Thanks For The Courage,
Bomberman: I Will Hear

Title (Japanese) ボンバーマン勇気をありがとう〜私が耳になる Title (romanisation) Bomberman: Yuuki o Arigatou ~ Watashi ga Mimi ni Naru Title (literal) Thanks For The Courage, Bomberman: I Will Hear
	Running time 26 minutes Production Sankyo Educational Film Company (三共教育映画社) Distributor (VHS) Shochiku Home Video (松竹株式会社) Releases 13 April 1995 (theatres) ^[src] 21 April 1997 (VHS) ^[src]

A 26-minute educational short film or "welfare movie" (福祉映画), likely screened at public halls and schools. It is partially based on the true story of Rieko Watanabe, a young girl with deaf-mute parents who survived the Great Hanshin earthquake. In addition to showcasing the general devastation caused in an earthquake, it focuses on the particular tribulations deaf people face in the event of a natural disaster, and even the difficulties in interacting with shelter personnel. The animation depicts accurate Japanese Sign Language used by Rieko and her parents, with hiragana captions.

Despite the prominent branding on the marketing materials, the Bomberman content is shockingly minimal. Rieko creates comic strips of Bomberman and friends to entertain her younger sister and children at the shelter, leading into animated vignettes with the cast of Super Bomberman 3; these three segments amount to only three minutes! The first offers some light-hearted japes with Bomberman, Pretty Bomber and the World Bombers, while the last two serve as a safety protocol on what to do in the event of an earthquake.

The elementary school student Rieko lives with her parents who are deaf and mute, and her younger sister. Rieko wishes to draw cartoons and comics that make people happy, and doodles comics of Bomberman and friends in her notebooks.

An earthquake strikes during the night and ravages the city, leaving their neighbourhood a shambles. They travel to a shelter, but their parents' inability to hear and speak causes misunderstandings and conflict among the workers; Rieko helps resolve the situation while also keeping an eye on her younger sister.

With support from volunteer worker Kyoko, an older girl from Tokyo, the community within the shelter begin to grow and understand one another. Rieko helps keep the younger ones amused with her drawings of Bomberman characters, including a comic of the heroes and villains putting their differences aside to help each other when the battle arena comes down on top of them.

The film ends with a short public safety video from the Bomberman gang, offering pointers on how to safeguard against damage in your house and how to stay safe if you need to evacuate.

(back)

poster

An A4-sized hardback poster distributed to promote the 1995 theater showings, with a synopsis, credits and other details on the back.

(src: coco_moriyama)

notebook

An A4-sized notebook. Manufacturer unknown, likely distributed in 1995.

(front / back)

VHS tape

The film was released on home video two years later and sold for 4800 Yen. No extras, no trailers, no nothin' - just the film!

View it on YouTube!

(Kiddo Cabbusses's rip)
(Ragey's rip)

Anime VHS Tape Memorial Doujinshi / アニメVHSテープ供養同人誌風雲編

A doujinshi (fanzine) spotlighting various rare anime releases on VHS, this film among them. It offers a basic synopsis and general comments on the film and its reception among fans. Published August 13th 2017.

Images are from Kiddo Cabbusses's VHS rip.