In the late 1970s the anime television series Taro the Dragon Boy (original story by Miyoko Matsutani) was shown on Doordarshan.
In the distant past of Japan, a lazy and selfish Taro loves to eat and sleep and wrestle with the animals.
After drinking the potion, Taro, day by day, begins to understand what it means to help others, first by fighting Akaoni (Red Oni) to save Aya, a young girl gifted with the flute, then by helping others in his village collect fire wood.
Before his search for his mother starts, Taro again confronts Akaoni after hearing from the animals that Aya was captured by Kurooni (Black Oni).
Although they succeed, Tatsu's body is broken, and after seeing the lake had emptied, Taro concluded she had died.