Anpanman
Anpanman is a Japanese children's superhero picture book series written by Takashi Yanase, running from 1973 until the author's death in 2013. The series has been adapted into an anime entitled Soreike! Anpanman, which is one of the most popular anime series among young children in Japan. The series follows the adventures of Anpanman, a superhero with an anpan for a head, who protects the world from an evil anthropomorphic germ named Baikinman.
Heavily merchandised, the Anpanman characters appear on virtually every imaginable children's product in Japan, ranging from clothes and video games to toys and snack foods. The series spawned a short-lived spin-off show featuring one of the popular recurring characters on the show, Omusubiman. Anpanman overtook Hello Kitty as Japan's top-grossing character in 2002, and has remained the country's top-grossing character as of 2018. Anpanman has sold over 80million books as of February 2019, and the franchise generated in total retail sales revenue by 2013. Works inspired by Anpanman include the manga and anime series One-Punch Man, and the K-pop song "" by BTS.
Production
During the Second World War, Takashi Yanase faced starvation countless times, which made him dream about eating anpan. This inspired the creation of Anpanman.Characters
In each episode, Anpanman fights with Baikinman and saves people. He goes on daily patrols around the house of Uncle Jam. He is a symbol of justice, fighting for good every day. Anpanman has a long history, and new characters are frequently introduced, keeping the series fresh. In 2009, Anpanman was verified as a Guinness World Record Holder for the highest number of characters in an animated franchise, with a total of 1,768 characters appearing in the first 980 episodes of the TV series and the first 20 films.Heroes
;Anpanman;Uncle Jam
;Batako-san
;Cheese
;Currypanman
;Shokupanman
;Melonpanna
;Rollpanna
;Creampanda
Villains
;Baikinman;Moldyrunrun
;Dokin-chan
;Horrorman
Media
Picture books
The Anpanman picture book series debuted in October 1973. Froebel-kan has published over 150 picture books under different series labels consisting of a varying amount of picture books. Takashi Yanase wrote and illustrated the picture books until 2013, following his retirement from his career and eventual death.Manga
Takashi Yanase created three different manga series based on the character.- January, 1975 – May, 1976: Nekketsu Märchen Kaiketsu Anpanman
- * Serialized in Sanrio's monthly poetry magazine Shi to Märchen for which Yanase was the editor-in-chief. Unlike all other iterations, this one is aimed at adults. The entire series is included in the box-set Yanase Takashi Taizen, published in 2013 by Froebel-kan.
- September, 1976 – July, 1982: Anpanman
- * Serialized in Sanrio's monthly youth magazine Gekkan Ichigoehon. The series changed its title spelling from hiragana to katakana in January 1981 and ended when the magazine folded in July, 1982. It remained commercially unavailable until 2016, when it was collected in its entirety into the volume Dare mo shiranai Anpanman by Fukkatsu Dotcom.
- January 1, 1990 – May 29, 1994: Tobe! Anpanman
- * A full color comic strip serialized in the Sunday edition of Yomiuri Shinbun. In 1991 Froebel-kan published a selection of strips into three bilingual volumes, marketing them as English learning tools for children age 3+. Unlike traditional tankoubon, these volumes are presented in a vertical "". The rest of the series run is currently commercially unavailable.
Anime
The second anime adaptation of Anpanman, entitled Soreike! Anpanman, is produced by TMS Entertainment. Over 1300 episodes have aired on NTV since October 3, 1988. On April 2020, it was reported the voice recordings have been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 2020, it was announced that the 31st Anpanman film Eiga Soreike! Anpanman Fuwafuwa Fuwari to Kumo no Kuni has been delayed due to COVID-19. The film was slated to be released on June 26, 2020. On June 2020, it was announced that the film will be delayed to 2021. As of June 22, 2020, TMS Entertainment will dub Six Anpanman Movies in English and Spanish exclusively for Tubi.
