Shima Shima Tora no Shimajiro

**Shima Shima Tora no Shimajiro** (しましまとらのしまじろう, *Shima Shima Tora No Shimajirō*, ltd. Striped Tiger Island Shimajiro) is the original anime series that is based off the *Kodomo Challenge* franchise.

The series is directed by Hisayuki Toriumi, produced by Benesse Corporation, TV Setouchi, and Big West, and animated by Studio Kikan. It premiered on TV Tokyo on December 13th, 1993 and ended on March 31, 2008, making it one of the longest running anime on the network. It has it's sequel, Hakken Taiken Daisuki! Shimajiro replacing this in the following week after the series finale.

## Media

* ***Shima Shima Tora no Shimajiro Episodes List***
* ***The Secret of the Birth of Challenge Island***
* ***The Best Things with Shimajiro***
* ***Shimajiro's Great Adventure: Friends from Insect Land***
* ***Shimajiro and the Pirate Ship***
* ***Shimajiro and the Secret of the Mysterious Forest***

## Characters

### Main Characters

* **Shimajiro Shimano** (しまの しまじろう, *Shimano Shimajirō*): Shimajiro is a tiger, and is one of the main characters and is the main protagonist. He is a bright little boy who loves to play soccer and dreams to become a soccer player. He is very supportive to his friends, but can sometimes be a bit stubborn. He can act mischievous and selfish, but always learns lessons on his life.
* **Mimirin Midorihara** (みどりはら みみりん, *Midorihara Mimirin*): Mimirin is a rabbit, and is one of the main characters. She usually has an overbite and her tail appears out of her skirt. She can be nice, but spoiled, selfish, and clumsy, and has a habit of crying easily. She dreams that she wants to become a princess. Her family owns a flower shop.
* **Torippii Sorano** (そらの とりっぴい, *Sorano Torippii*): Torippii is a parrot, and is one of the main characters. He is an aspiring singer, but is somehow tone-death. He also has the ability to fly to survey things for his friends, and can even talk to non-anthropomorphic birds.
* **Ramurin Makiba** (まきば らむりん, *Makiba Ramurin*): Ramurin is a sheep, and is one of the main characters. She is a tomboy who loves painting, and to play sports; judo and sumo. She has a higher mental age than any other characters, and behaves like a big sister.
* **Tommy** (トミー, *Tomī*): Tommy is a tiger, and is Shimajiro's cousin and a major character in the early season. He likes to be stylish and has a unique way to say things in English.

### Main Characters' Families

* **Shimataro Shimano** (しまの しまたろう, *Shimano Shimatarō*): Shimataro is a tiger, and is Shimajiro's father. He is a mailman and has a sticky build. He does DIY carpentry, but have many other things that he can't do, such as cooking.
* **Sakura Shimano** (しまの さくら, *Shimano Sakura*): Sakura is a tiger, and is Shimajiro's mother. She is kind, but stricts about discipline, and even Shimajiro and the other characters can't even raise their heads.
* **Hana Shimano** (しまの はな, *Shimano Hana*): Hana-chan is a tiger, and is Shimajiro's younger sister. She loves to play with her older brother, including frog toys. She sometimes fight and get curious with him in some days.
* **Sota Midorihara** (みどりはら そうた, *Midorihara Sōta*): Sota is a rabbit, and is Mimirin's father. He runs a flower shop with his wife and daughter. He was originally a firefighter, and dreamed for a long time to become a florist. He is even worried about Mimirin oftenly.
* **Renge Midorihara** (みどりはら れんげ, *Midorihara Renge*): Renge is a rabbit, and is Mimirin's mother. She helps out her husband in the flower shop.
* **Torigoro Sorano** (そらの とりごろう, *Sorano Torigorō*): Torigoro is a parrot, and is Torippii's father. He is an electrician with a fairly high level of skill. He is a stylish Edokko and is also great at enkaning.
* **Kanae Midorihara** (そらの かなえ, *Sorano Kanae*): Kanae is a parrot, and is Torippii's mother. She is a housewife and serves as the president of the neighborhood association.
* **Michiyo Sorano** (そらの みちよ, *Sorano Michiyo*): Michiyo is a parrot, and is Torippii's grandmother. She loves to play on her electric guitar, and is a lively old lady who formed a band with her old friends. She is so energetic that she hits a home run when she plays baseball.
* **Toto Sorano/Riri Sorano/Pipi Sorano** (そらの とと/そらの りり/そらの ぴぴ, *Sorano Toto/Sorano Riri/Sorano Pipi*): Toto, Riri, and Pipi are parrots, and are Torippii's younger triplets. Toto and Pipi are Torippii's brothers and Riri is Torippii's sister.
* **Massei Makiba** (まきば まっせい, *Makiba Massei*): Massei is a sheep, and is Ramurin's father. He has a wide range of paintings and sculptures. He also got an atelier and is often at home more than his wife.
* **Yumeko Makiba** (まきば ゆめこ, *Makiba Yumeko*): Yumeko is a sheep, and is Ramurin's mother. She is a pianist.

### Supporting Characters

* **Dr. Meemee** (メエメエ博士, *Meemee Hakase*): Dr. Meemee is a goat, and is a scientist. He usually makes strange inventions and are not very useful. Since he retired and didn't have a job, Shimajiro and the other characters think that he is a weirdo.
* **Mogu-chan** (モグちゃん, *Mogu-chan*): Mogu-chan is a mole, and lives in an underground area of Challenge Island.
* **Mogunosuke & Mogutaro** (もぐのすけ＆もぐたろう, *Mogunosuke & Mogutarō*): Mogunosuke and Mogutaro are moles, and are Mogu-chan's younger brothers.

### Minor Characters

* **Ratman** (ラットマン, *Rattoman*): Ratman is a mouse, and is a superhero who appears in a TV show with the same name.
* **Meko** (メエコ, *Meeko*): Meko is a goat, and is Dr. Meemee's niece.
* **Kit** (キット, *Kitto*): Kit is a goat, and is Dr. Meemee's son.

### The Three Black Cat Brothers

* **Dot** (ドット, *Dotto*): Dot is a cat, and is the oldest of the brothers. He is always arrogant and is somewhat short-tempered. He sometimes how compassions on his side and is caring for his younger brothers.
* **Karakusa** (からくさ, *Karakusa*): Karakusa is a cat, and is middle-aged of the brothers. He is swayed by his older brother's whims and sometimes spends time with him mischievously, but is also kind and encourages him. He is easy-going and good-natured.
* **Paisley** (ペイズリー, *Peizurī*): Paisley is a cat, and is the youngest of the brothers. He is a solid person, and sometimes discourages his oldest brother from going too far. He is a bit rebellious towards his older brothers.

## Related Media

### Merchandise

* CDs
* VHS Tapes

### Video Games

* Shima Shima Tora no Shimajiro: Fun Day
* Shima Shima Tora no Shimajiro: Shimajiro and the Great Adventure at Dream Land

## Trivia

* Shima Shima is one of the longest running anime in Japan, lasting for almost 15 years.
* Shima Shima was also dubbed in Arabic, Cantonese (lost), English (scrapped), Korean, and Mandarin respectively.
	+ In addition to the languages, the anime's title was changed to:
		- In Arabic: **Tala's Island of Dreams**
		- In Cantonese: **Cute Qiaohu Island**
		- In English: **The Adventures of Shimajiro**
		- In Korean: **I-Challenge Kids**
		- In Mandarin: **Striped Qiaohu Island**