A continuation of my documentation of “mini-animes” (short-form episodes) that aired in Japan in the 70s. Please see my previous post for series that aired in 1962-1970.
Kabatotto (Hippo & Thomas)
Aired January 1, 1971-September 30, 1972 on Fuji Television, Mon-Sat at 6:55-7:00 pm
Produced by Tatsunoko Productions; 548 episodes
Created by Seitaro Hara
Voices: Tôru Ôhira, Machiko Soga, Komako Hori, Kazuo Harada
Misadventures of a hippopotamus and a bird. Click here for more details.
Sekai Monoshiri Ryokô (Worldwide History)
Aired October 1, 1971-December 31, 1974 on Mainichi Broadcast Systems (MBS), Mon-Sat at 5:55-6:00 pm
Produced by Office Uni; 936 episodes
Voices: Yasuo Hisamatsu, Yoko Kuri
A continuation of Manga Jinbutsushi (1970), and again sponsored by Kirin Brewery. Features Dr. Know-It-All traveling around the world with a hot-air balloon, going around and giving a lesson on what important historical events that occurred in whatever country he lands in.
Kaiketsu Tamagon (Eggzavier the Eggasaurus)
Aired October 5, 1972-September 29, 1973 on Fuji Television, Mon-Sat at 6:55-7:00 pm
Produced by Tatsunoko Productions; 308 episodes
Created by Tatsuo Yoshida
Voices: Tôru Ôhira, Hiroshi Ôtake
About a monster who will help anyone for a price of one egg. Click Here for more details.
Chargeman Ken!
Aired April 1-June 28, 1974 on Tokyo Broadcast Systems (TBS), Mon-Fri at 5:30-5:40 pm
Produced by Knack; 65 episodes
Created by Eiji Tanaka
Voices: Kazuko Sawada
Takes place in the future, where a boy named Ken must protect his city from a race of aliens called Jurals. Click here for more details.
Hoshi no ko Polon (Polon the Star Child)
Aired April 1, 1974-April 4, 1975 on UHF Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting, Mon-Fri at 5:40-5:45 pmProduced by Nippon Doga and Jihô Eigasha; 260 episodes
Voices: Masako Nozawa
A space alien travels around Earth, saving people from danger caused by their carelessness. Meant to teach kids on how to be careful.
Like Chargeman Ken, this mini-anime has also went on to become an internet meme with mock edits by “fans”. Stories are mostly non-existent, the characters are badly drawn, and it barely qualifies as “animation”. In addition, the morals present are very nonsensical, barely applicable to real-world situations. Another possible addition for the “Cartoon Dump” lineup.
Unusual for anime, it uses stock music by French composer Jean Jacques Perrey for soundtrack. The theme song is Perrey’s “Boys and Girls”, which was also used as the end credits song for Nickelodeon’s “Mighty B!”
Gan & Gon
Aired April 5, 1974-August 13, 1975 on Shizuoka Broadcasting System (SBS), Mon-Fri at 5:55-6:00 pm
Produced by Nippon Doga and Jihô Eigasha; 260 episodes
Voices: Hiroya Kozawa, Toshiko Miura, Masako Nozawa, Kuniko Kashii
Plot synopsis unavailable.
Tonari no Tamageta-kun (Tamageta the Kid Next Door)
Aired April 5, 1974-June 27, 1975 on Nippon Television, Mon-Fri at 7:00 amProduced by Studio Zero; 60 episodes
Created by Shotaro Ishinomori
Voices: Yoneko Matsukane, Yoshiko Asai, Masako Ebisu, Osamu Kato
Shotaro Ishinomori’s comedy cartoon about a boy who has a time machine, which he uses to bring back people from the past. This aired as a segment on Ohayo! Kodomo Show (Good Morning! Kids Show), a kids show that aired every morning on Nippon Television.
Urikupen Kyûjotai (Jungle Tales)
Aired September 30, 1974-March 29, 1975 on Fuji Television, Mon-Sat at 6:55-7:00 pmProduced by Tatsunoko Productions and Unimax; 132 episodes
Created by Mitsuru Kaneko
Voices: Michie Kita, Tetsuo Mizutori, Yōko Asagami
Animal rescue team in the forest. 22 storylines, each split into six cliffhangers. In foreign release, the segments were edited together to create half-hour shows.
For more information, read comment by Fred Patten.
Monoshiri Yakata (Educational House)
Aired January 1, 1975-December 31, 1979 on Mainichi Broadcast Systems (MBS), Mon-Sat at 6:30-6:35 pm
Produced by Office Uni; 1,565 episodes
Voices: Kazue Komiya, Cathy
A cat and a mouse tries to one-up each-other as they explain historical events. The educational bits are shown as still illustrations, with the cat and mouse appearing in animated wrap-arounds. Sponsored by Kirin Brewery.
