Pitagora Switch ピタゴラスイッチ

Pythagora Switch (ピタゴラスイッチ Pitagora Switch) is a TV program of NHK educational channel.  Pitagora comes from Pythagoras or Pythagorean theorem.  The theme of Pitagora Switch is showing "the way of thinking" for children.  We cannot make light of this program though it's for children.  Pitagora Switch touches your science mind.  It has scientific atmosphere.

The opening of the program is the short film of a Pitagora Device.  Pitagora Device is a chain reaction device with something we all use usually.

Pitagora Devices are collected in the DVD books and published.

ピタゴラ装置DVDブック1 佐藤雅彦 ポニーキャニオン 2006-12-01 Sales Rank : 1598 Average Review  See details at Amazo Japan by G-Tools

ピタゴラ装置 DVDブック2 佐藤雅彦 ポニーキャニオン 2007-04-18 Sales Rank : 2733 Average Review  See details Amazon Japan by G-Tools

I'm not sure the above YouTube video can last in future.  The music of Pitagora Devices is provided by KURI Corder Quartet. The supervisor of Pitagora Switch is Masahiko Sato

Pitagora Switch consists of a short puppet drama, short anime, song, and so on.  Each part is simple but amazing.  My nephew likes Potegin very much.  I searched Potegin video but I couldn't hit.  Potegin is a cube.  You know, a cube has six faces.  Potegin rhythmically speak out with using six faces that is written a word.  Potegin's chat is like a humming.  Start is like that, "Pote, Pote, Pote, Pote, Potegin. I'm a Potegin.  Today,..."

10 stick anime. Silly 10 sticks. This is one anime of Pitagora Switch.


Framy anime.  It's a heart warming story.  This is also one anime of Pitagora Switch.


Pitagora Switch

An Arbitrary Point P

An Arbitrary Point P by
Keio University Masahiko Sato Laboratory + Norio Nakamura
(任意の点P by
慶應義塾大学 佐藤雅彦研究室 + 中村至男)

I don't know what name of the job is the job of Masahiko Sato (佐藤雅彦 SATO Masahiko).   He is a guest professor of Keio University.  According to Keio University web site, Masahiko Sato is specialized in Methodology of Education and Methodology of Expressing Concepts.  What degree can students get at Masahiko Sato laboratory?  Master of media arts?  Anyway, he is related to creating image or video.

His start is as a CM planner. His work expanded to making video game concepts and producing TV program.  Pythagora Switch (ピタゴラスイッチ Pitagora suicchi) is a TV program of NHK educational channel.  The TV program stimulates "the way of thinking" for children.  It also stimulates adult interest.  I like this TV program very much.  I think Pythagora Switch represents Masahiko Sato's works.  Incidentally, KURI Coder Quartet contributes their music to Pythagora Switch.

An Arbitrary Point P is a picture book of 3D image.  He keeps the strong impression for 3D image when he studied with a mathematical reference book.  The reference book attached a simple cardboard device for viewing 3D image in order to help student's understanding.  An Arbitrary Point P also attaches simple lenses for controlling parallax.  The mechanism is simple but interesting.  This book is a Japanese book but it includes Japanese and English description, though it's just a picture book that doesn't need any words.

任意の点P 慶応義塾大学佐藤雅彦研究室 佐藤 雅彦 中村 至男 美術出版社 2003-04 Sales Rank : 81429 Average Review  See details at Amazon Japan by G-Tools

KNYACKI!

KNYACKI! is clay animation that broadcasts on NHK educational channel since 1995.  It's a long-running program but I've not traced this program very regularly.  I love this animation but I miss it often.

NHK educational channel has 5-minute short animation program every morning and evening of weekday.  Many short animation programs broadcast in this 5-minute slot.  One of them is KNYACKI!.   When I tune in to NHK educational channel at 7:55 every morning, it's not always KNYACKI!.  Besides, this program often is skipped because of sport event or big news.  The day I can see NYACKI! is a lucky day.


Knyacki is an ingenuous and inquisitive worm.  His shape is very simple but expressive.  He gets stuck in somewhere often.  He drops down often.  He loses his way often.  Very cute!  It's a bit difficult to appreciate the magnet for Knyacki without video.  However, I'm afraid that KNYACKI! DVDs are all region 2.





Unfortunately a new story broadcasts only a few times a year.  The reason may be that clay animation takes an immense amount of time and effort.  Production studio is I.TOON.