Kum-Kum

Kum-Kum
わんぱく大昔クムクム
Created byYoshikazu Yasuhiko
Directed byRintaro
Music byMasahiro Uno
Country of originJapan
Original languageJapanese
No. of episodes26
Production
ProducerTatsuo Shibayama
AnimatorSoeisha
Production companies
Original release
NetworkJNN (MBS, TBS)
Release3 October 1975 (1975-10-03) –
26 March 1976 (1976-03-26)

Wanpaku Ōmukashi Kum Kum (わんぱく大昔クムクム, Wanpaku Ōmukashi Kumu Kumu; "Naughty Ancient Kumu Kumu") is a Japanese animated television series, consisting of 26 episodes. The series was created by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and directed by Rintaro. It was first broadcast on TBS between October 3, 1975 and March 26, 1976.[1][2][3][4] The name was changed to Kum Kum after the sixth episode in order to strengthen the image of "a child in the primitive era thriving in great nature" while also making it more approachable and familiar to viewers.[5] The series received a recommendation from the Central Child Welfare Council due to its positive portrayal of themes such as friendship through the perspective of children.[6]

Paramount Pictures produced an English dub of the series,[7] which aired on ITV in the United Kingdom[8][1][2] and Network 10 in Australia in between 1977 and 1978.[9] It also aired in other countries like France,[10] Germany,[11][12] Argentina,[13] Italy,[14][15] Brazil,[9] and Indonesia.[16]

The series was adapted as a manga in December 1975, written and illustrated by Takemaru Nagata, and serialized in Kodansha's Terebi Magajin (TV Magazine) under the name "Kum Kum". A four-panel comic strip adaptation of the series also appeared periodically in Mainichi Shimbun in Osaka.

Plot

The series explored the adventures of Kum Kum, a naughty boy in primeval times, and his friends as they grow up, often playing antics that surprise the occasional visitor to their village, and which almost always end up with Kum Kum being scolded by his stern father, Paru Paru.[17][1][2]

Characters

  • Kum Kum (voiced by Kazue Tagami (Japanese);[4] Ray Hartley (English)) is the main character, a naughty and kind boy.
  • Chiru Chiru/Butterfly (voiced by Teruko Akiyama (Japanese);[4] Barbara Frawley (English)) is Kum Kum's girlfriend, whose father is deceased.
  • Aaron/Little Rock (voiced by Yoshiko Ota (Japanese);[4] Keith Scott (English)) is one of Kum Kum's faithful friends.
  • Goron/Jumbo (voiced by Toku Nishio (Japanese); Noel Judd (English)) is Aaron's huge, slow older brother.
  • Mochi Mochi/Bumbles (voiced by Kōko Kikuchi (Japanese); Derani Scarr (English)) is Kum Kum's shy friend.
  • Furu Furu/Wildflower (voiced by Yōko Asagami (Japanese);[4] Barbara Frawley (English)) is Kum Kum's teenage sister.
  • Paru Paru/Strongarm (voiced by Kōsei Tomita (Japanese);[4] Noel Judd (English)), Kum Kum's grumpy father.
  • Maru Maru/Flora (voiced by Mitsuko Tobome (Japanese);[4] Beryl Marshall (English)) is Kum Kum's sweet mother
  • Toru Toru/Tum Tum (voiced by Sachiko Chijimatsu (Japanese); Barbara Frawley (English)) is Kum Kum's baby brother.
  • Klopedia/The Wise One (voiced by Ryūji Saikachi (Japanese); Keith Scott (English)) is the wise elder of the village, who lives surrounded by stone books.
  • Roman (voiced by Ryūsei Nakao (Japanese);[4] Keith Scott (English)) the son of Klopedia who eventually marries Furu Furu.
  • Shama (voiced by Hisako Kyōda (Japanese); Derani Scarr (English)) is a female fortune teller. Adults have secret doubts about the accuracy of her predictions, while the children love to make fun of her.
  • Saurus is a Brontosaurus-like dinosaur who lives in a pond near the village, and a friend of Kum Kum and his friends.

