Demetan Croaker, The Boy Frog
Encyclopedia
, also known as Demetan the Frog
and The Brave Frog, is a 39 episode anime
series by Tatsunoko Productions first aired in 1973.
Like many of Tatsunoko's series at the time (in particular its predecessor Kashi no Ki Mokku), the show was often sad and sadistic
, with Demetan having to deal with natural predators as well as the bullies
who rule the pond
. The well-loved theme song sung by Mitsuko Horie
has a melancholy sound.
In addition to its original broadcast on Fuji TV in 1973, Kerokko Demetan was re-run on TV Tokyo
in 1982, as a replacement for Don Dracula
, which was pulled off the air following the bankruptcy of its production company.
The only versions of the series to reach the English language
were two feature-length movie adaptations produced by Harmony Gold
in 1985, edited from the TV series. The two movies, called The Brave Frog and The Brave Frog's Greatest Adventure, tell the entire storyline of the series in heavily-condensed form. Rebecca Forstadt
portrayed the voice of Pookie (Ranatan). The first movie was released on videocassette in 1995 and on DVD in 1999.
In 1990, Harmony Gold also translated the 26 episodes into English under the title "Adventures On Rainbow Pond." The original version of the series like the Candy
and Heidi series became very popular in other regions such as: Asia, Europe (particularly in France where the entire series was recently was released on DVD), Quebec, Canada and Latin America.
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
and The Brave Frog, is a 39 episode anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series by Tatsunoko Productions first aired in 1973.
Overview
The story is about Demetan (Jonathan in the English version), a poor young frog living in Rainbow Pond with his mother and father (a toymaker), who becomes friends with a popular and sweet girl frog named Ranatan (Pookie in the English version), despite the differences in their social standings: Ranatan is the daughter of the leader of Rainbow Pond (English name, Leopold), while Demetan and his parents are tree frogs, which make them automatic outcasts in the community. Together, Demetan and Ranatan enjoy many adventures.Like many of Tatsunoko's series at the time (in particular its predecessor Kashi no Ki Mokku), the show was often sad and sadistic
Sadistic personality disorder
Sadistic personality disorder is a diagnosis which appeared only in an appendix of the revised third edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . The current version of the DSM does not include it, so it is no longer considered a valid...
, with Demetan having to deal with natural predators as well as the bullies
Bullies
Bullies is a 1986 Canadian action-drama film about a feud between two families in a small town in a similar vein to the story of Romeo and Juliet...
who rule the pond
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
. The well-loved theme song sung by Mitsuko Horie
Mitsuko Horie
is a Japanese seiyū and singer. She was born on March 8, 1957 in Yamato, Kanagawa, Japan. She has voiced several characters throughout her career, such as Sailor Galaxia in Sailor Moon: Sailor Stars and Remi in the Nippon Animation World Masterpiece Theater series Remi, Nobody's Girl...
has a melancholy sound.
In addition to its original broadcast on Fuji TV in 1973, Kerokko Demetan was re-run on TV Tokyo
TV Tokyo
is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
in 1982, as a replacement for Don Dracula
Don Dracula
is a manga by Osamu Tezuka that began serialization in 1979.-Plot:After living in Transylvania for several years, "Earl Dracula" has moved to Japan...
, which was pulled off the air following the bankruptcy of its production company.
The only versions of the series to reach the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
were two feature-length movie adaptations produced by Harmony Gold
Harmony Gold
Harmony Gold may refer to:* Harmony Gold , a South African gold mining company* Harmony Gold USA, an American television producer and distributor...
in 1985, edited from the TV series. The two movies, called The Brave Frog and The Brave Frog's Greatest Adventure, tell the entire storyline of the series in heavily-condensed form. Rebecca Forstadt
Rebecca Forstadt
Rebecca Lynn Olkowski , better known by her maiden name, Rebecca Forstadt, is an American voice actor who is best known for playing anime girls with sweet voices. She is also known as Reba West and Becky Olkowski.After studying theater at Orange Coast College, in Costa Mesa, California, Ms...
portrayed the voice of Pookie (Ranatan). The first movie was released on videocassette in 1995 and on DVD in 1999.
In 1990, Harmony Gold also translated the 26 episodes into English under the title "Adventures On Rainbow Pond." The original version of the series like the Candy
Candy Candy
is a Japanese novel, manga, and anime series. The main character, Candice "Candy" White Ardlay is a blonde American girl with freckles, large emerald green eyes and long, curly hair, worn in pigtails with bows. Candy Candy first appeared in a prose novel by famed Japanese writer Kyoko Mizuki in...
and Heidi series became very popular in other regions such as: Asia, Europe (particularly in France where the entire series was recently was released on DVD), Quebec, Canada and Latin America.
Japanese Voice Actors
- Yuko Hisamatsu as Demetan
- Mari OkamotoMari Okamotois a Japanese actress and voice actress who is currently a member of the Mausu Promotion agency.- Biography :Despite being born in Tokyo, Okamoto was actually raised in Hirakata, Osaka, where she also spent her Elementary School years. In 1961, she made her deput for performing arts activities in...
as Ranatan - Hiroshi OhtakeHiroshi Ohtakeis a Japanese voice actor currently represented by Gin Production. He is best known for his roles as Nyarome in Mōretsu Atarō, Daisho in Himitsu no Akko-chan, Boss in Mazinger Z, Pāman 2 in Pāman, King Nikochan in Dr...
as Iboyoshi - Kôichi KitamuraKoichi Kitamura, real name was a Japanese voice actor born in Osaka, Japan. Kitamura was employed by the talent management agency Mausu Promotion. He died on October 2, 2007 of pneumonia.-TV:*April to Sandman *Dragon Ball GT *Esper Mami...
as Ametaro - Kousei Tomita as Gyata
- Miyoko Shoji as Amako
- Shun YashiroShun Yashirowas a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tsuyama, Okayama. At the time of his death, he was affiliated with Theater Echo. Throughout his career, Yashiro was also known as , , and ....
as Kyaru - Yasuroo Tanaka as Zari
- Haruko Kitahama as Narrator
Extra Production Information
- Broadcaster: Fuji TV
- Planning: Tatsuo Yoshida
- Storyboard(s): Yoshiyuki Tomino
- Writer(s): Jinzo Toriumi
- Character Designer(s): Yoshitaka Amano, Tatsuo Yoshida, Masayuki Hayashi
- Music: Nobuyoshi Koshibe
Trivia
- Kerokko Demetan is one of the few animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series that does not have a specific English title. Some of the titles used to name this series are:Child Frog Demetan, Demetan Croaker, Adventures on Rainbow Pond, The Boy Frog, Demetan the Frog, and The Brave Frog. - There was a movie of Demetan released in the USA on DVD and VHS titled "The Brave Frog." The movie was a compilation movie made of scenes from the animated series.
- A Second movie was also released in the English language titled "The Brave Frog's Greatest Adventure" which tells the tale of an evil catfish named Bruto.