King Kong - 001/7 Tom Thumb

Synopsis

While on a research expedition in the Java Sea, Professor Bond's son encounters a giant ape and forms a close bond with it. Together, they oppose Dr. Who, who has malicious intentions for the ape. Each episode begins with a King Kong story, transitions to a segment featuring Tom of T.H.U.M.B., and ends with another King Kong narrative. Tom of T.H.U.M.B. is a comedic series about a secret agent and his Asian sidekick. According to Animage Pocket Data Notes, MORI Yasuji and KANISHI Takao are credited as character designers or animation directors for the Tom of T.H.U.M.B. sections, which differ from the credits for the King Kong segments. This series is the first Japanese-animated television program created exclusively for an American audience. American records indicate that Rankin-Bass commissioned the project from Videocraft International, while Japanese sources attribute it to Videocraft/Toei Doga.