Full length movies
There are currently a total of 30 full-length films based on the Soreike! Anpanman anime series. The films are also produced by TMS Entertainment and have been released in Japanese theaters every year since 1989. Since at least 1995, the films have been released concurrently with storybook versions written and illustrated by Takashi Yanase himself. Each movie has the same general plot - A person 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.- March 11, 1989: Go! Anpanman: The Shining Star's Tear
- July 14, 1990: Go! Anpanman: Baikinman's Counterattack
- July 20, 1991: Go! Anpanman: Fly! Fly! Chibigon
- March 14, 1992: Go! Anpanman: The Secret of Building Block Castle
- July 17, 1993: Go! Anpanman: Nosshi the Dinosaur's Big Adventure
- July 16, 1994: Go! Anpanman: The Lyrical Magical Witch's School
- July 29, 1995: Go! Anpanman: Let's Defeat the Haunted Ship!!
- July 13, 1996: Go! Anpanman: The Flying Picture Book and the Glass Shoes
- July 28, 1997: Go! Anpanman: The Pyramid of the Rainbow
- July 25, 1998: Go! Anpanman: The Palm of the Hand to the Sun
- July 24, 1999: Go! Anpanman: When the Flower of Courage Opens
- March 20, 2000: Go! Anpanman: Song and dance fun
- July 29, 2000: Go! Anpanman: The Tears of the Mermaid Princess
- July 14, 2001: Go! Anpanman: Gomira's Star
- July 13, 2002: Go! Anpanman: The Secret of Roll and Roura's Floating Castle
- July 12, 2003: Go! Anpanman: Ruby's Wish
- July 17, 2004: Go! Anpanman: Nyanii of the Country of Dream Cats
- July 16, 2005: Go! Anpanman: Happy's Big Adventure
- July 15, 2006: Go! Anpanman: Dolly of the Star of Life
- July 14, 2007: Go! Anpanman: Purun of the Bubble Ball
- July 12, 2008: Go! Anpanman: Rinrin the Fairy's Secret
- July 4, 2009: Go! Anpanman: Dadandan and the Twin Stars
- July 10, 2010: Go! Anpanman: Blacknose and the Magical Song
- July 2, 2011: Go! Anpanman: Rescue! Kokorin and the Star of Miracles
- July 7, 2012: Go! Anpanman: Revive Banana Island
- July 6, 2013: Go! Anpanman: Fly! The Handkerchief of Hope
- July 5, 2014: Soreike! Anpanman: Ringo Bō Ya To Min'Nano Negai
- July 4, 2015: Go! Anpanman: Mija and the Magic Lamp
- July 2, 2016 Go! Anpanman: Nanda and Runda of the Toy Star
- July 1, 2017 Go! Anpanman: Bulbul's Big Treasure Hunt Adventure
- June 30, 2018 Go! Anpanman: Shine! Kurun and the Star of Life''
Animated shorts
- Go! Anpanman: Omusubiman, July 14, 1990
- Go! Anpanman: Dokin-chan's Doki-Doki Calendar, July 20, 1991
- Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and His Pleasant Friends, March 14, 1992
- Go! Anpanman: Everyone Get Together! Anpanman World, July 16, 1994
- Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and Your Happy Birthday, July 29, 1995
- Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and the 3-"Bai" Punch, July 13, 1996
- Go! Anpanman: We're Heroes, July 28, 1997
- Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and His Strange Friend, July 25, 1998
- Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and Their Fun Friends, July 24, 1999
- Go! Anpanman: Yakisobapanman and Blacksabodenman, July 29, 2000
- Go! Anpanman: The Amazing Naganegiman and Yakisobapanman, July 14, 2001
- Go! Anpanman: Tuna Maki-chan and Gold Kamameshidon, July 13, 2002
