Magical Hat (まじかるハット, Majikaru Hatto) is a Japanesemanga series written and illustrated by Yōji Katakura (March 13, 1949-April 8, 1997).[1][2] It was serialized in many of Shogakukan's magazines in 1989, such as Shogaku Ichinensei, Shogaku Ninensei, Shogaku Shi-nensei, Shogaku Roku-nensei and Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic. The series was also adapted into an anime produced by Studio Pierrot, which aired on Fuji Television from October 18, 1989 to July 6, 1990.[3][4] Two volumes of the manga were published by Tentomushi Comics in October 1989 and May 1990, though it was left unfinished due to Katakura's death in 1997.[5][4]
Plot
63,000 years ago, there was a hero who fought against the demons of the Underworld, who had conspired to conquer the Earth. The legendary hero was called Magical Hat. According to legend, the hero used his mysterious magical psychic powers to defeat the demons and sealed the Underworld under the island of Usontō ("Uson Island"), where the demons have remained ever since, isolated by a magical seal.
In the present day, a young boy named Hat comes to the island with his parents, who are researching the legends of the Underworld. Hat's father, an archaeologist, plans to research the area near a large volcano on the island, where the legendary Magical Hat was believed to have engaged in battle. Suddenly, an earthquake hits the island and Hat falls into the volcano, breaking the seal to the Underworld. There, King Aleph rules as a kind and just king, keeping the Underworld in order. His brother in-law, Guwaru the Ziarc, opposes him and has plans to seize the throne. When Hat enters the Underworld, Guwaru and Aleph are in a struggle for power. Guwaru banishes Aleph, and breaks Usontō up into seven separate islands.
After entering the Underworld and meeting Guwaru, Hat discovers a statue which possesses the spirit of the legendary Magical Hat. He is told that he is a descendant of Magical Hat, and that he shall realize his destiny as the second incarnation of the hero, to stop Guwaru, reunify the continent and restore King Aleph to the throne. Thus, Hat becomes transformed into the new Magical Hat, and the adventure begins. The turban that Hat wears contains powerful magic that the wearer can control. Using the magical powers of this turban, he can defeat Guwaru and complete his quest. However, if Guwaru gets a hold of the turban, all hope is lost. With the help of his partners, Hoto-ken, Grandpa Tau, Spin and Roboggu, Hat must stop Guwaru from his new reign once and for all.[3]
A 10-year-old boy who comes to Usontō with his parents. During an earthquake, he falls into the island's volcano, and ends up in the Underworld, where he learns that he is the descendant of Magical Hat. He uses the magical powers of the turban that he wears to defeat Guwaru and complete his quest. Hat's design was inspired by Fuji TV's Yume Kōjō '87 mascot Imajin.[4]
The canine Prince of the Underworld and the son of King Aleph. Despite his title, he is meek and cowardly, though still quick to anger whenever he gets abused or mistaken for a dog. He is usually the victim of bullying, especially by Kowaru.
An elderly man and King Aleph's younger brother. He becomes acquainted with Hat and Hoto-ken after the Underworld launches its attack on the surface. He is very knowledgeable and occasionally helpful, but also has an uncomfortable, perverted side. He also serves as the narrator.
An independent, resourceful yet selfish teenage girl with a fondness for sweets and firearms, who has taken it upon herself to rid her home, the Mountain Island, of its sudden and deleterious fascination with gold.
A tiny egg-like robot and an "Ultimate Surefire Rescue Machine" created by Grandpa Tau. Based on the juvenile ecology of the Phoenix tribe, he is capable of transforming into any mechanical object, such as a helicopter or submarine, and ends most of his sentences with "nya". At the beginning of the manga's serialization, he spoke in an expressive yet dumb voice, but in the anime, he spoke in a lisping tone, which was carried over to the manga.
A powerful demon in the Underworld who opposes King Aleph, his brother-in-law. As a noble, he is the one most eager to take the fight back to the human race that sealed the Underworld away, and plots to conquer the Earth. His powers of deception make him a shrewd and dangerous foe.
Guwaru's son, King Aleph's nephew and Hoto-ken's cousin, a kitsune-like demon with a bratty, selfish personality but a similar amount of cunning to his father. He and Dogu try to come up with a new scheme to steal Hat's turban and turn it over to Guwaru, and he harasses Hat and his friends at every chance he gets. Kowaru also has a crush on Spin, which she takes advantage of. He hates vegetables, especially green peppers.
Guwaru and Kowaru's faithful dogū servant. He can float and wield his paper-thin arms like whips, has a family, and ends most of his sentences with "dogū".
The King of the Underworld and Hoto-ken's father. He keeps the Underworld in order, until his brother-in-law, Guwaru, banishes him during a struggle for power.