Episodes

No.TitleAnimation directed byStoryboarded byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Catching the Clouds"
 (オーイ集れ! ぼくらは原始っ子)		Norio YazawaRintaroEiichi Tachi3 October 1975 (1975-10-03)
2"The Ostrich Egg"
 (ダチョウになったパルパルプ)		Yoshikazu YasuhikoYoshikazu YasuhikoKeisuke Fujikawa10 October 1975 (1975-10-10)
3"The Seafolk"
 (南から来た少女メルシー)		Norio YazawaNoboru IshiguroHideo Rokuka17 October 1975 (1975-10-17)
4"The Rainbow Fish"
 (はねろ! 虹色の大魚)		Yoshikazu YasuhikoYoshikazu YasuhikoJunji Tashiro24 October 1975 (1975-10-24)
5"Roman Returns"
 (帰ってきた旅の子ローマン)		Norio YazawaNoboru IshiguroHideo Rokuka31 October 1975 (1975-10-31)
6"Ashes from the Sky"
 (ピョンキーのふしぎな贈り物)		TBAUnknownUnknown7 November 1975 (1975-11-07)
7"The Rabbit"
 (ぼくらの村にお湯が出た)		TBAUnknownUnknown14 November 1975 (1975-11-14)
8"The Sundial"
 (月にのぼったうさぎ)		TBAUnknownUnknown21 November 1975 (1975-11-21)
9"The Necklace"
 (ゴロンがつくった首かざり)		Norio YazawaNorio YazawaYoshiaki Yoshida28 November 1975 (1975-11-28)
10"The Search for a Student"
 (クロペディアのあとつぎ探し)		Hiromitsu MoritaRyōsuke TakahashiIsao Okijima5 December 1975 (1975-12-05)
11"Saurus the Coward"
 (おこれ! 恐竜サウルス)		Norio YazawaMitsuo KaminashiEiichi Tachi12 December 1975 (1975-12-12)
12"Snow Fly"
 (冬の神をよぶ雪虫)		Yoshikazu YasuhikoYoshikazu YasuhikoYoshikazu Yasuhiko19 December 1975 (1975-12-19)
13"Grotto the Wizard"
 (謎の魔法使いグロータ)		Hiromitsu MoritaWataru MizusawaYoshiaki Yoshida26 December 1975 (1975-12-26)
14"Little Poppa"
 (ファイトだ! 小さなお父さん)		Norio YazawaTakeyuki KandaMasaaki Sakurai2 January 1976 (1976-01-02)
15"The Elephant Tusk"
 (マンモスの牙の秘密)		Hiromitsu MoritaNoboru IshiguroAriyoshi Katô9 January 1976 (1976-01-09)
16"Goodbye Forever"
 (家へなんか帰らない)		Yoshikazu YasuhikoYoshikazu YasuhikoMasuji Harada16 January 1976 (1976-01-16)
17"Saurus Disappears"
 (サウルスが死んだ?)		Sadayoshi TominagaWataru MizusawaMasuji Harada23 January 1976 (1976-01-23)
18"The Killer Bear"
 (人喰いグマをたおせ!)		TBARyōsuke TakahashiUnknown30 January 1976 (1976-01-30)
19"The Challenge"
 (出てこいローマン決闘だ!)		TBAUnknownUnknown6 February 1976 (1976-02-06)
20"The Monster (Wild Man of the Mountains)"
 (出たあ! 山の怪物モンガー)		Futoshi MoriyamaMitsuo KaminashiMasaaki Sakurai13 February 1976 (1976-02-13)
21"The Cheeky Squeakeys Declare War"
 (ピョンキー・ポンキー大決戦)		Norio YazawaYoshikazu YasuhikoYoshikazu Yasuhiko20 February 1976 (1976-02-20)
22"The Switch"
 (チルチルも父さんがほしい)		Hiromitsu MoritaRyōsuke TakahashiHideo Rokuka27 February 1976 (1976-02-27)
23"The Three Black Crows"
 (いたずらガラスをやっつけろ)		Futoshi MoriyamaNoboru IshiguroMasaaki Sakurai5 March 1976 (1976-03-05)
24"Old Mother Dark Eyes"
 (シャーマの六つ子こもり歌)		Futoshi MoriyamaSusumu IshizakiIsao Okijima and Tadashi Akiyama12 March 1976 (1976-03-12)
25"The Broken Heart"
 (ローマンを追いかけろ!)		Norio YazawaNoboru IshiguroYoshikazu Yasuhiko19 March 1976 (1976-03-19)
26"The Wedding"
 (フルフルはお嫁さんになった)		Hiromitsu MoritaYoshikazu YasuhikoYoshikazu Yasuhiko26 March 1976 (1976-03-26)

Production

Kum Kum originated when Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, who had previously worked mostly on mecha anime series like Mobile Suit Gundam, expressed a desire to Tokuma Shoten (Soeisha) to "do something different". He was told to "make [the series himself]", which prompted him to devise the concept. This happened to catch the attention of the company Glico, leading to its adoption for their Peloty Chocolate brand and the anime being greenlit. Yasuhiko originally intended to direct it himself, but due to his lack of experience, Rintaro was brought on board instead. Additionally, the project and character designs were initially planned to be credited under Yasuhiko's pseudonym, "Madoka Akitsu" (秋津円, Akitsu Madoka), but ultimately ended up credited under his real name.[18]

The character designs, settings, and story drafts underwent significant changes during the commercialisation process prior to the final version.[19][20] Because of these changes to his vision, Yasuhiko lost his initial enthusiasm for the series by the time of its broadcast. However, after handling everything from the script to the storyboards and animation direction for episode 12, he was able to regain his affection for the project.[21] The network and sponsors requested changes for episode 16, in which Kum Kum runs away from home. However, Rintaro resisted to keep the episode's grounded realism.[18]

The first episode begins with a scene where Kum Kum is forgiven by his parents and let out of the "punishment hole" (an alternative to the real-world punishment of being locked in a closet or storage room). Producer Tatsuo Shibayama stated that the final episode ends with Kum Kum being put into the "punishment hole", based on the idea of the series starting and ending with said hole.[18]

