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. 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. 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.
Paramount Pictures produced an English dub of the series, which aired on ITV in the United Kingdom and Network 10 in Australia in between 1977 and 1978. It also aired in other countries like France, Germany, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, and Indonesia.
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.
Characters
- Kum Kum (voiced by Kazue Tagami (Japanese); Ray Hartley (English)) is the main character, a naughty and kind boy.
- Chiru Chiru/Butterfly (voiced by Teruko Akiyama (Japanese); Barbara Frawley (English)) is Kum Kum's girlfriend, whose father is deceased.
- Aaron/Little Rock (voiced by Yoshiko Ota (Japanese); 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); Barbara Frawley (English)) is Kum Kum's teenage sister.
- Paru Paru/Strongarm (voiced by Kōsei Tomita (Japanese); Noel Judd (English)), Kum Kum's grumpy father.
- Maru Maru/Flora (voiced by Mitsuko Tobome (Japanese); 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); 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. | Title | Animation directed by | Storyboarded by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Catching the Clouds" (オーイ集れ! ぼくらは原始っ子) | Norio Yazawa | Rintaro | Eiichi Tachi | 3 October 1975 |
| 2 | "The Ostrich Egg" (ダチョウになったパルパルプ) | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | Keisuke Fujikawa | 10 October 1975 |
| 3 | "The Seafolk" (南から来た少女メルシー) | Norio Yazawa | Noboru Ishiguro | Hideo Rokuka | 17 October 1975 |
| 4 | "The Rainbow Fish" (はねろ! 虹色の大魚) | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | Junji Tashiro | 24 October 1975 |
| 5 | "Roman Returns" (帰ってきた旅の子ローマン) | Norio Yazawa | Noboru Ishiguro | Hideo Rokuka | 31 October 1975 |
| 6 | "Ashes from the Sky" (ピョンキーのふしぎな贈り物) | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | 7 November 1975 |
| 7 | "The Rabbit" (ぼくらの村にお湯が出た) | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | 14 November 1975 |
| 8 | "The Sundial" (月にのぼったうさぎ) | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | 21 November 1975 |
| 9 | "The Necklace" (ゴロンがつくった首かざり) | Norio Yazawa | Norio Yazawa | Yoshiaki Yoshida | 28 November 1975 |
| 10 | "The Search for a Student" (クロペディアのあとつぎ探し) | Hiromitsu Morita | Ryōsuke Takahashi | Isao Okijima | 5 December 1975 |
| 11 | "Saurus the Coward" (おこれ! 恐竜サウルス) | Norio Yazawa | Mitsuo Kaminashi | Eiichi Tachi | 12 December 1975 |
| 12 | "Snow Fly" (冬の神をよぶ雪虫) | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | 19 December 1975 |
| 13 | "Grotto the Wizard" (謎の魔法使いグロータ) | Hiromitsu Morita | Wataru Mizusawa | Yoshiaki Yoshida | 26 December 1975 |
| 14 | "Little Poppa" (ファイトだ! 小さなお父さん) | Norio Yazawa | Takeyuki Kanda | Masaaki Sakurai | 2 January 1976 |
| 15 | "The Elephant Tusk" (マンモスの牙の秘密) | Hiromitsu Morita | Noboru Ishiguro | Ariyoshi Katô | 9 January 1976 |
| 16 | "Goodbye Forever" (家へなんか帰らない) | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | Masuji Harada | 16 January 1976 |
| 17 | "Saurus Disappears" (サウルスが死んだ?) | Sadayoshi Tominaga | Wataru Mizusawa | Masuji Harada | 23 January 1976 |
| 18 | "The Killer Bear" (人喰いグマをたおせ!) | TBA | Ryōsuke Takahashi | Unknown | 30 January 1976 |
| 19 | "The Challenge" (出てこいローマン決闘だ!) | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | 6 February 1976 |
| 20 | "The Monster (Wild Man of the Mountains)" (出たあ! 山の怪物モンガー) | Futoshi Moriyama | Mitsuo Kaminashi | Masaaki Sakurai | 13 February 1976 |
| 21 | "The Cheeky Squeakeys Declare War" (ピョンキー・ポンキー大決戦) | Norio Yazawa | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | 20 February 1976 |
| 22 | "The Switch" (チルチルも父さんがほしい) | Hiromitsu Morita | Ryōsuke Takahashi | Hideo Rokuka | 27 February 1976 |
| 23 | "The Three Black Crows" (いたずらガラスをやっつけろ) | Futoshi Moriyama | Noboru Ishiguro | Masaaki Sakurai | 5 March 1976 |
| 24 | "Old Mother Dark Eyes" (シャーマの六つ子こもり歌) | Futoshi Moriyama | Susumu Ishizaki | Isao Okijima and Tadashi Akiyama | 12 March 1976 |
| 25 | "The Broken Heart" (ローマンを追いかけろ!) | Norio Yazawa | Noboru Ishiguro | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | 19 March 1976 |
| 26 | "The Wedding" (フルフルはお嫁さんになった) | Hiromitsu Morita | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | 26 March 1976 |
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.
The character designs, settings, and story drafts underwent significant changes during the commercialisation process prior to the final version. 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. 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.
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.
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.
- Opening Theme
- "Kum Kum's Song (恋してはじめて知った君, Kum Kum no Uta)"
- Lyrics by Hajime Kijima
- Composition and arrangement by Koichi Sugiyama & Arai Yasunori
- Performed by Mitsuko Horie & Columbia Yurikago Kai
- 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
In popular culture
Argentine football player Sergio Agüero's nickname, "Kun", comes from the name of the show.