A mysterious Chinese man who usually runs a ramen stall. His catchphrase is "Kunchan's ramen is delicious!" In the manga, he plays an important role as a person who can decipher ancient characters.
Hat's father and mother, who take him with them to Usontō to research the legends of the Underworld. Hat's father is an archaeologist, and plans to research the area near the island's volcano, where the legendary Magical Hat was believed to have battled with the demons.
A 33-episode anime series adaptation produced by Studio Pierrot aired on Fuji Television from October 18, 1989 to July 6, 1990, starting out on Wednesday nights at 6:30, but eventually jumping over to Friday near the end of the series.[3][7] The anime was produced alongside the manga, and was part of a media mix by Sega, Pierrot and Fuji TV. Sega had creative input over the series as its main sponsor, and the exclusive rights to produce video games and toys.[4] The series was directed by Akira Shigino, with Kotakara serving as the animation director. The screenplay was written by Kenji Terada. The characters were designed by Tsuneo Ninomiya. The music was produced by Takayoshi Watanabe, under the alias "Edison". The anime's opening theme is "Daijōbu, Daibōken" (大丈夫、大冒険, "It's Okay, It's a Big Adventure") by Naoko Nozawa, and has two ending theme songs: "Mera Tenten-Kirakura" (メラ・テンテンキラクラ) (episodes 1-23) by Nozawa and "Bye Bye Baby" (episodes 24-33) by Ītomo Seinen-tai/K-chaps!.[6] The series contains plenty of slapstick gag elements.
The final episode was scheduled to be broadcast on June 29, 1990, but was delayed by one week due to a special news program related to the wedding of Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan.
Episodes
#
Episode Title
Original air date
01
"Magical Pipipi Powers" Transliteration: "Mahō Pipipi no Pawā" (Japanese: 魔法ピピピのパワー)
October 18, 1989 (1989-10-18)
02
"It's the Earth Demon, Dogu!" Transliteration: "Doro Majin da Dogu〜!" (Japanese: ドロ魔人だドグ～!)
October 25, 1989 (1989-10-25)
03
"The Mysterious Island of Glittering Gold" Transliteration: "Nazo no Shima wa Kinpika Rin" (Japanese: ナゾの島は金ピカリン)
November 1, 1989 (1989-11-01)
04
"Kowaru's True Love Story" Transliteration: "Kowaru no Jun'ai Monogatari" (Japanese: コワルの純愛物語)
"Pe! Pe! Petamos' Grand Gathering" Transliteration: "Pe! Pe! Petamo Dai Shūgō" (Japanese: ペ!ペ!ペタモ大集合)
November 22, 1989 (1989-11-22)
07
"The Tale of the Intense Race" Transliteration: "Rēsu Binbin Monogatari" (Japanese: レースビンビン物語)
November 29, 1989 (1989-11-29)
08
"Something's Up With the Pink Bugs?" Transliteration: "Nanka Henka Pinku no Mushi" (Japanese: なんか変化ピンクの虫)
December 6, 1989 (1989-12-06)
09
"Sumo MoriMori Island" Transliteration: "Sumō Morimori Mori no Shima" (Japanese: すもうモリモリ森の島)
December 13, 1989 (1989-12-13)
10
"The Death of Hat" Transliteration: "Katte ni Shinda Hatto" (Japanese: 勝手に死んだハット)
December 20, 1989 (1989-12-20)
11
"Papa's Uneggspected Love" Transliteration: "Papa wa Tama Tama Tamago-suki" (Japanese: パパはタマたま卵好き)
January 10, 1990 (1990-01-10)
12
"Hat's Great Makeover into a Girl" Transliteration: "Hatto Dai Henshin On'nanoko yo" (Japanese: ハッと大変身女の子よ)
January 17, 1990 (1990-01-17)
13
"See You in your Nightmares" Transliteration: "Akumu de Aimashō" (Japanese: 悪夢で会いましょう)
January 24, 1990 (1990-01-24)
14
"My Husband is an Alien!" Transliteration: "Dan'na-sama wa Uchūbitoda〜" (Japanese: ダンナ様は宇宙人だ〜)
January 31, 1990 (1990-01-31)
15
"The Tale of a Good Friendship" Transliteration: "Nakayoshi o Yoshi Monogatari" (Japanese: なかよしおよし物語)
February 7, 1990 (1990-02-07)
16
"The Magnificent Gyotaro" Transliteration: "Gyogyo Gyo no Uotarō" (Japanese: ぎょぎょぎょの魚太郎)
February 14, 1990 (1990-02-14)
17
"Cooked for Three Minutes! Hard-Boiled Hat" Transliteration: "Nettō 3-bu Yude-Dako Hatto" (Japanese: 熱湯3分ゆでだこハット)
February 21, 1990 (1990-02-21)
18
"Who's the Sloth?" Transliteration: "Namakemono wa Da〜re?" (Japanese: なまけものはダ〜レ?)