Music

The theme song record was released by Nippon Columbia. The insert songs first appeared on a compilation LP named Latest TV Manga Idol Deluxe (最新テレビまんが 人気者（アイドル）デラックス, Saishin TV Manga Idol Deluxe), released in March 1976. This album included four songs each from different anime series, including The Adventures of Pepero, Laura, the Prairie Girl, and Arabian Nights: Sinbad's Adventures, for a total of 16 tracks.[22][23]

Opening Theme
Ending Theme
  • "Little Saurus (サウルスくん, Saurusu-kun)"
    Lyrics by Hajime Kijima
    Composition and arrangement by Koichi Sugiyama & Arai Yasunori
    Performed by Mitsuko Horie, Tatsuya Kishi & Columbia Yurikago Kai
Image Songs
  • "Let's Play (あそぼう, Asobou)"
    Lyrics by Katsumi Tanuma
    Composition and arrangement by Koichi Sugiyama & Reijirō Koroku
    Performed by Mitsuko Horie
  • "Naughty Kum Kum (わんぱくクムクム, Wanpaku Kumu Kumu)"
    Lyrics by Katsumi Tanuma
    Composition and arrangement by Koichi Sugiyama & Reijirō Koroku
    Performed by Columbia Yurikago Kai & Koorogi '73

Argentine football player Sergio Agüero's nickname, "Kun", comes from the name of the show. [24][25][26][13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen (2006). The Anime Encyclopedia. Stone Bridge Press. p. 210. ISBN 1933330104.
  2. 1 2 3 Klossner, Michael (January 12, 2006). Prehistoric Humans in Film And Television. McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub. p. 88. ISBN 0786422157.
  3. ↑ Valentin Simion, Daniel (2009). Il Dizionario dei Cartoni Animati. Anton, 2009. ISBN 9788890390227.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "TV アニメ わんぱく大昔クムクム" [TV Anime: Wanpaku Omukashi Kumu Kumu]. AllCinema (in Japanese). Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  5. ↑ Fukushima Minpō, Morning Edition, November 16, 1975, page 7.
  6. ↑ Fukushima Minpō, Morning Edition, January 18, 1976, page 8.
  7. ↑ "The Adventures of Kum Kum". The Chestnut. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ Birmingham Mail staff (14 December 1984). "ITV VARIATIONS". The Scotsman. p. 28. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  9. 1 2 JBox staff (July 23, 2007). "As Aventuras de Cacá". JBox. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Kum Kum". Planete Jeunesse. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Kum Kum". TV Wunschliste. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Kum Kum". Fernsehserien.de. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  13. 1 2 Hylland, Christopher (January 26, 2025). Dane Bola: A Journey Through the Language of Argentinian Football. Pitch Publishing. p. 275. ISBN 9781836800323.
  14. ↑ Francesca (April 8, 2011). "Kum Kum il cavernicolo: l'anime di Rintaro". TvBlog. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Kum Kum". Tana delle Sigle. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  16. ↑ Seaton, Philip; Yamanura, Takayoshi (January 14, 2020). Contents Tourism and Pop Culture Fandom: Transnational Tourist Experiences. Channel View Publications. p. 121. ISBN 9781845417246.
  17. ↑ Fukushima Minpō, Morning Edition, August 23, 1975, page 2.
  18. 1 2 3 "Discussion: Rintaro vs. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko". Roman Album Deluxe 41: Wanpaku Ōmukashi Kumu Kumu. Tokuma Shoten. March 30, 1981.
  19. ↑ "Production notes and planning documents". Roman Album Deluxe 41: Wanpaku Ōmukashi Kumu Kumu. Tokuma Shoten. March 30, 1981.
  20. ↑ "Character design sketches". Roman Album Deluxe 41: Wanpaku Ōmukashi Kumu Kumu. Tokuma Shoten. March 30, 1981.
  21. ↑ "Interview article: Memories of Kum Kum". Roman Album Deluxe 41: Wanpaku Ōmukashi Kumu Kumu. Tokuma Shoten. March 30, 1981.
  22. ↑ "Various – 最新テレビまんが人気者デラックス". Discogs. Columbia. March 10, 1976. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Saishin TV Manga Idol Deluxe 2 Sougen no Shoujo Laura / Arabian Nights: Sindbad no Bouken / Andes Shounen Pepero no Bouken / Kum Kum". VGMdb. Columbia. March 10, 1976. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  24. ↑ Qoly Editorial Department (October 26, 2014). "自伝を発売のアグエロ、"クン"という愛称と日本のアニメについて言及する". Qoly. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  25. ↑ Goal Italia Editorial Team (October 22, 2020). "Il soprannome, la dieta, la musica, Twitch: 10 curiosità su Sergio Agüero". Goal. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  26. ↑ Baldini, Matteo (December 15, 2021). "Perché Sergio Aguero viene chiamato El Kun?". 90min. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
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