Mushi Production

Kaitou Gary no Nihonjin Kouryakuhou! is a short educational video for adults, focusing on the hazards of international travel, such as scams, crime, theft, kidnappings, and other dangers faced in foreign nations.

An introduction to the manga with the same name by Nobuko Kishi.

In 1968, a Phantom Moon appears worldwide during a business trip young Nakajo Taku takes with his father. On this trip, they encounter Louis Boudre and David Flight, individuals with supernatural abilities who help Taku gain telekinetic powers. Shortly thereafter, a mysterious person kidnaps the group and sends them five hundred million years back in time to the moon. In that ancient era, Taku meets Price Noman and joins forces with the Noman Rangers to stop a war between humans and aliens. The series' debut episode was partially colored and had a runtime of 12 minutes and 20 seconds. Despite this promising start, the show was never fully serialized, likely due to financial troubles. This theory is backed by the cancellation of Zero Man, another Mushi Pro pilot that faced similar funding difficulties, especially since Noman's episode was nearly three times as long as Zero Man's.

Created to celebrate six decades since Adachi became part of Tokyo, the series follows two kids and Adacchii, a living mascot representing the ward.

Shinobi embark on a mission to save stolen rare animals. This story is based on the manga of the same name by Soubee Amako, which was serialized in Akita Shoten's Monthly Princess.

Created for educational purposes at the request of the Japan Construction Training Center, this three-part series demonstrates the role of civil engineering in shaping modern Japan.

This science fiction story follows Ricky, a Zero Man raised among humans in Tokyo. Though they resemble humans, Zero Men possess superior intelligence and physical abilities, along with squirrel-like traits. After discovering that his species intends to wage war on humanity, Ricky acts to prevent the conflict and protect the family that raised him.

Inspired by a cherished children's story, an elderly gentleman heads into the mountains to collect charcoal. On the way, he comes across two bear cubs who lead him to a plentiful gathering of autumn chestnuts and mushrooms. Later, he meets their mother—the same bear he had once freed from a trap. To aid the bear family in preparing for winter, he gives them nourishing cow’s milk. The story highlights the significance of harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Long ago, in the village of Shiiba in Hyuuga, there lived a young man named Yosuke. He yearned for enough wealth and belongings to enjoy a life of leisure without ever having to work. In his impoverished village, where only barnyard millet, oxtail millet, and beans could be grown, Yohei abandoned his labor and fled into the mountains. There, one night, he witnessed an eerie event: a blue ogre clinging to a huge cedar tree split open its back, shed its skin, and quickly transformed into a red ogre. Yosuke stole the discarded skin, put it on, and began committing crimes in the village. But when he later tried to remove the skin, no matter what he did, he could not get it off.

This OVA compiles episodes from the Wansa-kun series, bearing similarities to Disney's Lady and the Tramp. The story follows Wansa's search for his mother and the friendships he forms along the way. Originally serving as the mascot for Sanwa Bank, Wansa-kun later appeared in a television series, with Osamu Tezuka recognized as the creator of the original story.

This educational short film takes place in Meiji Era Japan, centered on the Kuzuryuu River. Communities living along its banks face repeated devastation from floods. Despite the villagers' pleas for aid, their requests are ignored. A young boy, who loses his childhood friend in one such flood, grows up determined to bring change. He begins building an embankment, sparking a community-wide effort that soon spreads to other towns along the river.

This educational film focuses on Japan's Elephant Trains. During World War II, numerous zoos across Japan chose to euthanize potentially hazardous animals like elephants, fearing they might escape if Allied bombing runs damaged their cages. After the conflict ended, only two elephants survived, both living at Nagoya's Higashiyama Zoo. Special trains called Elephant Trains were arranged to transport children from all over the country to the zoo so they could see these elephants.

This anthology gathers four folk tales from Koshiji, an area that has been part of Nagaoka since 2005, located in Niigata Prefecture, formerly known as Echigo. Episode 1: The Azuki Mochi and the Frog An old woman warns her daughter-in-law that if she eats an azuki mochi, it will turn into a frog. Overhearing this threat, the daughter-in-law... Episode 2: Satori A woodcutter warms himself by a fire made of deadwood when a spirit shaped like an eyeball appears. This being accurately reads every thought passing through the woodcutter's mind... Episode 3: The Fox's Lantern Lost in the darkness, an elderly man discovers an intricately crafted lantern left behind by a fox spirit. The next day, though reluctant, he returns it—only to witness... Episode 4: The Three Paper Charms A young apprentice priest loses his way and accidentally takes shelter in the hut of a mountain witch. To escape being eaten, he uses three paper charms to guide himself back to the temple...

