Nuclear testing has resulted in the abrupt evolution of the Fumoon, a tiny but highly intelligent humanoid race on a small island, who are detected by Dr. Yamadano. Except for a few witnesses including the detective Shinsaku Ban, and the young men Rock and Kenichi and Kenichi’s sister Pichi (Pinoko), no one believes him. The Fumoon are kidnapping animals from around the world to bring with them as they use their space ships to evacuate the earth, because they know Earth is shortly to be destroyed by an enveloping cloud of black gas created by a stellar explosion. The Fumoon intend to abandon mankind, but one Fumoon, Rokoko, who becomes good friends with Kenichi, tries to help Dr. Yamadano and the others to develop a space ship to allow a few humans to escape, with the help of Dr. Ochanomizu and Dr. Frankenstein.
Direction
Sakaguchi's apocalyptic pacing from Astro Boy roots
Writing
Tezuka's bleak eco-warning disguised as adventure
Director
Hisashi Sakaguchi
Kaneto Shiozawa
Rock Holmes (voice)
Mari Okamoto
Rococo (voice)
Kumiko Takizawa
Cocoa (voice)
Minori Matsushima
Pinoko (voice)
Kosei Tomita
Hige Oyagi (voice)
Junpei Takiguchi
Kagashi Yamadano (voice)
Ichiro Nagai
Notarin (voice)
Chikao Ohtsuka
Duke Red (voice)
Kenji Utsumi
Acetylene Lamp (voice)
Kazuya Tatekabe
Tabasco (voice)
Tamio Ohki
Frankenstein (voice)
Kenichi Ogata
Borokin (voice)
Ryoko Kinomiya
Mozu (voice)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Rock Holmes and Pinoko are recurring Tezuka 'star system' characters, here pulled from Black Jack and other series.
Released amid Cold War nuclear anxiety, the film channels Japan's unique relationship with atomic threat through children's entertainment.
5.41978
7.21979
1980
5.21981
6.11983
5.11984
4.51985
4.31986
6.31989
JP
