The documentary program “ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION” will feature legendary anime producer Masao Maruyama! In addition to delving into the behind-the-scenes stories behind the production of PLUTO, Yoshiaki Kawajiri and Sunao Katabuchi also appear.“ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION” is a documentary program that explores the creative commitment of Japanese manga and anime creators.

A special episode about Masao Maruyama, a legendary producer in the anime world, will be aired on Sunday, April 28, 2024!

In addition to introducing the making of the anime PLUTO'' based on Naoki Urasawa's original work, directors with ties to Mr. Maruyama, including In This Corner of the World” director Sunao Katabuchi, will also appear.

The episode broadcast on Sunday, April 28th will feature Masao Maruyama, a legendary producer in the anime world. Mr. Maruyama, who is 82 years old and still active, has released over 330 titles and over 4,000 anime series to the world.

Mr. Maruyama learned the basics of anime at Mushi Production, founded by Osamu Tezuka, and later established Madhouse with his friends. After leaving Madhouse, he started two production companies, MAPPA and Studio M2, and has produced a series of hit works.

The program will introduce the behind-the-scenes stories behind the production of “Astro Boy,” the monumental work of Japanese animation that Maruyama first worked on at Mushi Production, as well as the passion for anime of Osamu Tezuka, whom Maruyama considers to be his mentor. During his time at Madhouse, we will explore the secret behind the production of Mr. Maruyama, who gave opportunities to various talents such as Osamu Dezaki, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Satoshi Kon, and Mamoru Hosoda.

“In This Corner of the World,” which took about six years to complete due to financial difficulties, reveals how Maruyama and director Sunao Katabuchi brought this work to the world, and the unknown bond between producer and director. Introduced.

Also, we will introduce a lot of the making of the anime “PLUTO” based on the original work by Naoki Urasawa, which will be released in 2023. Mr. Maruyama had previously animated many of Urasawa’s works, but he says that PLUTO'' was the one work that he really wanted to animate himself. That's because the original story was an episode of the Astro Boy manga drawn by his mentor Osamu Tezuka. The behind-the-scenes story of PLUTO,” which Mr. Maruyama, who proposed to make into an anime 14 years before its release, created without compromise, will be introduced along with testimonies from the creators.

Don’t miss the many valuable interviews in which Mr. Maruyama, who usually works behind the scenes and rarely appears on stage, talks about his life in anime!

The program’s narration is in English, but interviews are not dubbed but have English subtitles, so you can hear the performers’ voices as they are. In addition, even those who missed the broadcast can watch it for free on VOD the day after it airs.

Sunday, April 28, 2024 NHK World JAPAN

12:10~, 19:10~, 23:10~, Next Monday 6:10~

*28 minute program, broadcast 4 times

*VOD viewing will be available for free on the NHK World JAPAN website from the day after the program broadcast.

*For details, please check how to watch NHK World JAPAN programs.

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Masao Maruyama, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Sunao Katabuchi, Taro Maki, Naoki Urasawa, Takahiro Miyata

Narrator: Joel D.

Program HP

NHK World JAPAN Anime & Manga Site