Original network Fuji TV Network Fuji Television | Final episode date 29 March 1975 | |
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Genre Coming of age, Adventure, Comedy-Drama Similar Tamagon the Counselor, Hyppo and Thomas, Dokkan! Robotendon, Ippatsu Kanta‑kun, Starzan S | ||
Urikupen Kyūjotai (ウリクペン救助隊, Urikupen Kyūjotai, Urikupen Rescue Team) is a 1974 anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Production and directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. The series premiered on Fuji TV on September 30, 1974 and ended on March 29, 1975.
Contents
Much later in 1991, Saban Entertainment has licensed and adapted the anime series for a worldwide release outside of Japan under the name, Jungle Tales and has condensed the 156 5-minute (serialized) episodes into 26 half-hour episodes. The voice casting and the English language dubbing production took place in Canada. It has been broadcast on YTV in Canada and on Nick Jr. in the United States. Heavy changes were made such as a new music score and different character names. At the end of each condensed episode, a 3-minute music video was added to summarize the episode's plot. Many foreign dubs of the anime series would be mere translations of the dub.
Plot
Setting in the country of Urikupen kingdom, A rescue team that's consisting of animals go onto missions to rescue forest animals in disastrous locations. A mobilization scenario is shown once a week stating "this week's Lifetime Achievement Award" which is given to the rescue workers.
Gimmick
In Japan, when the program aired on Mondays, the King lion would get a new report of some animal in danger who needs to be rescued. The lion would send the team to the rescue, but they actually compete to see who would be the first one to reach the victim and perform the rescue. Every day the seagull would observe their progress (they were short due to being five-minute episodes), which kept changing with one animal and then another in the lead as they met various obstacles, including the sabotage attempts of the wolf and his lieutenants. The lion at headquarters would get the seagull’s daily report and mark the team’s progress on a large map by moving chess-like markers with the heads of each animal. On Saturdays the rescue would be completed, and there would be a big celebration back at the headquarters, with the whole team happily congratulating whoever was the winner that week.
Production
The series was produced by Tatsunoko Production and directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. The anime has been licensed by Saban Entertainment in North America.
The opening theme is "Ganbare! Urikupen Kyūjotai" by Ichirou Mizuki and Columbia Yurokago Kai.