3. Ken the Wolf Boy (1963)

An ambitious work that utilizes the know-how of theatrical animation

Following the success of “Astro Boy”, Toei Doga produced the TV animation “Ken the Wolf Boy”, which was an ambitious work that utilized the high technology and expressive power cultivated in theatrical animation. The story of Ken, a boy who was raised by wolves despite being human, and his adventures and growth in a rich natural setting captured the hearts of many children.

Challenge for new expression

For “Ken the Wolf Boy,” Toei Doga's technical capabilities cultivated through the production of “Hakubenden” were fully utilized to achieve a high quality visual image similar to that of a theatrical animation. In particular, the realistic movements and facial expressions of the animals were groundbreaking for TV animation at the time, and had a great impact on later works.

Works that expanded the possibilities of TV animation

Through the production of “Ken the Wolf Boy,” Toei Doga proved that it was possible to produce high quality work not only in theatrical animation but also in TV animation.