Magical Hat

Magical Hat (まじかるハット) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yōji Katakura. It was serialized in many of Shogakukan's magazines in 1989, such as Shogaku Ichinensei, Shogaku Ninensei, Shogaku Shi-nensei, Shogaku Roku-nensei and Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic. The series was also adapted into a anime produced by Studio Pierrot, which aired on Fuji Television from October 18, 1989 to July 6, 1990. Two volumes of the manga were published by Tentomushi Comics in October 1989 and May 1990, though it was left unfinished due to Katakura's death in 1997.

Plot
63,000 years ago, there was a hero who fought against the demons of the Underworld, who had conspired to conquer the Earth. The legendary hero was called Magical Hat. According to legend, the hero used his mysterious magical psychic powers to defeat the demons and sealed the Underworld under the island of Usontō ("Uson Island"), where the demons have remained ever since, isolated by a magical seal.

In the present day, a young boy named Hat comes to the island with his parents, who are researching the legends of the Underworld. Hat's father, an archaeologist, plans to research the area near a large volcano on the island, where the legendary Magical Hat was believed to have engaged in battle. Suddenly, an earthquake hits the island and Hat falls into the volcano, breaking the seal to the Underworld. There, King Aleph rules as a kind and just king, keeping the Underworld in order. His brother in-law, Guwaru the Ziarc, opposes him and has plans to seize the throne. When Hat enters the Underworld, Guwaru and Aleph are in a struggle for power. Guwaru banishes Aleph, and breaks Usontō up into seven separate islands.

After entering the Underworld and meeting Guwaru, Hat discovers a statue which possesses the spirit of the legendary Magical Hat. He is told that he is a descendant of Magical Hat, and that he shall realize his destiny as the second incarnation of the hero, to stop Guwaru, reunify the continent and restore King Aleph to the throne. Thus, Hat becomes transformed into the new Magical Hat, and the adventure begins. The turban that Hat wears contains powerful magic that the wearer can control. Using the magical powers of this turban, he can defeat Guwaru and complete his quest. However, if Guwaru gets a hold of the turban, all hope is lost. With the help of his partners, Hoto-ken, Old Man Tau, Spin and Roboggu, Hat must stop Guwaru from his new reign once and for all.

Main characters

 * Hatto (ハット)
 * A 10-year-old boy who comes to Usontō with his parents. During an earthquake, he falls into the island's volcano, and ends up in the Underworld, where he learns that he is the descendant of Magical Hat. He uses the magical powers of the turban that he wears to defeat Guwaru and complete his quest. Hat's design was inspired by Fuji TV's Yume Kōjō '87 mascot Imajin.
 * A 10-year-old boy who comes to Usontō with his parents. During an earthquake, he falls into the island's volcano, and ends up in the Underworld, where he learns that he is the descendant of Magical Hat. He uses the magical powers of the turban that he wears to defeat Guwaru and complete his quest. Hat's design was inspired by Fuji TV's Yume Kōjō '87 mascot Imajin.


 * Hottoken (ホットケン)
 * The canine Prince of the Underworld and the son of King Aleph. Despite his title, he is meek and cowardly, though still quick to anger whenever he gets abused or mistaken for a dog. He is usually the victim of bullying, especially by Kowaru.
 * The canine Prince of the Underworld and the son of King Aleph. Despite his title, he is meek and cowardly, though still quick to anger whenever he gets abused or mistaken for a dog. He is usually the victim of bullying, especially by Kowaru.


 * Tau Jīsan (タウじいさん)
 * An elderly man and King Aleph's younger brother. He becomes acquainted with Hat and Hoto-ken after the Underworld launches its attack on the surface. He is very knowledgeable and occasionally helpful, but also has an uncomfortable, perverted side. He also serves as the narrator.
 * An elderly man and King Aleph's younger brother. He becomes acquainted with Hat and Hoto-ken after the Underworld launches its attack on the surface. He is very knowledgeable and occasionally helpful, but also has an uncomfortable, perverted side. He also serves as the narrator.


 * Supin (スピン)
 * An independent, resourceful yet selfish teenage girl with a fondness for sweets and firearms, who has taken it upon herself to rid her home, the Mountain Island, of its sudden and deleterious fascination with gold.
 * An independent, resourceful yet selfish teenage girl with a fondness for sweets and firearms, who has taken it upon herself to rid her home, the Mountain Island, of its sudden and deleterious fascination with gold.


 * Roboggu (ロボッグ)
 * A tiny egg-like robot and an "Ultimate Surefire Rescue Machine" created by Old Man Tau. Based on the juvenile ecology of the Phoenix tribe, he is capable of transforming into any mechanical object, such as a helicopter or submarine, and ends most of his sentences with "nya". At the beginning of the manga's serialization, he spoke in an expressive yet dumb voice, but in the anime, he spoke in a lisping tone, which was carried over to the manga.
 * A tiny egg-like robot and an "Ultimate Surefire Rescue Machine" created by Old Man Tau. Based on the juvenile ecology of the Phoenix tribe, he is capable of transforming into any mechanical object, such as a helicopter or submarine, and ends most of his sentences with "nya". At the beginning of the manga's serialization, he spoke in an expressive yet dumb voice, but in the anime, he spoke in a lisping tone, which was carried over to the manga.

