Anpanman

Anpanman

Anpanman & Dokin-chan
アンパンマン
Manga
Written by Takashi Yanase
Demographic Children
TV anime
Soreike! Anpanman
Directed by Akinori Nagaoka
Shunji Ôga
Music by Hiroaki Kondo
Taku Izumi
Studio Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Network NTV
Original run October 3, 1988 – ongoing
Episodes 1,100
Anime and Manga Portal

Soreike! Anpanman (それいけ!アンパンマン Go! Anpanman?) is one of the most popular anime cartoon series for young children in Japan. As of 2011, the titular Anpanman is the most popular fictional character among people age 0 to 12 years in Japan in 10 consective years, according to research by Bandai.[1] The series is written by Takashi Yanase, a Japanese writer of children's stories, and based on the Anpanman (アンパンマン?) picture-book series he began in 1973. It is produced by Nippon Television and Tokyo Movie Shinsha. Each animated cartoon is approximately 24 minutes long split into 2 episodes of approximately 12 minutes each. The show has been on the air in Japan since 1988 and is still continuing to this day.

Heavily merchandised, the Anpanman characters appear on virtually every imaginable children's product, from clothes to video games to toys to snack foods. As of 26 September 2006 (2006 -09-26), the Anpanman books have collectively sold over 50 million copies in Japan.[2]

The Anpanman character was inspired by Yanase's struggles to survive as a soldier in World War II. Many times, he became faced with the prospect of starvation, which made him dream about eating Anpan (a bean-jam filled pastry).

Kōichi Yamadera and Mika Kanai, the voice actors for Cheese and Melonpanna respectively, were married. This is also translated in a way to the cartoon as Cheese spends most of his time in Melonpanna's company in the episodes she's in. Yamadera also does voices for recurring characters in the show, such as Kamameshidon. They divorced in Spring of 2006.[3]

The series spawned a short lived spin-off show after one of the more popular recurring characters on the show, Omusubiman.

Contents

Characters

In each episode, Anpanman fights with Baikinman and helps the people of the town. He always goes on patrol in the area around the house of Uncle Jam. He is a symbol of justice, fighting for the cause of justice every day. Anpanman has a long history and new characters are frequently introduced, keeping the series fresh. In 2009, Anpanman became the verified Guinness World Record Holder for the highest number of characters in an animated franchise; as of March 27, 1,768 characters have appeared in the first 980 episodes of the TV series and the first 20 Anpanman films.[4]