- Go! Anpanman: The Amazing Nagenegiman and Princess Doremi, July 12, 2003
- Go! Anpanman: Tsukiko and Shiratama ~Heart-racing Dancing~, July 17, 2004
- Go! Anpanman: Princess Snow-black and Popular Baikinman, July 16, 2005
- Go! Anpanman: Kokin-chan and the Blue Tears, July 15, 2006
- Go! Anpanman: Horrorman and Hora-horako, July 14, 2007
- Go! Anpanman: Hiyahiyahiyarico and Babu-Babu-Baikinman, July 12, 2008
- Go! Anpanman: Baikinman VS Baikinman!?, July 4, 2009
- Go! Anpanman: Run! The Exciting Anpanman Grand Prix, July 10, 2010
- Go! Anpanman: Sing and Play! Anpanman and Mori's Treasure, July 2, 2011
- Go! Anpanman: Rhythm and Play - Anpanman and the Strange Parasol, July 7, 2012
- Go! Anpanman: Mischievous Ghost and Cuddling Together, July 6, 2013
- Go! Anpanman: Kokin-Chan Became a Mom and Play with Fun, July 5, 2014
- I Will Sing in the Rhythm! Anpanman Summer Festival, July 4, 2015
Christmas specials
- December 19, 1988: Go! Anpanman: Santa Claus Disappears
- December 25, 1989: Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and the Christmas Valley
- December 24, 1990: Go! Anpanman: Shine! Our Christmas Tree
- December 23, 1991: Go! Anpanman: The Mysterious Jingle Bells
- December 21, 1992: Go! Anpanman: Delivered! Our Christmas Cake
- December 20, 1993: Go! Anpanman: The South Island's White Christmas
- December 19, 1994: Go! Anpanman: The 2 Panna's Christmas
- December 25, 1995: Go! Anpanman: White Keito's Christmas
- December 13, 1996: Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and the Black Christmas
- December 25, 1997: Go! Anpanman: The Meringue Sisters' Christmas
- December 24, 1998: Go! Anpanman: Our Christmas Concert
- December 23, 1999: Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and Your Merry Christmas
- December 21, 2000: Go! Anpanman: Anpanman's Christmas Show
- December 20, 2001: Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and Small Santa's Christmas
- December 19, 2002: Go! Anpanman: The Flame of Courage and Christmas
- December 25, 2003: Go! Anpanman: Black Santa and the Nice Present
- December 24, 2004: Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and the Star of Christmas
- December 23, 2005: Go! Anpanman: Anpanman's Jin-Jin-Jingle Bells
- December 22, 2006: Go! Anpanman: Sing! Dance! Everybody's Christmas
- December 21, 2007: Go! Anpanman: Kokin-chan and the Christmas of Tears
- December 19, 2008: Go! Anpanman: Franken-Robo-kun's Surprised Christmas
- December 25, 2009: Go! Anpanman: Do your Best Creampanda! The Christmas Adventure
- December 24, 2010: Go! Anpanman: Red-Nosed Chappy - The Christmas of Courage
- December 23, 2011: Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and Gomira's Christmas Castle
- December 21, 2012: Go! Anpanman: Doremifa Island's Christmas
- December 20, 2013: Go! Anpanman: Shine! Tin Kid's Christmas Tree
- December 19, 2014: Go! Anpanman: Anpanman and the letter to Santa
- December 18, 2015: Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and the Lovely Christmas Present
- December 23, 2016: Go! Anpanman: Poppo's Christmas Twinkle
Video games
;Famicom
- Oeka Kids: Anpanman to Oekaki Shiyou!!
- Oeka Kids: Anpanman no Hiragana Daisuki
- Soreike! Anpanman: Minna de Hiking Game!
