Attack No. 1

Attack No. 1

Screenshot from the television series
アタックNo.1
(Atakku No. 1)
Genre Sports, Drama
Manga
Written by Chikako Urano
Published by Shueisha
Demographic Shōjo
Magazine Margaret
Original run January 7, 1968 – November 29, 1970
Volumes 12
Anime television series
Directed by Fumio Kurokawa, Eiji Okabe
Studio TMS Entertainment
Network Fuji TV
Original run December 7, 1969 – November 28, 1971
Episodes 104
Manga
Shin Attack No. 1
Written by Chikako Urano
Published by Shueisha
Demographic Shōjo
Magazine Margaret
Original run September 14, 1975 – December 14, 1975
Volumes 2
Television drama
Network TV Asahi
Original run April 4, 2005 – June 23, 2005
Episodes 11

Attack No. 1 (アタックNo.1 Atakku Nanbā Wan) is a Japanese manga series by Chikako Urano. It also became the first televised female sports anime series in the shōjo category.

The anime is an adaptation of Chikako Urano's 1968 volleyball manga serialized in Weekly Margaret Magazine under the same name.[1] Chikako was considered one of the founders of shōjo anime.[2] And the series was introduced not only to push the older female manga fan base (as opposed to the significantly younger audience for magical girl series such as Sally, the Witch) into the anime mainstream, but also capitalizes on the boom of the gold medal Japanese women's volleyball team in the 1964 Olympics.[3] The show did stand out in an era dominated by shōnen adventures and sci-fi anime, and was well received in the anime-friendly television markets of France (as "Les Attaquantes"), Germany (where it was retitled as "Mila Superstar" where Kozue was renamed to Mila) and Italy, (where it was originally retitled "Quella Magnifica Dozzina" and later "Mimì e la nazionale di pallavolo" with Kozue was renamed to Mimì). The name Mila came from the immensely popular Italian version of 1984's Attacker You!, in which the main character, You Hazuki, was renamed Mila.

A direct sequel was also released in manga format called Shin Attack No.1 (New Attack No.1) in 1976, but it was short lived. The sequel was later redrawn between 2004 and 2005 in a new style by Kanon Ozawa.

Original Story

The story is about Kozue Ayuhara, a girl who transferred to Fujimi College and tried out for the school volleyball team. She develops a friendship with her teammate Midori Hayakawa, and her talents impress coach Hongō more and more each day. Though she showcases extraordinary volleyball skills, she makes enemies with Yoshimura, the star of the current team. Kozue discovers that being at the top would bring stress, incompatibilities and other dilemmas into her life. Her high expectations of becoming the best volleyball player in the school, Japan and eventually the world, set the tone for the drama to follow.

Adaptations

Anime

Staff

Cast

Main Characters
Voiced by: Kurumi Kobato
Played by: Aya Ueto

Ayuhara moved away from Tokyo to a rural middle/junior high school to rehabilitate an illness (which makes her quit sports). After a run-in with other students in the school, she returns to sports (Volleyball), and quickly becomes the leader of the team.

Voiced by: Sumie Sakai
Played by: Ayana Sakai

Hayakawa born from a wealthy family. She joins the volleyball team. She begins very selfish in the team, but befriends with Ayuhara, and open herself up.

Other Characters

DVD

The anime was digitally remastered on DVD in 2003 from Amuse Video Inc. Low-priced edition released in 2007 from Columbia Music Entertainment.

Movies

From 1970 to 1971, a total of 4 anime movies were spawned based on the series by Toho Co., Ltd and director Eiji Okabe.

Japanese Name English Name Release Date Run time
アタック No.1 Attack No.1 the movie March 21, 1970 63 mins
アタック No.1涙の回転レシーブ Attack No.1 Revolution August 1, 1970 60 mins
アタック No.1涙の世界選手権 Attack No.1 World Championship December 19, 1970 63 mins
アタック No.1涙の不死鳥 Attack No.1 Immortal Bird March 17, 1971 50 mins

Manga

The original manga is re-printed by Shueisha in 2003.

No.Release date ISBN
1 January 2003[4]ISBN 4-8342-7254-0
2 January 2003[5]ISBN 4-8342-7255-9
3 February 2003[6]ISBN 4-8342-7256-7
4 February 2003[7]ISBN 4-8342-7257-5
5 March 2003[8]ISBN 4-8342-7258-3
6 March 2003[9]ISBN 4-8342-7259-1
7 March 2003[10]ISBN 4-8342-7260-5

The redraw by Ozawa for Shin Attack No.1 spans the following 3 volumes:

No.Release date ISBN
1 March 2005[11]ISBN 978-4-08-847834-0
2 June 2005[12]ISBN 978-4-08-847863-0
3 November 2005[13]ISBN 978-4-08-846004-8

Live Action Drama

In 2005 a live action drama based on Attack No. 1 aired on TV Asahi. Ueto Aya, the famous Japanese actress and singer stars as Kozue Ayuhara.

Story

The story is very similar to the original, but it has a few differences.

