For the past three weeks, my partner and I have stayed up Sunday past midnight to watch NHK’s remastered rerun of “Conan, The Boy in Future” (“Mirai Shonen Konan”). For me, it has been a chance to watch something new and delve deeper into the work of the legendary animator, Hayao Miyazaki. For my partner, and other Japanese viewers like her, it’s more of an emotional experience.
“Conan, The Boy in Future” is a 26-part series that first screened in 1978. It marked Miyazaki’s directorial debut and was the work of Nippon Animation. It has gained a cult following over the years in both Japan and overseas.
It seems the rerun has been a hit with netizens so far, despite its late-night air time. If you're like me and were too young to have watched the series when it originally aired, or don't have too deep a knowledge of anime history, "Conan, The Boy in Future" will provide you with a preview of the beauty and imagination that Miyazaki has enchanted the world with in the decades since through blockbuster hits like, “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Princess Mononoke” and “Spirited Away.”