Is it based on a manga or a book?
It is based on a manga, “Omohide Poroporo”, by OKAMOTO Hotaru (story) and TONE Yuko (pictures). It is published by Tokuma Shoten, as “Animage Wide Comics”, in three volumes. ISBN: 4-19-770121-7 (vol.1).The manga is solely about Taeko as an 11 year old. It’s a compilation of short stories about Taeko’s daily life. It is filled with nostalgic feelings, with many things such as songs, movies, TV programs, and idols which were in fashion at that time (1966). However, Takahata, the director, had a hard time making it into a movie, since the manga has no plot to hold a movie. Since the manga was told in the form of a memoir, Takahata had the idea of bringing the narrator of the story, adult Taeko, into the movie. So, the part in which Taeko goes to Yamagata and meets Toshio was Takahata’s original idea.
It is based on a children’s book, “Majo no Takkyuubin”, by KADONO Eiko, illustrated by HAYASHI Akiko, ISBN 4-8340-0119-9, 1290 yen. It is written in fairly simple Japanese, since it’s a children’s book. So it might be a good book to read if you are studying Japanese.There is also a sequel to the book, “Majo no Takkyuubin sono 2: Kiki to Atarashii Mahou.” (Kiki and Her New Magic), by KADONO Eiko, illustrated by HIRONO Takako, ISBN 4-8340-1174-7, 1500 yen. It was written after the movie, probably because the movie was so popular. Kiki delivers a magician’s magic bag, a hippopotamus, and so on. A spoiler: the “new magic” of the title is that near the end, Kiki goes home for a visit (her year is over) and learns how to make her mother’s medicine. She then returns to Koriko.
It is based on a book (more of a short story), “Hotaru no Haka”, by Akiyuki NOSAKA, published by Shinchosha. The story is semi-autobiographical. He lost his little sister during the war due to malnutrition. He blamed himself for her death for a long time, and wrote this story to come to terms with it. For information on the different translations available, please see the Books page.