At the beginning of the manga series, Midori Hayakawa didn't like Kozue that much because Kozue was really good at volleyball (but they soon became best friends), but in the 2005 drama, Midori has bigger issues with Kozue. First of all, Midori was better at volleyball than Kozue at the start of this drama, and was very jealous when Kozue got called to come and play for Japan's national team (although at this point they didn't play any matches, but trained to become stronger). Secondly, Midori has a huge crush on Ichinose Tsutomu-kun. Midori had known Tsutomu-kun since she was very young, and when she found out that he liked Kozue, she was extremely jealous of Kozue. But when Tsutomu-kun died while saving a young boy, Midori's jealousy sort of evaporated. Thirdly, when Kozue helped some girls who were in her volleyball team, Fujimi, from a drunken man, she became popular, and got the No. 1 tracksuit for Fujimi, Midori was very jealous, so she didn't tell Kozue that Kozue had been taken out of Japan's volleyball team because, replacing her, Midori had been called to play for Japan. Despite all this jealousy from Midori, Kozue and she are best friends, and in the end get to play together for Japan, as Kozue is called back.

Another difference is that Kozue injures her leg very badly and has to have surgery, but recovers fully. Also, in this drama, it doesn't reveal if Japan won worldwide, since it ends where Japan are playing Brazil

Spinoffs

In 1977 Fumio Kurokawa, Eiji Okabe and writer Haruya Yamazaki helmed Attack on Tomorrow (based on a new story by Hana no Ko Lunlun creator Shiro Jinbo) for the Nippon Animation studio, but it didn't come close to matching the success of the original series.

In 1984 Kazuyuki Okaseko directed Attacker You! for the Knack animation studio; while not an official spinoff of Attack No. 1, Attacker You! invited the inevitable comparisons with the earlier series, although the latter was heavier on comedic elements. In addition, the screenwriters for the Italian version created a relationship between that series and Attack No. 1 that was not present in the original Japanese: they rewrote You Hazuki (Mila) as a cousin of Kozue, who was renamed "Mimi Ayuhara" in the Italian dub of Attack No. 1. This Voltron-style reworking of the story of Attacker You! by the Italian dubbing staff carried over into the French and Spanish versions of the anime. To compound the confusion, the heroine of Attack on Tomorrow is named Mimi in both the Japanese and Italian versions (although she is renamed Virginie in the French version).

Reaction

This series was practically responsible for the explosion of the shōjo subgenre from 1960s and on. It was originally screened in evening prime time with a ~20% viewership, and the record with its iconic opening theme, sung by Kumiko Oosugi, had about 700 thousand sales.[14] There were countless series that followed the same concept, but shifted the focus to different sports. Ace wo Nerae! for tennis, Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl for judo are just some examples of series that appeared in the decades after the fading of this series.

The show has received numerous awards. On September 23, 2005 it was voted "TV Asahi Top Anime" placing 61 out of 100. On October 13, 2006 it was voted "Japanese Favorite TV Anime" placing 9 out of 100 among celebrities.[15]

This show also had a profound impact not only for being a sport spirited (supokon) anime in Japan, but had a strong influence long after the series ended. Italian professional volleyball player, Francesca Piccinini, is one such example of someone inspired by the series.[16] (In Italy, the anime was shown on TV in the 1980s under the title Mimi e la nazionale della pallavolo. It was also known as Mila Superstar in Germany and other countries, Les Attaquantes in French, La Panda de Julia in Spanish and TAKKITAKKI in Uzbestikan.)

Kazuko Suzuki describes Attack No. 1 as an "innovation on the campus story", where a heroine would go to college and meet her future husband. She describes Kozue as "psychologically independent", as Kozue has realised that she must strive to create her own happiness and continues to strive on after her boyfriend's death.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Clements, Jonathan. McCarthy Helen. [2006] (2006). The Anime Encyclopedia: Revised & Expanded Edition. Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 978-1-933330-10-5
  2. ↑ Chikako Urano. "Chickako Urano's Manga List. " "Chickako Urano's Manga List." Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
  3. ↑ 1964 Olympic Result. "1964 Olympic Results. " "1964 Women's Volleyball at Olympics." Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
  4. ↑ "アタックNo．1 1" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  5. ↑ "アタックNo．1 2" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  6. ↑ "アタックNo．1 3" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  7. ↑ "アタックNo．1 4" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  8. ↑ "アタックNo．1 5" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  9. ↑ "アタックNo．1 6" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  10. ↑ "アタックNo．1 7" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  11. ↑ "新アタックno．1 1" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  12. ↑ "新アタックno．1 2" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  13. ↑ "新アタックno．1 3" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  14. ↑ Yamasaki, Keishi (2005). テレビアニメ魂. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-149789-8.
  15. ↑ Japanese Anime Vote. "TV Asashi Voting. " "Japanese Anime Vote." Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
  16. ↑ Anime Summary. "Anime Summary. " "Summary of Attack No. 1." Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
  17. ↑ Suzuki, Kazuko. 1999. "Pornography or Therapy? Japanese Girls Creating the Yaoi Phenomenon". In Sherrie Inness, ed., Millennium Girls: Today's Girls Around the World. London: Rowman & Littlefield, pp.246-247 ISBN 0-8476-9136-5, ISBN 0-8476-9137-3.

External links

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