Star of the Giants (1968)
A landmark Japanese sports anime following one young athlete's iron-willed journey to baseball glory, forged by sacrifice and rivalry.
Star of the Giants - Series Information
- Original Title: 巨人の星
- First Air Year: 1968
- Last Air Year: 1979
- Created by: Ikki Kajiwara
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Animation
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (24 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 3
- Number of Episodes: 257
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Networks: YTV
- Alternative Titles: Kyojin no Hoshi (JP), Star of Giant (KR)
- Production Companies: Tokyo Movie
- Production Countries: Japan
Star of the Giants - Plot
In 1969, at the press conference of Nagashima Shigeo who was joining a professional baseball team, Yomiurhi Kyojin, a ball was thrown at him by a boy. He was Hoshi Hyuma, and a thrown ball meant a letter of challenge. His father, Hoshi Ittetsu, had trained Huma since he had been very young to achieve his dream to make him a professional baseball player.
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Star of the Giants - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Ikki Kajiwara
Main Cast
- Toru Furuya
- Joji Yanami
- Makio Inoue
- Seizo Kato
- Shingo Kanemoto
Writers
- Mamoru Sasaki
- Seiji Matsuoka
Star of the Giants - FAQs
What is Star of the Giants about?
Star of the Giants follows Hoshi Hyuma, a young man driven by his father's obsessive training to become a professional baseball player. The series chronicles his grueling path to joining the Yomiuri Giants, facing fierce rivals and testing the limits of his physical and emotional endurance.
Is Star of the Giants based on a manga?
Yes. Star of the Giants is adapted from the manga Kyojin no Hoshi, written by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Noboru Kawasaki. The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine from 1966 to 1971 and is widely regarded as a foundational work of the sports manga genre.
Who are the main voice actors in Star of the Giants?
The principal voice cast includes Toru Furuya as protagonist Hoshi Hyuma, Seizo Kato as his stern father Hoshi Ittetsu, Makio Inoue as rival Hanagata Mitsuru, Joji Yanami as Ban Chuuta, and Shingo Kanemoto as Samon Toyosaku.
How many seasons and episodes does Star of the Giants have?
Star of the Giants ran for three seasons and a total of 257 episodes. Season 1 is the longest with 182 episodes, followed by Season 2 with 52 episodes and Season 3 with 23 episodes. The series aired on YTV in Japan from 1968 to 1979.
Where can you watch Star of the Giants?
Streaming availability for Star of the Giants varies by region. You can check current viewing options, including any subscription or rental services carrying the series, on JustWatch, which aggregates up-to-date platform availability for your location.
When did Star of the Giants first air?
Star of the Giants first aired in 1968 on YTV in Japan. The series concluded in 1979 after spanning three seasons and 257 episodes, making it one of the longest-running sports anime productions of its era.
What genre is Star of the Giants?
Star of the Giants is a sports anime series that blends action, adventure, and animation. It belongs to the 'spokon' genre — a portmanteau of 'sports' and 'konjou' (fighting spirit) — which emphasizes intense athletic competition, personal sacrifice, and unwavering determination.
Who created Star of the Giants?
Star of the Giants was created by Ikki Kajiwara, one of Japan's most influential manga writers, known for pioneering the sports manga genre. The anime adaptation was produced by Tokyo Movie and broadcast on YTV, with the screenplay written by Mamoru Sasaki and Seiji Matsuoka.
More About Star of the Giants
Explore further details about this series on the following authoritative databases.