Anpanman (アンパンマン Anpanman?)
Voiced by: Keiko Toda
The main character of the anime, whose head is a bun made by Uncle Jam. His name comes from the fact that he is a man with a head made of bread (Japanese: pan, a loanword from the Portuguese word meaning "bread") that is filled with Red bean paste (Japanese: an) called an anpan. He doesn't need to eat or drink to sustain himself and has never been seen eating. It is believed the bean jam in his head gives him sustenance. His weakness is water or anything that makes his head dirty. He regains his health and strength when Jam Ojisan bakes him a new head and it is placed on his shoulders. Anpanman's damaged head, with Xs in his eyes, flies off his shoulders once a new baked head lands. He was created when a shooting star landed in Uncle Jam's oven while he was baking. He has two special attacks called: An-punch and An-kick (with stronger variations of both). When Anpanman comes across a starving creature or person, he lets the unfortunate creature or person eat part of his head. He also has super hearing in that he can respond to anyone that calls his name out in distress from anywhere in the world.
Uncle Jam (ジャムおじさん Jam Ojisan?)
Voiced by: Hiroshi Masuoka
The father of Anpanman, and a very kind baker. A skilled cook with knowledge of nearly everything in the world.
Batako-san (バタコさん Batako-san?)
Voiced by: Rei Sakuma
Assistant to Uncle Jam. She's dedicated and hard working, but sometimes forgetful. Her Japanese name means "Butter Girl". She makes and mends the capes Anpanman and the other heroes use to fly with.
Bacteriaman (ばいきんまん Baikinman?)
Voiced by: Ryusei Nakao
The villain from "Germ World" is the leader of the Viruses. His Japanese name means "Bacteria Man". His ambition is to destroy Anpanman and spread bacteria all over the latter's world, yet he is perfectly content to play tricks, steal, and bully those weaker than him. He and Anpanman were born at the same time, making them physical representations of moral dualism. He has a weakness to soap, which shrinks him to the size of a fly. He constructs machines and thinks of intricate plans to counteract Anpanman's strength. His two famous phrases are signature cackle, "Ha-hee-hoo-hey-hoo!"; and "Bye-baikiiin!", which he utters out whenever he's sent flying by Anpanman.
Dokin-chan (ドキンちゃん?)
Voiced by: Hiromi Tsuru
Baikinman's female partner in crime. She is selfish, demanding, childish, and greedy, but sometimes shows kindness. She has a crush on Shokupanman. Her Japanese name is a combination of "Doki", the Japanese onomatopoeia for a quickly beating heart, "baikin" (meaning "germ"), and the diminutive/affectionate suffix "-chan".
Moldyrunrun (かびるんるん Kabirunrun?)
These are Baikinman's little henchmen. They can rot Anpanman's head with mildew/mold (Japanese: kabi).
Cheese (チーズ Chiizu?)
Voiced by: Koichi Yamadera
A dog that lives in bread factory. He became a loyal friend after Anpanman saved his life in the manga. In the anime, a young Anpanman feeds Cheese, who is starving, a part of his head as a part of his very first patrol and became inseparable afterwards. Cheese tends be an effective sidekick when he's around.
Shokupanman (しょくぱんまん?)
Voiced by: Sumi Shimamoto
A friend of Anpanman. His head is made from sliced white bread (Japanese: shoku pan). He is handsome and level-headed and kind, but narcissistic. Tends to be the thinker of the trio. His job when not helping Anpanman is serving lunch to the schoolchildren. Dokin-chan has a crush on him. Wields the Shoku-punch and Shoku-kick, which are similar to Anpanman's fighting techniques. He also has a multi-functional delivery van known as the Shokupanman-go with many implements to help avoid trouble.
Currybreadman (カレーパンマン KoftaCurry?, Currypanman)
Voiced by: Michiyo Yanagisawa
Another of Anpanman's friends. His head is made from Curry (curry filled bread in Japanese anime). He is quick tempered and hot-headed on the surface, but gives way to a kind and sentimental interior. Tends to be the strongman of the trio. Wields the Curry-punch and Curry-kick, which are similar to Anpanman's fighting techniques. He can also use the hot curry concealed in his head as a weapon, using it to burn the bad guys' eyes.
Melonpanna (メロンパンナ Meronpanna?)
Voiced by: Mika Kanai
Anpanman's friend. Her head is made from melon bread. She is extremely softhearted, being caring and sensitive, and is sometimes clever. When she's in trouble, she usually needs Anpanman or somebody else to save her, or if there is no one available, she calls out for her sister, Rollinggirl. Sometimes she likes hanging out with Cheese. Her special attack, the Melo-Melo Punch, makes bad guys woozy with affection or awakens others from deep sleep.
Rollpanna (ロールパンナ Rollpanna?)
Voiced by: Mina Tominaga
Melonpanna's older sister who has two hearts: A red one of goodness, and thanks to Baikinman, a blue one of evil. The sight of Anpanman can trigger her evil heart while the sight of Melonpanna can trigger her good one. She started out in the series as a loner at Baikinman's beck and call, but she broke from his power and wanders the world doing good deeds, but stays away from others for fear of what she would do if her black heart is triggered. Her nickname is "The tragic heroine". Uses a gymnastics ribbon as her main weapon. She can use it to wrap up her enemies or cause tornadoes.
Creampanda (クリームパンダ Creampanda?)
Voiced by: Miki Nagasawa
The youngest of Anpanman's friends and the foster brother of Melongirl and Rollinggirl. His head made from a cream bun and his eyes that looks like those of a panda's. Despite his immaturity and relative weakness as compared to Anpanman and his hero friends, he is courageous, protective of his friends, and has a "never say die" attitude. His immature character causes him to sometimes get into petty squabbles and competitions of one-upsmanship with the other younger characters on the show. Because his head resembles a hand, he has a special headbutt attack called the "Guu-Choki-Panchi" (Guu-Choki-Pa means Rock, Scissors, Paper in English). Relatively powerful when it connects, it fails to connect more often than not.
Horrorman (ホラーマン Horrorman?)
Voiced by: Kaneta Kimotsuki
A skeleton who often works with Baikinman and Dokin-chan. Although he seems scary on the outside, he is very weak and often falls to pieces. He is neither a hero or a villain. His special attack is the Bone Boomerang, where he takes off one of his bones and throws it. He is also in love with Dokin-chan and often stalks her. He often says "Hora" in most of his sentences.

Videography

Movies

There has been a total of 22 Anpanman movies with each movie having the same general plot - A person (usually a princess) comes from a foreign land. Baikinman unlocks some dark secret and controls a weapon or monster able to polymorph people. And with the help of the aforementioned person, Anpanman defeats the said weapon or monster. Sometimes the person dies, but is brought back to life by a tearful song from the characters. Since at least 1995, the films have been released concurrently with storybook versions written and illustrated by Takashi Yanase himself.

Animated shorts

These are short subject Anpanman anime of around 24 minutes that were shown in conjunction with the full length movies above. The shorts made in 1989 and 1993 are the only ones made not involving the world of Anpanman.

Video games

Famicom

Playstation

Game Boy Color

Nintendo DS

Wii

Sega Pico

Advanced Pico Beena

Arcade

Playdia

Outside Japan

References

  1. ^ Bandai Kodomo Enquête Report Vol.190, June 2011 (Japanese language, PDF file)
  2. ^ "Anpanman's series of books have exceeded 50 million", September 25, 2006 update. Shinbunka(Japanese language)
  3. ^ Japan Zone - Entertainment News from Japan
  4. ^ "Anpanman Gets Guinness World Record for Most Characters (Updated)". Anime News Network. July 15, 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-07-15/anpanman-gets-guinness-world-record-for-most-characters. Retrieved August 11, 2009. 

External links