Wonder Three pilot episode.

The pilot for Umi no Triton was produced in October 1971 to appeal to an international audience, showcasing a Triton design with a more Western appearance. This pilot was made publicly available almost three decades later as part of the Umi no Triton: Original Gekijou-ban DVD collection.

On September 6, 1969, Nippon Television broadcast "Star of the Giants vs Astro Boy," an anime crossover special produced by Tokyo Movie and Mushi Pro. The special featured a baseball game between iconic rivals, making it one of the pioneering efforts of its type. Despite its historical significance, only short clips have surfaced over time.

Based on the fairy tale novel series by Akimi Ozawa (小沢昭巳).

A 1969 Nippon TV special produced by Mushi Production, created by Osamu Tezuka, and directed by Tezuka and Eiichi Yamamoto, is a science-fiction drama about an architect's determined effort to realize his dream of building a city beneath the sea.

Based on a children's novel by Etsuko Kishikawa.

A history of Japan with the main characters as animals.

The narrative centers on the bond between a boy named Taro and the enigmatic Wonder-kun, with the "first dream of the New Year" serving as a pivotal motif. Under Wonder-kun's guidance, Taro embarks on an exciting journey through space. This unique program blends live-action footage with animation and was broadcast on NHK during the New Year holiday season, aimed at children watching television at home. The full broadcast ran for 20 minutes, but the animated portion was roughly 11 minutes. Consequently, MAL lists the duration based on the animated segment rather than the complete program.

This biographical work recounts the story of Chiharu Igaya, who won a silver medal in the men's slalom at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, becoming Japan's first Winter Olympics medalist.

In September 1959, Super Typhoon #15—also referred to as "T5915," "Vera," or the "Isewan Typhoon"—hit Japan's coastline with wind speeds reaching 305 km/h, resulting in over 5,000 deaths or missing persons and more than 30,000 injuries. It stands as the deadliest typhoon to strike Japan in the 20th century. Three decades later, this animated film was produced to honor those who lost their lives and those who survived this devastating disaster.

This film reimagines Goku as a mischievous modern child, responding to complaints from kids who thought he was too serious. However, the PTA raised numerous objections over its inappropriate language, eventually causing the film to be removed from the series.

A comedy about a group of kids forming a school baseball team, with the leader being very stubborn and argumentative.

Toki-iro Kaima is a horror anime adapted from the manga by Suzumiya Wayu, originally published in Shogakkan's Weekly Shonen Sunday special edition.

Adventures of the Polar Cubs follows the charming exploits of Mushka and Mishka, two polar bear cubs embarking on various escapades across the North Pole. Mushka is reflective, while Mishka is bold. During their independent journeys, Mishka befriends Aura, a mischievous seal, and Mushka accidentally breaks some swan eggs, causing chaos in the bird village. Their father, Scholar Mu (voiced by Joseph Campanella), serves as the wise leader of the Great Northern animal kingdom and oversees the annual Summer Festival. When Mu gets injured by humans, the cubs must step up to assume their father's duties and protect the other animals from hunters.

Hirayama Jirou lost his mother in the Great Kanto Earthquake and now helps his father run a soba stall. He chooses to become a crew member of the celebrated ocean liner Hikawa Maru, landing a job as a cook in the ship's galley. Through his perspective, the film examines the vessel's 85-year history.

Unaired pilot episode of Ribbon no Kishi.

This is a pilot episode for The Star of Cottonland, which Mushi Production later adapted into a full feature film in 1984. Both the pilot and the film are based on a manga created by Yumiko Oshima in the 1970s.

Matsutarou, a teenage dropout, discovers sumo wrestling and gains a fresh start. Drawn to Tokyo's appeal, he moves there and starts training with a skilled master.

This episode served as the debut installment of Mushi Pro Land, a distinctive anthology of hour-long animated features, and marked the first sixty-minute animated television program in Japan. However, the full series was never produced, with only this single episode ever broadcast. Its narrative adapts Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island," reimagining the cast as anthropomorphic animals. The pirate Long John Silver appears as a wolf, while protagonist Jim Hawkins takes the form of a rabbit. Consequently, this production bears no connection to Osamu Tezuka's celebrated manga "New Treasure Island."

Ichirou Higashi, a young amateur wrestler, wants to participate in the Olympics Games in Mexico.

