

The Denden troupe, led by a radish actor, came to play. In the troupe, there was also Lina, who was good at playing the ocarina, but she always seemed lonely. It was because she was thinking of Prince Shine, who once fought against the Great Black Demon King in the Valley of Darkness and was sealed himself. After learning of her feelings, the actors decide to go to Kurayami Valley on SL-Man. On the other hand, when Baikinman and his friends heard this story, they immediately head for the Valley of Darkness, but they revived the Great Black Demon King that was sealed in the jar. The world is engulfed in darkness by the Black Demon King, and danger approaches the SL men who headed for the Valley of Darkness. Can Anpanman protect the world from darkness?
Practical Effects
Hand-drawn steam effects on SL-Man feel genuinely locomotive
Score
Lina's ocarina motif will live rent-free in your head
Direction
Stage show framing device is weirdly elegant meta-narrative
Director
Akinori Nagaoka
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Anpanman is Japan's most beloved children's character, predating even Pokémon in cultural saturation—this 10th anniversary film cemented the theatrical formula of guest star + musical number + tearjerking sacrifice.
Momoko Kikuchi, voicing Lina, was a massive J-pop idol at the time—her casting brought parents to theaters who grew up on her 80s hits.
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