February 28, 1990 (1990-02-28)
19
"Wait, Who Am I Again?" Transliteration: "Are Boku Ittai Dare da-kke" (Japanese: あれボク一体だれだっけ)
March 7, 1990 (1990-03-07)
20
"Clash! The Great Treasure Hunt Operation" Transliteration: "Taiketsu! Takara-Sagashi Dai Sakusen" (Japanese: 対決!宝さがし大作戦)
March 14, 1990 (1990-03-14)
21
"Kowaru's Road to Success" Transliteration: "Kowaru no Shussegaidō Monogatari" (Japanese: コワルの出世街道物語)
March 21, 1990 (1990-03-21)
22
"Go Outie and See the World!" Transliteration: "Na〜ru Heso za Wārudo" (Japanese: な〜るへそザワールド)
March 28, 1990 (1990-03-28)
23
"Shine On! The Path to Heroism" Transliteration: "Kagayake! Eiyū e no Michi" (Japanese: 輝け!英雄への道)
April 13, 1990 (1990-04-13)
24
"All-Time Best! Spring Bloopers Contest" Transliteration: "Kanzen Hozon-ban! Haru no Chin Purē Taishō" (Japanese: 完全保存版!春の珍プレー大賞)
April 20, 1990 (1990-04-20)
25
"My Beloved Egg!" Transliteration: "Tamago de Ichiban Kimi ga Suki!" (Japanese: タマゴで一番キミが好き!)
April 27, 1990 (1990-04-27)
26
"Is He Dead? Rerere's Spirit!" Transliteration: "Shinda ndesu ka? Rerere no Rei!" (Japanese: 死んだンですか?レレレの霊!)
May 11, 1990 (1990-05-11)
27
"The Howl of the Sun Blade (Maruha)!" Transliteration: "Taiyō Ken wa (Maruha) Hoe〜ru su" (Japanese: 太陽剣は（マルハ）ほえ〜るス)
May 18, 1990 (1990-05-18)
28
"Father Back in Action" Transliteration: "Chichi Hikkurikaeru" (Japanese: 父ひっくりかえる)
May 25, 1990 (1990-05-25)
29
"A Sparkling Silver Egg" Transliteration: "Umareta Tamago wa Gingiragin" (Japanese: 生まれたタマゴはギンギラギン)
June 1, 1990 (1990-06-01)
30
"Feeble Hat in Fairytale Land" Transliteration: "Otoginokuni no Yoboyobo Hatto" (Japanese: おとぎの国のヨボヨボハット)
June 8, 1990 (1990-06-08)
31
"Ghosts Are Welcome" Transliteration: "Yūrei-san Irasshai" (Japanese: 幽霊さんいらっしゃい)
June 15, 1990 (1990-06-15)
32
"Find Grandpa Tau's Hidden Treasure!" Transliteration: "Tau Jīsan no Hihō o Sagase!" (Japanese: タウじいさんの秘宝を探せ!)
June 22, 1990 (1990-06-22)
33
"Is There Really Peace in the Underworld?" Transliteration: "Makai no Heiwa wa Honma kai na!?" (Japanese: 魔界の平和はホンマかいな!?)
July 6, 1990 (1990-07-06)
Video game
Sega released a Mega Drive game based on the series on December 15, 1990, called Magical Hat no Buttobi Turbo! Daibōken (まじかるハットのぶっとびターボ！大冒険, Majikaru Hatto no Buttobi Tābo! Daibōken, trans. Magical Hat's Turbo Flight! Adventure) and developed by Vic Tokai. Magical Hat no Buttobi Turbo! Daibōken is an action platform game similar to Vic Tokai's Kid Kool and Psycho Fox. The player takes control of Hat to guide him through Usontō's seven islands, jumping on and punching enemies, grabbing items from statues, and fighting a boss at the end of each world. In each stage, the player can find Roboggu, who will help Hat out by acting as a projectile and a shield. The game has a wide range of different power-up items that can be obtained, which can give the player temporary invincibility, freeze all the enemies for a short time, give the player an extra-high jump, or even call in air support from a helicopter. At the end of each stage, the player can play a game of chance to win extra items and lives.[8][9][10][11][4]
Due to Vic Tokai failing to secure the Magical Hat license outside Japan, the game was completely redone and released in 1991 as Decap Attack. The game features different characters, story, art, music, and level design, but has the same general gameplay.[9][10][11]