The story is set in 1917, during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, when the island is enduring a severe drought and famine. The people of the Chianan Plain live in poverty, their days consumed by the constant chore of hauling water to their homes. When Yoichi Hatta, a Japanese civil engineer, arrives with an ambitious plan to transform the region's irrigation system, the locals quickly dismiss him as a fraud. Xu Yingzhe, the son of a poor farmer, challenges this outright rejection and attempts to understand and evaluate Hatta's proposal. Though his scheme may appear insane, it could be exactly what is needed to improve the harsh lives of the Taiwanese people.

While at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a young girl named Tomoko encounters Sadako, a mysterious figure who was only two years old at the time of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II and later died from radiation sickness at the age of eleven. Under Sadako's guidance, Tomoko begins a deeply significant and illuminating journey.

An animated adaptation of Yanase Takashi's picture book, this story centers on the bond between a mother dog named Muku-muku, who has lost her puppy, and a baby lion named Buru-buru, who has lost her mother. Although Tezuka Osamu envisioned creating a full musical animated series for this tale focusing on the emotions of the mother dog and the baby lion, this particular animated production was the only one that was never finished. In 1998, a revised version was released with altered dialogue, newly recorded audio featuring different voice actors, and a modified final scene.

In Wanpaku Tanteidan, a group of young boys, along with a girl and her bratty younger sibling, form a detective club. Employing their combined skills in intelligence, physical strength, invention, and driving, they solve mysteries across Tokyo. Police Chief Nakamura is frequently frustrated by their success, as they crack cases that even veteran officers struggle with.

The titular character of "Little Wansa" is a puppy named Wansa, who, after being sold at an absurdly low price, becomes the main focus of the series. Most of the story follows his journey as he ventures out to find his mother.

The film faced backlash for portraying Goku as overly eager in his student role, prompting a reimagining of him as a lively, modern child. This shift sparked numerous complaints from the PTA regarding improper language, ultimately resulting in the movie being removed from broadcast.

Adaptations of numerous stories written by Hans Christian Andersen.

In the year 2119, the spaceship Green Sleeves discovered that three planets were being assaulted by X23, a sentient planet heading straight for Earth. When Earth's government ordered Captain Dr. Sugita to fight X23, he declined, arguing that peaceful coexistence was possible. Shortly thereafter, all contact with Green Sleeves ceased. Two years later, in 2121, Dr. Sugita's son Susumu is approached by mysterious individuals who guide him to Dr. Miya—one of the few remaining supporters of his father's beliefs, as society had largely branded Dr. Sugita a traitor. Dr. Miya urges Susumu to join White Pegasus, a specialized medical rescue team equipped with a Micronizer System that shrinks humans to treat illnesses from within the body. As X23 draws nearer, the alien beings called Hues target Susumu's friend first. Susumu and his White Pegasus teammates successfully defeat the Hues inside his friend's body, but Susumu then discovers that the signals transmitted by the chips inside the Hues are actually musical pieces he and his mother composed as a gift for Dr. Sugita.

The Amazing 3 is a manga by Osamu Tezuka, adapted into a black-and-white anime series. It follows the adventures of three extraterrestrial agents dispatched to Earth to assess whether the planet, seen as a potential danger to the cosmos, ought to be obliterated. The means of destruction is a device shaped like a large black sphere with two antennae, referred to at various times as an anti-proton bomb, a solar bomb, and a neutron bomb. Though the trio—Captain Bokko, Nokko, and Pukko—initially appear humanoid, upon arriving on Earth they adopt the forms of a rabbit (Bokko), a horse (Nokko), and a duck (Pukko), creatures they previously captured as representatives of Earth's wildlife. While on Earth, they travel in a tire-shaped vehicle capable of immense speed, dubbed the Big Wheel, which can traverse both land and water and, after modifications, even through the air. The series addresses numerous themes that were notably forward-thinking for an animated show of its era, particularly concerns about ecology and poverty.

In the summer of 2000, Dreamworks Film Corp. in Hollywood, under Spielberg's leadership, collaborated with stop-motion animation master Nick Park to produce "Chicken Run," a box office hit. The story centered on a chicken protagonist and mirrored the narrative of "The Great Escape." Thirty-five years earlier, Mushi Production created an animated short also featuring a chicken. It portrayed a struggle between oppressors and the oppressed that eventually escalated into a full-scale war. Though the story's scope was vast, the entire film ran only three minutes. This ability to condense the endless cycle of war spanning human history into such a brief duration showcases the distinct strength of short animations, utilizing exaggeration and visionary imagination.

