21 Emon, also known as 21 Emon: The 21st Century Kid, is a comic by Fujiko F. Fujio that was released from 1968 to 1969 in the Shogakukan magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday. Shin-Ei Animation created a TV series that aired 39 episodes from 1991 to 1992, and there are also a full film and two Short Films.
The year is 2018 (or between 2051-2071 in the show). Tsuzure Inn has been in business for over 450 years and it has helped tourists from all over the universe. The young kid 21 Emon is the twenty-first descendant of the original owners of the inn. His parents want him to take over the hotel, but he doesn't want to run the business. He instead wants to become an astronaut and spend his time exploring outer space.
One day, 21 Emon leaves home and goes to outer space with his teleporting space creature Monger and his potato-farming Robot Buddy Gonsuke. 21 Emon explores outer space while still helping his family stay in business.
The series has a crossover with Doraemon in the Short Film 21 Emon & Doraemon: Welcome to Hotel Tsunesha. This is after Gonsuke had made several other appearances in Doraemon.
21 Emon provides examples of:
- Adaptational Attractiveness: Downplayed in the 1991 anime version, 21 Emon is changed from Sneech-like beaky mouth boy
◊ to a Generic Cuteness everydude◊. - Age Lift: 21 Emon is 18 in the manga, but he is around 11–13 years old in the 1991 anime adaptation.
- Aliens Speaking English: Monger is an alien who can mostly communicate with the humans.
- Animated Adaptation: The comic series has expanded into an animated TV series and some films.
- The Cameo: In the first episode, Doraemon makes a cameo in the background, and several other Fujiko Fujio characters make cameos in a later scene.
- Cassette Futurism: The technologies from 1991 anime.
- Colour-Coded Emotions: Monger is yellow, showing he is happy.
- Crossover: Has a full crossover with Doraemon in the Short Film 21 Emon & Doraemon: Welcome to Hotel Tsunesha.
- Dramatic Drop: Occurs in the first episode. When Gonsuke is surprised, he gasps and drops his glass on the ground.
- Extreme Omnivore: Monger can eat everything.
- Fantastic Diet Requirement: Happens with most aliens, including the aforementioned Monger.
- Good Morning, Crono: Episode 1 begins with 21 Emon waking up. He's told multiple times to wake up before he finally falls out of his bed and wakes up.
- Gratuitous English: A few bits of English are used here and there, mainly as on-screen text.
- In-Series Nickname: 21 Emon is shortened as "Emon" by his friends.
- Kid Hero: 21 Emon is a kid who goes on adventures in space.
- The Movie: 21 Emon: Welcome to the Universe! is a full film about the characters.
- Name and Name: Used for 21 Emon & Doraemon: Welcome to Hotel Tsunesha.
- Officially Shortened Title: The official English title used to be 21 Emon: The 21st Century Kid before it was shortened to just 21 Emon. It was always 21 Emon in Japanese, though.
- Robot Buddy: 21 Emon explores outer space with his robot friend Gonsuke.
- Setting Update: The comic takes place in 2018, but the 1991 Animated Adaptation changes the setting to between 2051 and 2071.
- Short Film: Two were made; 21 Emon: To Space! The Barefoot Princess and 21 Emon & Doraemon: Welcome to Hotel Tsunesha.
