelings for Toyama, "More than a senior, he was like a team leader. I would say, ``I'll follow you!'' He always had a smile on his face behind his glasses, and I loved him."
The cast included Yasuo Hisamatsu as Nicolo, Kosei Tomita as Mateo, and Asao Koike as the narrator. Koyama reflected, "This cast is unheard of these days. The acting of the seniors was amazing."
Also appearing at the event were anime producer Masao Maruyama and program director Satoshi Nakamura. Mizushima and NHK newscaster Akiko Imamura served as MCs. Episode 8 "Imagination of Baghdad," Episode 16 "Color of Life," and Episode 38 "The Raja's Legacy" were screened. The animated travelogue "The Adventures of Marco Polo" is broadcast every Saturday at 5:10 a.m. on NHK General TV.
