It has been announced that the TV anime "Nezumikun no Chokki," based on the popular picture book series "Nezumikun no Chokki," will be broadcast on NHK Educational TV every Saturday at 9:30 am starting April 4th. It has also been announced that Kenjiro Tsuda and Mamiko Noto will be starring as the lead voice actors. Tsuda and Noto will voice all the characters, including Nezumikun and Nemichan. This is the first time the work has been adapted into a TV anime.
Tsuda said, "I never thought I'd be involved, so I was really happy when I received the offer to appear. I was surprised at first when I heard that just the two of us would be playing all the characters, but I felt that it would be very rewarding as a voice actor, and that it would test my range of expression and imagination. The delicate task of properly facing each character and changing the expression through differences in voice, timing, and breathing was a very fresh and stimulating experience. I was a little worried at first, but once I got started, I was guided by Noto's soft and wide-ranging acting, and I was able to act very enjoyably. I'm sure this animation will satisfy both long-time fans of the original work and those who are experiencing it for the first time. I think you'll be able to hear a variety of voices, which is something new for me as well. I hope you enjoy the world of Mr. Mouse and his friends."
Noto commented, "I was surprised when I heard about the role. It's like a dream that I could be involved...I am very happy, honored, and grateful. It was rewarding to have just the two of us take on all the characters, but I also felt it was a high hurdle. We listened to actual animal sounds and expanded on the sound images from their size and shape...we went to the recording session by trial and error, imagining the gentle world of the work...but when I heard Tsuda's first lines as Mouse, everything else was blown away; he was just like the gentle world of the picture book, and I was so moved that I don't know how to put it into words. I couldn't help but think, 'Mouse, you were here!' I focused on harmonizing with Tsuda's voice and cherished what came to mind on the spot. 'Mouse's Vest' has been read for a long time and is loved by many people, so please enjoy the animation."
Original author Nakae Yoshio sent a message saying, "I love books. The binding, the shape, the feel of the paper. And above all, the excitement of turning a page. Books have that in them. I love the modest appearance of a book sitting patiently on a bookshelf, waiting for someone to pick it up. The picture book about the little mouse was born from those feelings I have about books. The little mouse feels comfortable inside the small space inside a picture book, and is always running around. I was surprised to hear that the little mouse is now being made into an anime. However, it seems that the anime will still convey that excitement of turning a page. I wonder what will happen? I'm looking forward to it. I hope you all enjoy it too."
Director Habara Nobuyoshi, who is working on the animation, commented, "It's been 52 years since 'Mouse's Vest' was published in 1974. The recently released 'Mouse Who Wants to Be an Artist' has reached its 43rd volume, and this work has finally been made into a TV animation! In directing this irreplaceable work that has brought smiles to so many children's faces for over 50 years, the most important thing I kept in mind while following Nakae-sensei's story was to 'make the picture book move as it is.' I thought that the most suitable way to do this was to use 3DCG expression using the skilled techniques of a master artist, and that it would allow Ueno-sensei's illustrations to move in a cute way. I also made use of the color frames that are a characteristic of this work, and tried to maintain the size of the characters in the picture book as much as possible, and I think I've created a work that feels as if you are reading it while looking at the picture book. I hope you will immerse yourself in the world of Mouse!"
"Mouse's Vest" is a popular series filled with humor and warmth, featuring a small but kind-hearted mouse and his animal friends. The first volume was published by Poplar Publishing in 1974, and the series will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024. By 2025, the 51st year, 43 volumes will have been published, with a total circulation of over 5 million copies in Japan and 16 million copies overseas, making it a long-selling series.
*Staff (titles omitted)
Director: Habara Nobuyoshi ▽ Character design and CG director: Yasuda Kanemori ▽ Production: Creadom8 ▽ Planning/production: Poplar Publishing
