Kaiketsu Zorori


Incredible Zorori is a Japanese children's book series created by Yutaka Hara and published by Poplar Publishing. The original books were also made into an OVA, animated feature-length films, anime, and comics.

Synopsis

Set in a parallel world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, the story follows the protagonist, a fox named Zorori and his twin boar bandit apprentices Ishishi and Noshishi as they travel from place to place. The series debuted in 1987 with its first issue: The Incredible Zorori, Dragon Slayer and has published about two issues per year, totaling 70 issues as of December 2021. It was adapted into an anime series from February 1, 2004, to January 28, 2007. A Hong Kong produced English dubbed version by Red Angel Media aired on Cartoon Network Philippines on January 4, 2010.
Zorori was originally a villain for the series Spinach Man written by Shiho Mitsushima, and when Hōrensō Man ended, Shiho Mitsushima understood the need to give it an independent spin-off. What both series shared in common was that the end of Spinach Man and the Haunted Castle ties in with the beginning of Kaiketsu Zorori no Doragon Taiji and Zorori's aspiration, "Zorori Castle Part 2" is established. Another part is the reoccurring characters that were not given anything past trivial appearances. However, knowing the background story of the Hōrensō Man series is not needed to be able to enjoy the Zorori series.
Using clear patterns and lines, the characters would speak using speech bubbles more similar to comics than to picture books. The text and words would not use any difficult kanji or any furigana, instead using lower grade level words so that it can be read alone without needing any help. It also features excessive puns and it is because of this that puns saw a boom in use in elementary school students. In spite of it being called a well read elementary school "children's book", it has an array of farting, belching, and vulgar words that sometimes parents and guardians in the PTA demanded apologies for it. Whenever Zorori is in a desperate situation and it appears he'll reach his demise, a fake notice is posted advising to skip the next page due to gruesome violence.
At the time of publication, The Zorori League and Stupid Monster were very popular comedies, especially among Japanese comedians for its use of Japanese jokes.
Furthermore, the Spanish word for fox is "zorro", and the author intended for Kaiketsu Zorori to resemble Zorro.

List of volumes

The first Zorori book was released in November 1987 and has seen two releases per year since. This was later changed to an annual release after volume 74, in December 2023. The first 39 volumes had been used as source material for the anime, while volumes 40 and beyond are book only, due to being printed after the anime's cancellation. Some of the later volumes were then used as source material for a new anime, which aired between April 2020 and September 2022.

Anime

Manga

BunBun Comics published 10 volumes of a manga series featuring Kaiketsu Zorori in famous fairy tales and folk tales. It was written by Yutaka Hara and illustrated by Hiroki Kimura.

Theme Songs

Kaiketsu Zorori

;Opening Theme
;Ending Themes
  • Sora wa Ao by Satō-san and Suzuki-kun
  • Owari no Uta by Yukie 6 & Nobita Robert
  • Akaneiro by Satō-san and Suzuki-kun
  • Gayōshi by Sayuri Anzu

    Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori

;Opening Themes
;Ending Themes
  • Mama no Komoriuta by Sakiko Tamagawa
  • Atcha Kotcha Gō! by Junko Iwao
  • Ishi Noshi Kazoe Uta desu ka!! by Rikako Aikawa and Motoko Kumai
  • Buwātto ikō ze by Kōichi Yamadera

    Motto! Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori

;Opening Theme
  • Motto! Motto! Kaiketsu Zorori by Kōichi Yamadera
  • Dai Gyakuten Dokkoi SHOW by Kōichi Yamadera
;Ending Themes
  • Shalalala by ONEPIXCEL
  • ZORORI ROCK!!! by Yabai T-shirts Yasan