The Genie Family

The Genie Family (ハクション大魔王, Hakushon Daimaō^?) is an anime series produced by Tatsunoko Production.^[2] It features the adventures of a family of Genies. It was shown in Europe, North America & Australia under the name "Bob in a Bottle" and in Latin America under the name "Yam Yam y el Genio".

Plot

An old bottle has found its way to a modern family. A genie named Hakushon Daimaō, and his daughter, Akubi, reside inside the bottle. It is owned by a boy named Kan-chan. When he finds the bottle, he discovers that whenever anyone sneezes, the genie is brought out and must grant the wish of whoever sneezed. His daughter must do the same for whoever yawned. Getting these wishes granted may not be a good thing though; Hakushon Daimaō is extremely clumsy and usually messes up the wishes he tries to grant. Akubi is more capable than her father, but she is mischievous and likes to twist the words and meaning of everyone's wishes so that something bad usually comes of it.

Cast

• Hakushon Daimaō - Tōru Ōhira
• Akubi - Takako Sasuga
• Taidaimaō - Ichirō Nagai
• Shakkuri-sensei - Hisako Kyōda
• Kan-chan - Midori Katō
• Papa - Isamu Tanonaka
• Mama - Mitsuko Asō
• Gejigon - Kazuya Tatekabe
• Yuriko-chan - Minori Matsushima
• Burukō - Tarō Sagami
• Sorekara-ojisan - Kinya Aikawa

Spinoffs

The Hakushon Daimaō franchise made a comeback in the 2000s with two animated spinoff series produced by Tatsunoko and directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa, featuring Hakushon Daimaō's daughter Akubi-chan as the central character. Yobarete, Tobidete! Akubi-chan (26 episodes, 2001–2002) features Akubi (now voiced by Asuka Tanii) befriending a shy young girl named Koron Nemuta (voiced by Sakura Nogawa), who has a habit of yawning (thus summoning Akubi forth from her bottle) whenever she is embarrassed. Akubi returned in 2006's Akubi Girl (also 26 episodes), in which Akubi befriends first-grader Ruru-chan and attempts to help grant the girl's wish of becoming close friends with Itoshi-kun, the classmate on whom Ruru has a secret crush.

Other appearances

• A statue of Hakushon Daimaō can be seen in the first episode of the 2008 series of Yatterman.

• Hakushon Daimaō is featured in the Japanese version of the fighting game Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes. Due to licensing issues, the character was removed from the Western release and Japanese re-release, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars.^[3]

• A brief reference to the series is made in the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers episode, "A Dark Reflection On You" in which clips from the English intro (Bob in a Bottle) are shown on a miniature television. Bulk states that it is his favorite cartoon. It also appeared at the end of the season 2 episode "The Power Stealer", where Skull enjoys watching.

References