Hoka Hoka Kazoku (Warm, Warm Family)
Aired October 1, 1976-March 31, 1982 on Fuji Television, Mon-Fri at 3:55-4:00 pm
Produced by Eiken; 1,428 episodes
Voices: Akiko Takamura, Shô Saitô, Masaaki Tsukada, Gara Takashima, Takako Kondô, Yûko Mita
An educational series about life in contemporary Japan, featuring a family. It was sponsored by National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations, a Japanese organization. Animation/Live-Action series.
Barbapapa
Aired April 4, 1977-March 27, 1978 on Tokyo 12 Channel, Mon-Fri at 7:15-7:23 pm
Produced by K&S and Topcraft; 156 episodes
Created by Annette Tison and Talus Taylor
Voices: Kaneta Kimotsuki, Noriko Ohara
A French series that was later adapted into anime. About a family of blobs who can shape-shift into anything. Much of the episodes were animated in the Netherlands, but additional episodes were created in Japan for local distribution.
Doraemon
Aired April 2, 1979-September 23, 1981 on TV Asahi, Mon-Sat at 6:50-7:00 pm
Produced by Shin-Ei Doga; 617 episodes
Created by Fujiko F. Fujio (Hiroshi Fujimoto)
Voices: Nobuyo Ôyama, Noriko Ohara, Hiroko Maruyama, Michiko Nomura, Kaneta Kimotsuki, Naoki Tatsuta, Kazuya Tatekabe
A long-running anime about a robot cat from the future who went back in time to help his owner’s ancestor. Starting October 2, 1981, the show switched to weekly half-hour format, where it remained until it ended in 2005.
Kirin Ashita no Calendar (Kirin’s Calendar of Tomorrow)
Aired January 1, 1980-December 30, 1984 on Mainichi Broadcast Systems (MBS), Mon-Sat at 6:30-6:35 pmProduced by Office Uni; 1,405 episodes
Voices: Kazue Komiya, Cathy
A continuation of Monoshiri Yakata (1975-1979), featuring the same cat and mouse characters. Again, an educational series focusing on historical events. Sponsored by Kirin Brewery.
Futago no Monchhichi (Monchhichi Twins)
Aired February 4-August 1, 1980 on Tokyo 12 Channel, Mon-Fri at 6:55-7:00 amProduced by Movie International Co. (MIC) and Ashi Production; 130 episodes
Voices: Fuyumi Shiraishi, Keiko Han, Sanji Hase
Monkey-like Monchhichi twin siblings (brother and sister) going on adventures. Based on a popular toy franchise, this anime predates the Hanna-Barbera series by three years.
Ganbare Gonbe (Come on, Gonbe!)
Aired April 14-September 30, 1980 on Tokyo 12 Channel, Mon-Fri at 7:15-7:30 pm
Produced by Tsuchida Production; 77 episodes
Created by Shunji Sonoyama
Voices: Keiko Yamamoto, Noriko Tsukase, Kazuko Sawada, Youko Kawanami, Yūko Mita
A talking monkey moves to Tokyo in an effort to fit in with humans. Hilarity ensues.
Charles Brubaker is a cartoonist originally from Japan. In addition to his work for MAD Magazine and SpongeBob Comics, he also created Ask a Cat for GoComics. You can also follow him on his Tumblr page.
“A French series that was later adapted into anime. About a family of blobs who can shape-shift into anything. Much of the episodes were animated in the Netherlands, but additional episodes were created in Japan for local distribution.”
I recall reading someplace Marv “Bambi Meets Godzilla” Newland originally worked on the Dutch episodes. That blew my mind!
“Based on a popular toy franchise, this anime predates the Hanna-Barbera series by three years.”
And yet the theme song heard here was later incorporated in the commercials for the toys when Mattel had the license.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od3cNTl40VI
I remember seeing “Jungle Tales” in its original Japanese version on KSCI TV 18 back in the mid 1970’s and the anime version of Barbapapas as a ” filler” during SRC’s children’s broadcast programming in the 1990’s And Eggzaiver the Eggasaurus was part of Saban’s The Mad Scientist Toon Club who was voice by someone named Danny Godzilla ( who sounded like Lennie Weinrib doing Mayor McCheese) and there was another anime who’s English title was Tic & Tac ( not to be confused with Tic & Tac the French names for Disney’s chipmunk duo Chip & Dale).
Does anyone remember an animation where a little Japanese girl in pink is walking through a blizzard and falls face first, I remember it being very sad but I don’t recall the name of the animation. It’s a core memory I need to know what it is, someone please help me out if you know?
It was very old, most likely the 80s