Magical Hat
Magical Hat is a Japanese anime television series created by Yōji Katakura and produced by Studio Pierrot that aired on Fuji Television and its affiliates from October 1989 to July 1990. A manga adaptation by Katakura was serialized in many of Shogakukan's magazines in 1989, such as Shogaku Ichinensei, Shogaku Ninensei, Shogaku Shi-nensei, Shogaku Roku-nensei and Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic. It was collected into two tankonbon volumes in October 1989 and May 1990, though it was left unfinished due to Katakura's death in 1997.
Both the anime and the manga were planned simultaneously as a media mix project.
Plot
63,000 years ago, there was a hero who fought against the demons of the Underworld, who had conspired to conquer the Earth. The legendary hero was called Magical Hat. According to legend, the hero used his mysterious magical psychic powers to defeat the demons and sealed the Underworld under the island of Usontō, where the demons have remained ever since, isolated by a magical seal.In the present day, a young boy named Hat comes to the island with his parents, who are researching the legends of the Underworld. Hat's father, an archaeologist, plans to research the area near a large volcano on the island, where the legendary Magical Hat was believed to have engaged in battle. Suddenly, an earthquake hits the island and Hat falls into the volcano, breaking the seal to the Underworld, ruled by King Aleph. Aleph's brother in-law, Guwaru the Ziarc, opposes him and has plans to seize the throne. When Hat enters the Underworld, Guwaru and Aleph are in a struggle for power. Guwaru banishes Aleph, and breaks Usontō up into seven separate islands.
After entering the Underworld and meeting Guwaru, Hat discovers a statue which possesses the spirit of the legendary Magical Hat. He is told that he is a descendant of Magical Hat, and that he shall realize his destiny as the second incarnation of the hero, to stop Guwaru, reunify the continent and restore King Aleph to the throne. Thus, Hat becomes transformed into the new Magical Hat, and the adventure begins. The turban that Hat wears contains powerful magic that the wearer can control. Using the magical powers of this turban, he can defeat Guwaru and complete his quest. However, if Guwaru gets a hold of the turban, all hope is lost. With the help of his partners, Hot-ken, Grandpa Tau, Spin and Robogg, Hat must defeat Guwaru and stop his new reign once and for all.
Characters
Main characters
Antagonists
Others
Petamo Beasts
Media
Anime
A 33-episode anime series adaptation produced by Studio Pierrot aired on Fuji Television and its affiliates from October 18, 1989 to July 6, 1990, starting out on Wednesday nights at 6:30, but eventually jumping over to Friday near the end of the series. The anime was produced alongside the manga, and was part of a media mix by Sega, Pierrot and Fuji TV. Sega had creative input over the series as its main sponsor, and the exclusive rights to produce video games and toys. The series was directed by Akira Shigino, with Kotakara serving as the animation director. The screenplay was written by Kenji Terada. The characters were designed by Tsuneo Ninomiya. The music was produced by Takayoshi Watanabe, under the alias "Edison". The anime's opening theme is "Daijōbu, Daibōken" by Naoko Nozawa, and has two ending theme songs: "Mera Tenten-Kirakura" by Nozawa and "Bye Bye Baby" by Ītomo Seinen-tai and K-chaps!. The series contains plenty of slapstick gag elements.The final episode was scheduled to be broadcast on June 29, 1990, but was delayed by one week due to a special news program related to the wedding of Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan.
Episodes
Video game
Sega released a Mega Drive game based on the series on December 15, 1990, called Magical Hat no Buttobi Turbo! Daibōken and developed by Vic Tokai. Magical Hat no Buttobi Turbo! Daibōken is an action platform game similar to Vic Tokai's Kid Kool and Psycho Fox. The player takes control of Hat to guide him through Usontō's seven islands, jumping on and punching enemies, grabbing items from statues, and fighting a boss at the end of each world. In each stage, the player can find Roboggu, who will help Hat out by acting as a projectile and a shield. The game has a wide range of different power-up items that can be obtained, which can give the player temporary invincibility, freeze all the enemies for a short time, give the player an extra-high jump, or even call in air support from a helicopter. At the end of each stage, the player can play a game of chance to win extra items and lives.Japanese magazines Famitsu, Hippon Super, Beep! MegaDrive, Mega Drive Fan and Sega Saturn Magazine scored the game a 58%, 50%, 58%, 61%, and 62%, respectively. European magazines Joystick, Power Play, Computer and Video Games, The Complete Guide to Sega, Games-X, Sega Power and Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming scored the game a 70%, 71%, 84%, 90%, 63%, 100%, and 84%.
Due to Sega failing to secure the Magical Hat license outside Japan, the game was completely redone and released in 1991 as Decap Attack. The game features different characters, story, art, music, and level design, but has the same general gameplay.