The opening two minutes of this film are taken from the 1965 Jungle Emperor Leo television series, with the rest consisting of completely original material. Tezuka was especially satisfied that this motion picture faithfully represented his original story, which he believed had not been achieved when he made the TV adaptation.

In August 1945, a young physician stationed at a repurposed theological seminary on the outskirts of Nagasaki tends to his patients while whispers spread of a catastrophic American weapon deployed against Hiroshima. Following a second atomic bomb that ravages their own city, the medical team rushes against the clock to preserve lives amid the sweeping devastation that has engulfed Nagasaki.

A collection of tales centered on a community of animals residing in a forest. These stories are adapted from the numerous children's books authored by Thornton W. Burgess.

This short film serves as a parody of the major Hollywood production "The Creation" directed by John Houston. The work features a tongue-in-cheek aesthetic, crafted on a limited budget by animators aiming to poke fun at grand works that required enormous financial investment.

In Heaven, Yuki's grandparents decree that now that she has reached thirteen, she must descend to an Earth village plagued by bandits and help rescue its inhabitants. Should she fail to accomplish this within a year, she will dissolve into nothing more than the wind. Upon arriving in the village, Yuki becomes friends with a band of orphans whose parents were slain by the bandits and who survive by begging. She astonishes them by managing to tame the wild horse named Blizzard. Yuki plays a key role in rallying both the orphans and local farmers to resist first the feuding bandits and then Goemon, the avaricious lord who rules the area. Yet Yuki's ultimate trial awaits when the angered Demon God residing in the volcano stirs and rises to obliterate those dwelling below.

Hi no Ame ga Furu is an anti-war anime adapted from a compilation of firsthand accounts of the firebombing of Fukuoka, which took place on the night of June 19, 1945.

Three episodes from the Astro Boy television series—"Robot Rocket" (episode 46), "Earth Defense Troops" (episode 56), and "The Last Day of Earth" (episode 71)—were selected and re-edited for a theatrical release. Among these, only "Earth Defense Troops" originally came from Tezuka Osamu's story "Number 7," with its settings later adapted into the Astro Boy series. For this film, the entirety of "Earth Defense Troops" and a portion of "The Last Day of Earth" were reproduced in color specifically for this theater version.

A Chinese laborer under indenture, taken to Japan to toil in a coal mine during World War II, succeeds in fleeing his captors. He conceals himself in the rural Japanese landscape, so isolated from any settlement that he remains unaware when the war concludes, leading to a tragic outcome. This work is based on a tale by Yoichi Takashi.

Two infant girls were delivered at the same hospital—one the child of a wealthy aristocratic family, the other from a destitute household in the city's slums. The attending nurse, Michiko, secretly swaps the two babies out of a personal vendetta, altering their destinies from that moment onward. Years later, the paths of the two young women remain entangled: the affluent Miki mistreats the impoverished Nozomi, yet both share a similar ambition to become a singer.

Multiple brief animated vignettes, featuring no spoken lines, examine archetypal figures in contemporary life—including a plastic surgeon, a woman fixated on fashion, a gossip spreader, and more—ultimately ending with a reflection on how civilization has advanced.

A man is stranded on a raft in the middle of the ocean, desperately in need of water. Fortunately for him, a few raindrops are about to fall from the raft's mast. Comic situations follow as the parched man tries to catch and drink those tiny drops.

This 1972 version re-adapts the earlier Moomin series from 1969-70, remaining more faithful to the original stories written and illustrated by Finnish creator Tove Jansson.

The narrative follows Sabu, a young investigator serving the Edo bakufu, and Ichi, a blind swordsman of extraordinary skill, as they roam the countryside helping ordinary people solve mysteries and correct injustices frequently stemming from bandits or corrupt officials. Amid their journeys, Sabu is betrothed to Midori, the daughter of his superior, who works as a police officer under the Tokugawa shogunate.

After the massive success of Jungle Emperor in Japan, Dr. Tezuka created a sequel series in 1966, locally titled The New Jungle Emperor or Onward, Leo!. Unlike the first series co-produced with NBC, this sequel was an independent production that closely followed Tezuka's original manga. As a result, it had a darker tone, with significant character deaths and sorrowful episodes. NBC deemed the content unsuitable for its viewers and refrained from airing it in the US until 1984, after they had already used up their initial 52-episode run. The show then broadcast as Leo The Lion. Set years after the original Kimba series, the story features an adult Kimba, now with Kitty as his mate and two cubs. The plot mainly follows their son Rune as he matures and strives to match his father's strength. Due to legal issues preventing the use of the name Kimba in the English dub, the characters were given their original Japanese names instead.

