Kure Kure Takora
Encyclopedia
is a tokusatsu
children's comedy show from Japan
. Produced by Toho Company Ltd.
, the show aired on Fuji TV and it's made from October 1, 1973 to September 27, 1974 with a total of 260 episodes. Kure Kure Takora—the main character of the show wants everything he sees and says "Kure! Kure! (I want it! I want it!)" all the time. Each episode was absurd, strange, violent, surreal, indescribable, and ran exactly 2 minutes and 41 seconds.
However, episodes 223, 252 and 255 never aired. The show was eventually rebroadcast over CS digital satellite television, with the exception of episode 220, which was omitted because Takora is repeatedly referred to by his neighbors as "crazy"—which was thought to be verbally abusive towards the mentally ill—as he goes on a violent rampage. Laserdisc and VHS versions of the show have been released. Currently only the DVD version (which includes episode 220) is available in the Japanese market.
Kure Kure Takora is a red octopus. He uses a type of Ninjitsu where he can transform anything from a dopey iguana to a vacuum cleaner to a guitar. His best friend is the weak-willed peanut-inspired Chonbo. While he has friends, he seems to have no problems leaving them for dead if he has to make a fast getaway. Like all other characters in the show, Kure Kure is in love with the fickle pink walrus Monro. His greatest fear is being soaked with vinegar and being served as Sudako (pickled octopus).
Kure Kure Takora's best friend and toadie, is a squash-humanoid of the genus cucurbita, who is able to cough up coins for vending machines at will. Although he is complicit in many of Kure Kure's crazy schemes, he's just as often on the receiving end of Kure Kure's abuse. Chonbo is often seen somersaulting and tumbling.
Is a short jellyfish who squawks like a dolphin. He is able to spray vinegar out of the top of his head via a sprinkler. Kure Kure often attempts to neutralize this super power—since Kure Kure is afraid of vinegar—by throwing hats on To Ro Ro's head. To Ro Ro can turn invisible and teleport at will and is an even a bigger trouble-maker than Kure Kure Takora. Most of the other characters are frightened of him.
Is pink walrus with a breathy voice and sexy theme music that all the other male characters pursue. She often demands unreasonable things from her suitors only to lose interest in them. She has been romantically involved with every creature—even the repellent sea cucumber gang—on the show.
A rotund badger who is often seen chewing on the stub of a cigar, this tough cop runs the local jail. He's the only character who wears clothes.
A dumb, slow-witted iguana, he is extremely lazy and spends most of his time sleeping. He may also be the richest character on the show as he often has a new gadget or toy that is coveted by Kure Kure.
This trio has their own theme song which they occasionally break in to. It is believed they represent anger (Ikari), happiness (Hera Hera) and sadness (Shiku Shiku). The Sea Cucumber Gang are on the very bottom of the hierarchy of the characters, and poor Shiku Shiku gets picked on the most!
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
children's comedy show from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Produced by Toho Company Ltd.
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
, the show aired on Fuji TV and it's made from October 1, 1973 to September 27, 1974 with a total of 260 episodes. Kure Kure Takora—the main character of the show wants everything he sees and says "Kure! Kure! (I want it! I want it!)" all the time. Each episode was absurd, strange, violent, surreal, indescribable, and ran exactly 2 minutes and 41 seconds.
However, episodes 223, 252 and 255 never aired. The show was eventually rebroadcast over CS digital satellite television, with the exception of episode 220, which was omitted because Takora is repeatedly referred to by his neighbors as "crazy"—which was thought to be verbally abusive towards the mentally ill—as he goes on a violent rampage. Laserdisc and VHS versions of the show have been released. Currently only the DVD version (which includes episode 220) is available in the Japanese market.
Staff
- Creator/Planning - Osamu Isono
- Writers - Shinichi Ichikawa, Hiroshi Kashiwabara, Yuko Kinoshita, Yoshimi Shinozaki, Yuji Watanabe
- Directors - Katsumune Ishida, Ko Tsuboshima, Tsugunobu Otani
- Music - Shunsuke KikuchiShunsuke Kikuchiis a prolific Japanese composer from Hirosaki. He specializes in incidental music for media such as television and film.Active since the early 60s, he has been one of Japan's most highly demanded film and TV composers, working principally on tokusatsu and anime productions for children, as well as...
Voice cast
- Takora, Chonbo, Monro: Yoshiko Ota
- Debura, Biragon, Herara, Shikushiku, Ikary: Osamu SakaOsamu Sakais a Japanese voice actor who works for Aoni Production.He is most known for the roles of Wheeljack in the Japanese dub of , as well as Seitaro Sakaki , Jotaro Honma , and Daisuke Aramaki .-Anime:* Noah Van Hellsing in Blade* Dr...
Characters
- Kure Kure Takora
Kure Kure Takora is a red octopus. He uses a type of Ninjitsu where he can transform anything from a dopey iguana to a vacuum cleaner to a guitar. His best friend is the weak-willed peanut-inspired Chonbo. While he has friends, he seems to have no problems leaving them for dead if he has to make a fast getaway. Like all other characters in the show, Kure Kure is in love with the fickle pink walrus Monro. His greatest fear is being soaked with vinegar and being served as Sudako (pickled octopus).
- Chonbo
Kure Kure Takora's best friend and toadie, is a squash-humanoid of the genus cucurbita, who is able to cough up coins for vending machines at will. Although he is complicit in many of Kure Kure's crazy schemes, he's just as often on the receiving end of Kure Kure's abuse. Chonbo is often seen somersaulting and tumbling.
- To Ro Ro
Is a short jellyfish who squawks like a dolphin. He is able to spray vinegar out of the top of his head via a sprinkler. Kure Kure often attempts to neutralize this super power—since Kure Kure is afraid of vinegar—by throwing hats on To Ro Ro's head. To Ro Ro can turn invisible and teleport at will and is an even a bigger trouble-maker than Kure Kure Takora. Most of the other characters are frightened of him.
- Monro
Is pink walrus with a breathy voice and sexy theme music that all the other male characters pursue. She often demands unreasonable things from her suitors only to lose interest in them. She has been romantically involved with every creature—even the repellent sea cucumber gang—on the show.
- Debura
A rotund badger who is often seen chewing on the stub of a cigar, this tough cop runs the local jail. He's the only character who wears clothes.
- Biragon
A dumb, slow-witted iguana, he is extremely lazy and spends most of his time sleeping. He may also be the richest character on the show as he often has a new gadget or toy that is coveted by Kure Kure.
- The Sea Cucumber Gang
This trio has their own theme song which they occasionally break in to. It is believed they represent anger (Ikari), happiness (Hera Hera) and sadness (Shiku Shiku). The Sea Cucumber Gang are on the very bottom of the hierarchy of the characters, and poor Shiku Shiku gets picked on the most!
Theme Song
Roughly translated from Japanese, the lyrics to the show's theme song are:
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
I want everything
Gimme Gimme Octopus
Up from the ocean
I got hot and sunburned
Why must I live at the top of the tree
Viewing all my desires through a telescope... I want the stars!
Gimme Gimme Octopus
External links
- Video: weird vintage Japanese octopus baby nightmare (Boing BoingBoing BoingBoing Boing is a publishing entity, first established as a magazine, later becoming a group blog.-History:...
, March 16, 2006) - A fan site's episodes guide (Japanese)
- A fan site with english episode guide and linked youtube episodes (English)
- Another fansite with character info (Japanese)
- Kure Kure Takora DVD-BOX (Amazon.co.jp)