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| Wolf Boy Ken | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster for the second compilation film. | |
| Directed by | Sadao Tsukioka Isao Takahata |
| Music by | Asei Kobayashi |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Original language | Japanese |
| No. of episodes | 86 |
| Production | |
| Production company | Toei Animation |
| Original release | |
| Network | NET |
| Release | November 25, 1963 (1963-11-25) – August 16, 1965 (1965-08-16) |
Wolf Boy Ken (狼少年ケン,Ōkami Shōnen Ken) is the first anime series produced byToei Animation (then Toei Doga).[1] The series is known for having moreframes per second than other anime of the same time. The series also implemented sponsorship by a large corporation, in this case, Morinaga Candy Company. An English pilot was created to pitch for America but was scrapped. The test pilot featured the voices ofDaws Butler andDon Messick.[2][3]
Ken is a young boy who was raised by wolves (similar toMowgli) in a jungle in theHimalayan Mountains. One day, a meteor hits the jungle, causing a drastic change. This eventually leads to famine and a need for certain animals to relocate. Ken tries to help the animals as much as possible, in particular, he watches over two young wolf cubs named Chichi and Poppo. Jack, a one-eyed wolf, doesn't like Ken as he is a human living among them. One day, Ken saves Jack's life. Jack later has the opportunity to let Ken die when he is bitten by a poisonous snake, but decides to return the favor and save his life instead. This mutual affair causes a friendship to form between the two, and they team up to save the other animals from predators and humans.
