Kyojin no Hoshi

**Star of the Giants** (巨人の星, Kyojin no Hoshi)

© Ikki Kajiwara (梶原一騎)・Noboru Kawasaki (川崎のぼる) / Kodansha (講談社)・TMS

## Plot (Brief Summary)

From an early age, Hyūma Hoshi was educated by his father, Ittetsu, for his baseball talent. His dream, which his father failed to fulfill, was to become the rising star of the Giants team... Hyūma, who entered Seiun High School, will participate in the Koshien Tournament as a fastball pitcher with his best friend Ban Chūta, as the greatest battery in existence. He will then face both his rivals, Mitsuru Hanagata and Hōsaku Samon, in the most desperate battles. And even after his dream came true by joining the Giants, the battle against them continued into the professional baseball world. Hyūma Hoshi develops and makes full use of his magical fastballs (魔速球, Ma sokkyū) and his Dai League Balls, and participates in many games.

## Characters

* Hyūma Hoshi
* Akiko Hoshi
* Ittetsu Hoshi
* Ban Chūta
* Mitsuru Hanagata
* Hōsaku Samon

## Trivia

* Over a third of this series contains anime original content. Some episodes have newly added WWII related scenes, interesting nightmare sequences and scenes of Ittetsu Hoshi's wife, Harue. There are a lot of anime only characters as well.
* For the most part, this anime series adapts the manga fairly well but there are some slight changes and a few removed scenes.
* Initially in the final episode, the story's script was fully completed with Hyūma Hoshi dying on the mound after achieving a perfect match and Ittetsu crying at his grave (which was all ok'd by the staff) but the sponsors for the series strongly opposed the ending and demanded that it should be changed right away, so the story was rewritten.

### DVD Releases:

* In 2006, Warner Bros. Japan released a DVD box set. There were a total of 3 volumes for each part (Seiun-hen, Yūhi-hen, Fushichō-hen, Eikō no hoshi-hen.)
* In 2013, to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the series, a remastered Blu-Ray DVD box set was released by KING RECORDS. The first box set included a short pilot film. There were a total of 5 volumes (which included Shin Kyojin no Hoshi & Shin Kyojin no Hoshi Ⅱ.)
* In 2021-2022, another box set was released and each box included a booklet (filled with interviews, storyboarding and character sheets.) There were a total of 18 volumes and was published by PIA (ぴあ).

### Music:

* Opening and Ending theme song,"Yuke! Yuke! Hyūma"
* Kyojin no Hoshi: Music & OST

### This anime series is spilt into four parts:

1. Seiun-hen - **「星雲編」** (*Episodes 1-52*)
2. Yūhi-hen - **「雄飛編**」 (*Episodes 53-104*)
3. Fushichō-hen (Phoenix) - **「不死鳥編」** (*Episodes 105-132*)
4. Eikō no hoshi-hen (Glorious Star) - **「栄光の星編」** (*Episodes 133-18*2)

### Sequels:

* Shin Kyojin no Hoshi
* Shin Kyojin no Hoshi Ⅱ

### Kyojin no Hoshi movies (abridged recap):

* First movie: Kyojin no Hoshi: Chizome no Kesshousen
* Second movie: Kyojin no Hoshi: Ike Ike Hyuuma
* Third movie: Kyojin no Hoshi: Dai League Ball
* Fourth movie: Kyojin no Hoshi: Shukumei no Taiketsu
* Fifth movie: Kyojin no Hoshi (1982)
* Sixth movie: Shin Kyojin no Hoshi (Movie)

## References

1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070127203213/http://www.whv.jp/title/kyojin/index2.html
2. ↑ https://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/599330.html
3. ↑ https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/4835646061/ref=rw\_dp\_pbnx\_fo\_thb\_1

## External Links

### Official pages:

* http://www.tms-e.com/library/old/tv/data/t\_giants.html
* https://www.tms-e.co.jp/global/alltitles/1960s/005101.html