Antagonists

 * Guwaru za Jiāku (グワル・ザ・ジアーク)
 * A powerful demon in the Underworld who opposes King Aleph, his brother-in-law. As a noble, he is the one most eager to take the fight back to the human race that sealed the Underworld away, and plots to conquer the Earth. His powers of deception make him a shrewd and dangerous foe.
 * A powerful demon in the Underworld who opposes King Aleph, his brother-in-law. As a noble, he is the one most eager to take the fight back to the human race that sealed the Underworld away, and plots to conquer the Earth. His powers of deception make him a shrewd and dangerous foe.


 * Kowaru za Jiāku (コワル・ザ・ジアーク)
 * Guwaru's son, King Aleph's nephew and Hoto-ken's cousin, a kitsune-like demon with a bratty, selfish personality but a similar amount of cunning to his father. He and Dogū try to come up with a new scheme to steal Hat's turban and turn it over to Guwaru, and he harasses Hat and his friends at every chance he gets. Kowaru also has a crush on Spin, which she takes advantage of. He hates vegetables, especially green peppers.
 * Guwaru's son, King Aleph's nephew and Hoto-ken's cousin, a kitsune-like demon with a bratty, selfish personality but a similar amount of cunning to his father. He and Dogū try to come up with a new scheme to steal Hat's turban and turn it over to Guwaru, and he harasses Hat and his friends at every chance he gets. Kowaru also has a crush on Spin, which she takes advantage of. He hates vegetables, especially green peppers.


 * Dogū (ドグー)
 * Guwaru and Kowaru's faithful dogū servant. He can float and wield his paper-thin arms like whips, has a family, and ends most of his sentences with "dogū".
 * Guwaru and Kowaru's faithful dogū servant. He can float and wield his paper-thin arms like whips, has a family, and ends most of his sentences with "dogū".


 * CO2 (CO2)
 * A henchman working under Guwaru and Kowaru, who rules the Jungle Island.
 * A henchman working under Guwaru and Kowaru, who rules the Jungle Island.


 * Haōju-goe (ハオージュ)
 * A henchman working under Guwaru and Kowaru, who rules the Sand Island.
 * A henchman working under Guwaru and Kowaru, who rules the Sand Island.

Others

 * Arefu Ō (アレフ王)
 * The King of the Underworld and Hoto-ken's father. He keeps the Underworld in order, until his brother-in-law, Guwaru, banishes him during a struggle for power.
 * The King of the Underworld and Hoto-ken's father. He keeps the Underworld in order, until his brother-in-law, Guwaru, banishes him during a struggle for power.


 * Moranbo (モランボ)
 * A young man living on the Jungle Island, who notices CO2's plan and resists alone.
 * A young man living on the Jungle Island, who notices CO2's plan and resists alone.


 * Kunchan (クンチャン)
 * A mysterious Chinese man who usually runs a ramen stall. His catchphrase is "Kunchan's ramen is delicious!" In the manga, he plays an important role as a person who can decipher ancient characters.
 * A mysterious Chinese man who usually runs a ramen stall. His catchphrase is "Kunchan's ramen is delicious!" In the manga, he plays an important role as a person who can decipher ancient characters.


 * Kenchan (ケンチャン)
 * A Chinese police officer and Old Man Tau's childhood friend.
 * A Chinese police officer and Old Man Tau's childhood friend.


 * Hatto no Ryōshin-goe (ハットの両親)
 * Hat's father and mother, who take him with them to Usontō to research the legends of the Underworld. Hat's father is an archaeologist, and plans to research the area near the island's volcano, where the legendary Magical Hat was believed to have battled with the demons.
 * Hat's father and mother, who take him with them to Usontō to research the legends of the Underworld. Hat's father is an archaeologist, and plans to research the area near the island's volcano, where the legendary Magical Hat was believed to have battled with the demons.

Petamo Beasts

 * G Kongā (G・コンガー)


 * Z Zaurā (Z・ザウラー)


 * W Īgurā (W・イーグラー)


 * Debiru Kurāken (デビルクラーケン)
 * Gingurobu (ギングロブ)
 * Girugini (ギルギニ)
 * Gāgoiru (ガーゴイル)
 * Shī Gōremu (シーゴーレム)

Anime
A 33-episode anime series adaptation produced by Studio Pierrot aired on Fuji Television from October 18, 1989 to July 6, 1990, starting out on Wednesday nights at 6:30, but eventually jumping over to Friday near the end of the series. The anime was produced alongside the manga, and was part of a media mix by Sega, Pierrot and Fuji TV. Sega had creative input over the series as its main sponsor, and the exclusive rights to produce video games and toys. The series was directed by Akira Shigino, with Kotakara serving as the animation director. The screenplay was written by Kenji Terada. The characters were designed by Tsuneo Ninomiya. The music was produced by Takayoshi Watanabe, under the alias "Edison". The anime's opening theme is "Daijōbu, Daibōken" (大丈夫、大冒険, "It's Okay, It's a Big Adventure") by Naoko Nozawa, and has two ending theme songs: "Mera Tenten-Kirakura" (メラ・テンテンキラクラ) (episodes 1-23) by Nozawa and "Bye Bye Baby" (episodes 24-33) by Ītomo Seinen-tai/K-chaps!. The series contains plenty of slapstick gag elements.

The final episode was scheduled to be broadcast on June 29, 1990, but was delayed by one week due to a special news program related to the wedding of Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan.

Video game
Sega released a Mega Drive game based on the series on December 15, 1990, called Magical Hat's Turbo Flight! Adventure (まじかるハットのぶっとびターボ！大冒険). Due to the game's developer, Vic Tokai, failing to secure the Magical Hat license outside Japan, it was completely redone and released in 1991 as Decap Attack. The game features different characters, story, art, music, and level design, but has the same general gameplay.