Hailing from a difficult past, Sonnet is a cyborg and esper who has been molded into the world's ultimate warrior and deadliest weapon. Her mission sends her to Japan to keep an eye on Komatsuzaki Lan, a girl believed to be influenced by the fury of the esper known as Akai Kiba (Crimson Fang). Lan, a reserved individual aware of her own uniqueness, begins exhibiting manifestations of Crimson Fang following her encounter with Sonnet. As they clash, Sonnet gradually rediscovers her own humanity. Meanwhile, Lan struggles to hold onto her humanity while controlling the Crimson Fang within her.

This short, standalone animated piece delves into the enigmatic nature of memory, demonstrating how it reshapes our understanding of reality and highlighting both its advantages and disadvantages. As the narrative unfolds, it shows humanity's extinction, reducing the entire existence of Earth to just a memory within the cosmos. Over its five-minute duration, the film deftly captures the viewer's imagination, exemplifying the enchanting essence of animation.

A cat longs for quiet moments alone with their female partner, but a frazzled human caretaker keeps interrupting. Why can't these foolish people understand that relationships ought to be simple?

Long ago, in a small Viking village called Flake, young Wickie lives a cheerful life. His father, Halvar, is the chief of the Vikings and would have preferred a son with more bravery. So Halvar and his crew bring Wickie along on their expeditions to give him the experience needed to become a true Viking. However, in most situations, Halvar and his men end up trapped or hopelessly stranded somewhere, and it is up to Wickie alone to rescue them with his clever flashes of wit.

In a fictional realm where creativity is forbidden, a young boy saves a fish that shockingly transforms into a mermaid, causing widespread astonishment. Because he is believed to have caused this impossibility, he gets captured and his imagination is forcibly removed.

A poster on a street corner sets the stage, alongside a girl who holds her teddy bear dear, a street lamp, and a playful moth drawn to the light. These living beings and objects, each carrying their own private stories, become entangled in a war that culminates in a tragic ending. This is a personal animated work that prioritizes conveying emotion over narrative. It can be seen as Tezuka Osamu, disillusioned with working for large corporations, using this piece to express what he truly wished to achieve in animation. The film shows that even a simple poster on a wall can conceal a vivid drama, bringing the enchantment of animation to life for the viewer.

Prior to the creation of the television series, a pilot film was produced to help sponsors and broadcasters understand the overall feel of the project. This pilot for "Dororo" features characters that are more faithful to the original manga than those seen in the TV series. The television series altered the characters' appearances and personalities from time to time in an effort to appeal to viewers, which sometimes led to great reception and other times to less favorable reactions. The pilot was filmed in color, whereas the TV series was in black and white due to a smaller budget. The story follows the journey of a young thief named Dororo and a cursed man named Hyakkimaru as they battle monsters. Hyakkimaru can only become fully human after defeating 48 demons.

Pilot films for Ashita no Joe, released as bonus material on the series' DVD box. - Aoyama-hen (prod. 1969/11/06) - Rikiishi-hen (prod. 1969/12/22)

In the kingdom of Silverland, Prince Sapphire carries a major secret: they are actually a girl. At birth, Sapphire was mistakenly given both a boy's blue heart and a girl's pink heart. To protect the kingdom from the ambitious Duke Duralumin, who could claim the throne, Sapphire lives a double life as a boy, since women are not allowed to rule. Tink, an angel in training sent by God, arrives to take back Sapphire's male heart, but they refuse to give it up. While the Duke plots to seize control of the throne, Sapphire struggles with the conflict between their two identities and develops feelings for Prince Franz Charming from a neighboring kingdom. Together with Tink, Sapphire goes on thrilling adventures while fighting many enemies to protect their right to the throne.

Released in 1980, this movie presents a condensed adaptation of the first Ashita no Joe TV series, made to offer context for the upcoming second television season for audiences who missed either the original program or the manga.

Chibi-neko, a two-month-old kitten whose previous owners abandoned her, is discovered by 18-year-old Tokio. Though his mother has severe allergies and a fear of cats, she allows him to keep the kitten, worried about his withdrawal ever since he failed his university entrance exams. Chibi-neko quickly forms a strong attachment to Tokio. In her imagination, Chibi-neko sees herself as a tiny human capable of speaking like one, even though everyone around her only hears meowing. She believes that all humans were once kittens themselves. One day, a stray cat tells Chibi-neko about Cottonland, a paradise where every wish comes true.

