Natsuzora

Natsuzora (なつぞら) is a Japanese television drama series and the 100th Memorial Asadora (朝ドラ, "Morning Drama") series, following Manpuku. It premiered on April 1, 2019, and concluded on September 28, 2019. The story is loosely based on the life of animator Reiko Okuyama.

Plot
As Natsu's parents were dead, she was raised by her father's old friend Takeo Shibata in Tokachi Hokkaido. At first Natsu was not recognized as a member of the Shibata family, but gradually gains Taijū Shibata's trust by her efforts. Natsu learns a lot from him and he has a great influence on her life.

But Natsu decides to go to Tokyo to be an animator.

Behind the Scenes
"Natsuzora" is the 100th morning television drama (連続テレビ小説, Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu, literally serial TV novel) produced by NHK. The series begins in 1937 and stars Suzu Hirose as Natsu Okuhara, an orphan who hails from the wilderness of Tokachi, Hokkaido. Eventually, Natsu will take on the challenge of the world of animation, which was still called "manga movie" at that time, making use of the rich imagination and pioneering spirit nurtured in Tokachi. She grows up with the desire to draw a frog-like "heroine who can withstand difficulties".

Yōichi Kotabe, a renowned animator and character designer who worked with Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, served as a consultant. The series is said to have been inspired by his late wife Reiko Okuyama (from Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture), an accomplished animator during this period.

Despite Japanese animation's continued popularity around the world, little is known about its origins and the many individuals who brought it up. The series serves as a tribute to the many animators who toiled behind-the-scenes and the notable directors who shaped the medium to what it is today. Classics such as "Tiger Mask" (1969), "The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee" (1970) and "Ashita no Joe" (1968) reflect the era "Natsuzora" is set in as all their main protagonists are orphans. The popular sentiment at the time was, "Let's encourage children who were injured in the war." and "Natsuzora" was produced with the intention of saying, "There was a war behind the birth of anime in Japan," as its heroine was herself orphaned due to the war. The series also depicts how modern animation was borne through trial and error, and draws from the deep well of history and technological advancements of its time.

Writer Sumio Omori, who previously wrote "Teruteru Family" (てるてる家族, Teruteru Kazoku) says,, "I want to convey that each accumulation becomes a big form." As for depicting the heroine as a war orphan, he says that she is not a "heroine who lives through her will" but "a heroine who finds life in encounters and relationships while being carried away by people's hearts." Although the series' isn't based on any previously existing source material, Kotabe and Omori have publicly stated many of the characters and and motifs are based on real people, organizations and works.

Planning began in Fall 2017, with production being overseen by Tomoaki Iso and screenplay by Omori. The name "Natsuzora" was conceived by combining the words for a clear summer sky, although "Nacchan" and "Dosanko" were also considered. Production formally began on April 2018.

Production
The production and the main cast were first announced on November 20, 2017. Casting directors searched for a heroine for a "far-reaching story", and put out a call containing three keywords: "war-damaged orphan", "Hokkaido", and "animation". Suzu Hirose was later confirmed for the role. Shooting would take place in Summer at Hokkaido, although the filming crew had to rush as the season only lasted three to four months. NHK had to reform their working style as they were used to longer production cycles, following their last morning drama "Manpuku".

Auditions for the rest of the cast began on February 2018, and Ryo Yoshizawa, Yuki Yamada, Teruo Shibata Yukijiro Obata were chosen from among 2,500 male and female applicants. In the second episode, Sanae Kitabayashi, the heroine of NHK's first morning drama "Daughter and I" (娘と私, Musume to Watashi), makes an appearance. Several other heroines from past NHK dramas also make an appearnce, such as Ayako Kobayashi ("Oshin"), Tomoko Yamaguchi ("Jun-chan's cheering song"), Nanako Matsushima ("Himawari"), Hiromi Iwasaki ("Futarikko"), Manami Higa ("Dondo Hare"), Shihori Kanjiya ("Chiritotechin"), Hideko Hara ("Today is Also Sunny"), Mana Mikura ("Futarikko", "Dandan"), Mihoko Fujita ("Hatoko no Umi"), Yuko Tanaka ("Oshin”), Ema Fujisawa (“Tenka”), Sakura Ando (“Manpuku”), Yoko Asaji (“Cloud Nojutan”), Naho Toda (“Eenyobo ”). This was done to show "respect" to the past 99 morning dramas that came before. In addition, "TEAM NACS", a Hokkaido-based artist group who also made an appearance in "When Marnie Was There" were also cast. They were hired as the producers wanted to please audiences in Hokkaido.

Music
For the series' score, the producers wanted to "make a fresh and comfortable melody like a refreshing summer breeze that runs through Tokachi Hill". They hired Yukari Hashimoto, who previously worked on several television series such as "Osomatsu-san" (2015) and "March Comes In Like Lion" (2017). Spitz, a rock band, was hired to produce the series' theme song "Yasashii Anoko".

On February 19, 2019, the producers announced that the theme song would be Spitz's "Yasashii Anoko", and Iso, the production manager, recounted that he came to this decision when he first landed at Tokachi's Obihiro Airport and saw the overwhelming blue sky of the Tokachi Plain. He recalls his experience at the time, "The melody of Spitz came down from the sky, as if it had been revealed to me." Spitz member Masamune Kusano traveled several times to Tokachi though, "Even during summer, I can't help but think of the long winter leading up to that summer." He interpreted "Natsuzora" as the "Summer sky that everyone has been waiting for after a harsh winter".

Opening
Given its status as NHK's 100th Memorial "Asadora" series, the opening sequence completely done in traditional animation, a first in the history of Asadora. Former Studio Ghibli animator Hitomi Tateno was designated as animation supervisor and producer for the series. She was assisted by a young key animator and character designer named Hitomi Kariya.

The 90-second opening animation was was drawn with over 2,100 sheets, giving it a theatrical-level quality. It features a girl playing with a deer and foxes amidst a meadows and flower fields, reminiscent of Japanese "World Masterpiece Theater" animations from the 1960s to 1970s, particularly "Heidi, Girl of the Alps" and "A Dog of Flanders".

The opening sequence was omitted for the 114th episode, broadcast on August 10th, as well as its final episode, which was broadcast on September 28.