Renowned Japanese anime and manga franchise "Chibi Maruko-chan" will be getting its first anime feature film in 23 years, entitled "Eiga Chibi Maruko-Chan" (Chibi Maruko-chan the Movie) on December 23, 2015 nationwide in Japan.
Written by Momoko Sakura, directed by Jun Takagi at Nippon Animation, produced by Fuji television, and to be distributed by TOHO, the said film will honor 25 years since the television anime's broadcast. The first film from the series was released in December 1992, entitled "Chibi Maruko-chan: Watashi no Suki na Uta" (Chibi Maruko-chan: My Favorite Song).
The movie's main protagonist named Maruko will leave her home town, Shimizu, to travel to Kyoto and Osaka with an Italian man and her classmates. The film begins with children from five various countries visiting the town where Maruko lives. An Italian boy then stays in Maruko's home with her family leading to scenes of love confessions.
From 1985 to 1996, Momoko Sakura serialized the original manga in Ribon. In 2007, Sakura started a four panel version in a Japanese newspaper though ending the said version in 2011, reports Anime News Network.
The original manga set off inspiration for the "Chibi Maruko-chan" television anime that was rated as the second anime series after currently airing anime Sazae-san. Meanwhile, reports from The Asahi Shimbun states that the said anime reached number one in recorded viewer ratings at 39.9 percent beating the latter anime.
First airing from 1990 to 1992, the ongoing second series started in 1995. The thousandth episode was revealed in 2012. According to Otakumode, the anime series has been watched 11 million times with more than 1100 episodes, while the manga has been released with over 32 million copies in print.
"Through everyone's warm support, the 'Chibi Maruko-chan' TV anime has reached its 25th anniversary. I am filled with feelings of gratitude," Sakura wrote in a comment published on the film's website.