The show is based on Tove Jansson's Finnish Moomin books but departs heavily from them. With major alterations to the story, atmosphere, character traits, appearances, and names, Jansson rarely gave her approval to this version. In addition, unlike the original source material, this program is made for an adult demographic rather than children.

Leo, a white lion, is born on a sinking ocean liner near a bustling city and grows up learning human language and customs, yet he feels incomplete. Driven by a longing to find his true home and family, he travels to Africa with the goal of becoming the King of the Jungle. His journey revolves around promoting peace between humans and animals, who often clash over resources. As he matures, Leo confronts many obstacles, including Africa's harsh terrain, rival predators, and hunters who kill lions for sport. Believing that communication and mutual respect are key to settling conflicts, Leo hopes his unique knowledge of human society can help bridge the gap. "Jungle Taitei" chronicles a young lion's struggle to survive in a perilous world.

After his son Tobio dies in a car accident, Dr. Umatarou Tenma, the head of the Ministry of Science, orders his team to build Atom—a robot modeled after the boy he lost. Atom possesses incredible strength and intelligence along with a childlike innocence, but Tenma discards him when he realizes the android will never age. Seeing Atom as nothing more than a machine, Tenma sells him to a circus where the performers are mistreated. Even under these harsh conditions, Atom remains gentle toward both humans and robots, often endangering himself to protect others. His situation changes when Dr. Ochanomizu, a firm opponent of robot cruelty, frees him. Under Ochanomizu's guidance, Atom strives to create harmony in a world shared by humans and robots, learning to navigate the complexities of society along the way.

Kayoko is a young girl in 1940, just beginning first grade. She is known as a bit of a crybaby to those around her. She delights in playing with friends, singing cheerful schoolyard chants, and occasionally having fun with her three older brothers. With her mother pregnant, Kayoko looks forward to becoming a big sister, only partially grasping the responsibility it might bring. Meanwhile, the war effort intensifies, and supporting the country through patriotism feels like the natural thing to do. Kayoko goes so far as to donate her favorite doll, whose materials could be used to build explosives. As time passes and she grows older, Kayoko witnesses how the war has reshaped her life and the lives of those around her. However, nothing prepares her for 1945 and the bleak times that soon follow. This story is based on the real-life experiences of original creator Kayoko Ebina during World War II in the Showa era.

In an effort to strengthen his grip on Japan, the ruthless lord Daigo Kagemitsu makes a dark deal with 48 demons, sacrificing his unborn child in the process. The child is born limbless and cast into a tumultuous river. Fifteen years later, Dororo, an orphan who has learned to fend for himself in a devastated land plagued by war, struggles against hunger and the dangers posed by rival samurai. When Dororo incites a group of violent thugs, he finds himself trapped, only to be rescued by a mysterious figure in a mask, who claims to detect nearby spirits. Shortly after, a monstrous creature emerges from the river, and the stranger unveils prosthetic arms equipped with concealed blades, which they use to vanquish the beast before vanishing into the night. Curious, Dororo follows the masked individual and demands to join their cause. The stranger, identified as Hyakkimaru, discloses that the demons have stolen his body parts and he is now on a quest to retrieve them and reclaim his body. Despite Hyakkimaru's preference for solitude, Dororo persists in accompanying him. As they travel through Japan, battling the terrors of the spirit realm and the harsh realities of human wickedness, they are joined by a dog called Nota.

Joe Yabuki is a young man who habitually settles disputes with his fists. Though he lacks manners and self-control, he possesses remarkable combat instincts developed on his own. While wandering through the Doya slums, Joe gets into a fight with a local gang and defeats them despite being heavily outnumbered. His performance draws the interest of Danpei Tange, a former boxing coach who has fallen into alcoholism. Seeing Joe's natural ability, Danpei wants to transform him into Japan's premier boxer. Joe initially dismisses Danpei as just another drunk, but after Danpei saves his life, he agrees to move in with him and learn boxing. However, Joe's stubborn personality makes him a difficult student, and he often slips back into his old habits. To make it in the harsh world of professional boxing, Joe must learn to trust his mentor and master the skills he teaches. The road to becoming a pro is filled with challenges that will push Joe to his absolute limits.