Prin Prin
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Prin Prin
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| Episodes: | 656 |
| Year: | 1979-1982 |
| Country: | Japan |
| Seasons: | 1 |
| Seasons Breakdown: | Unknown |
| Category: | Fantasy |
| Colour: | Yes |
| Format: | Series |
| Company: | NHK General TV |
| Creator: | Tooru Ishiyama (writer) |
| Run Time (mins): | 15 |
| Language: | Japanese |
| Type of Show: | Live Action |
| Status: | Ended |
| Broadcaster: | NHK |
| First Aired: | |
| Last Aired: | |
Summary
Prin Prin (Ishikawa) is introduced as an infant discovered adrift in the sea, enclosed within a wooden box that also contained a monkey and a ceremonial crown. She is rescued by a fisherman from Arutoko City (Somewhere City) and subsequently raised there. After fifteen years, she learns that she is in fact the princess of a distant realm and resolves to embark on a journey to rediscover her origins. Her principal companions include BonBon (Kamiya), Osage (Hase), Kaseijin (Hori), and a monkey named Monkey.
The narrative forms the basis of a puppet‑theatre series that combines elements of the classical odyssey of Sun Wukong with the science‑fiction motifs of Aerial City 008. The production became notable for its willingness to incorporate pointed satirical commentary. One widely discussed episode features the arms merchant Langer, who attempts to bribe a senior government official with an extravagant holiday in exchange for the purchase of Gucci missiles. The storyline functions as a parody of the Lockheed bribery scandal, during which political figures, including former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, were implicated in accepting kickbacks for promoting Lockheed aircraft.
Another episode presents a satirical depiction of Middle Eastern geopolitics, particularly the protracted Iran–Iraq conflict, through the portrayal of three fictional nations locked in perpetual warfare. Among the serial’s most popular characters was General Ruchi of Atata, distinguished by his disproportionately large head and an alleged IQ of 1300. His prominence within the narrative lasted for approximately six months, culminating in the revelation that he is an extra-terrestrial being who ultimately departs by escaping on a meteorite.
The first two years of the shows episodes were wiped so the tapes could be reused, by 1981 they started keeping the master tapes, however not before over 400 episodes were erased.
Cast
Prin Prin HITOMI ISHIKAWA, Bonbon AKIRA KAMIYA, Kaseijin AYAKO HORI, Osage SANJI HASE.
Tags: Fantasy, Japan, 1979, Japanese
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