- Kids Station: Soreike! Anpanman
- Kids Station: Soreike! Anpanman 2: Anpanman to Daibouken
- Kids Station: Soreike! Anpanman 3
- Kids Station: Oshaberi Oekaki Soreike! Anpanman
- Soreike! Anpanman: Baikinman no Daisakusen
- Anpanpan to Asobo: Aiueo Kyoushitsu
- Anpanman to Asobo: ABC Kyoushitsu
- Anpanman to Touch de Waku Waku Training
- Anpanman to Asobu: Aiueo Kyoushitsu DX
- Anpanman to Asobo: New Aiueo Kyoushitsu
- Soreike! Anpanman: Fushigi na Nikoniko Album
- Soreike! Anpanman: 5tsu no Tou no Ousama
- Anpanman Niko Niko Party
- Soreike! Anpanman Eigo to Nakayoshi Youchiende ABC
- Soreike! Anpanman no Game de Asobou Anpanman
- Soreike! Anpanman no o-Hanashi Daisuki Anpanman
- Soreike! Anpanman Eigo to Nakayoshi 2 Tanoshii Carnival
- Soreike! Anpanman no Medalympic World
- Soreike! Anpanman no Minna de Kyousou Anpanman!
- Soreike! Anpanman: Anpanman to Denwa de Asobou!
- Soreike! Anpanman Anpanman to Tanoshii Drive!
- Soreike! Anpanman Anpanman to Kotoba Asobi
- Soreike! Anpanman no Medalympic World 2
- Soreike! Anpanman: Anpanman to Suuji Asobi
- Anpanman Pico Waku Waku Pan Koujou
- Anpanman to PC Renshuu!
- Gakken Anpanman to Chinou Up!
- Soreike! Anpanman: Anpanman no Chie no World
- Soreike! Anpanman Hajimete Asobu Pico Soft: Anpanman no Iro-Kazu-Katachi Nurie mo Dekichau zo!
- Soreike! Anpanman: Anpanman no Hitori de Dekichatta!
- Soreike! Anpanman Hajimete Kaketa yo! Oboeta yo! Hiragana Katakana ~Gojūon Board Kinō-tsuki~
- Shoku Iku Series 1 Soreike! Anpanman: Sukikirainai Ko Genki na Ko!
- Anpanman no Waku Waku Game Oekaki
- Anpanman o Sagase!
- Soreike! Anpanman Card de Tanoshiku ♪ ABC
- Soreike! Anpanman Doki Doki! Rescue Drive ~Car Navi-tsuki~
- Soreike! Anpanman o Mise ga Ippai! TV de o-Ryōri Tsukutchao
- Soreike! Anpanman Waku Waku Eigo Game!
- Let's Go! Anpanman: Popcorn Factory
- Soreike! Anpanman: Picnic de Obenkyō
Theme music
Openings
- "Anpanman's March"
Endings
- "Courage Rin-Rin"
- "Christmas Valley"
- "Anpanman Gymnastics"
- "Anpanman Gymnastics: Dreaming Version"
- "Sun-Sun Gymnastics"
- "Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Anpanman"
Reception
By 2006, the Anpanman books had sold over 50million copies in Japan. By the time Takashi Yanase passed away in 2013, the Anpanman picture books had sold 68million copies. As of February 2019, Anpanman has sold more than 80million books.
Retail sales of Anpanman related products grossed an annual revenue of at least consecutively for 30 years, generating up until 2013. Anpanman overtook Hello Kitty as Japan's top-grossing character in 2002, and remained Japan's top-grossing character as of 2018. Anpanman licensed merchandise in Japan later sold in 2014, and during 20152016. From April 2017 to December 2019, the toy licensee Bandai Namco Holdings received a net income of from Anpanman merchandise sales. This adds up to in total retail sales revenue as of 2019.
Controversy
Episode 3 of Mr. Osomatsu featured regular series character Dekapan as "Dekapan-Man", a parody of Anpanman. However, the parody was considered "disrespectful" and shortly removed from the episode and all releases of it due to Japan's lack of parody exception in its copyright law that makes parodies of copyrighted works illegal. TV Tokyo head Yūichi Takahashi apologized for the episode and explained that "Anpanman an important anime for children. This was disrespectful to it."Legacy
There are 5 museums across Japan that are dedicated to Anpanman, such as the Yokohama Anpanman Children's Museum & Mall. There is also the Yanase Takashi Memorial Hall, a museum dedicated to Takashi Yanase himself.The Anpanman Official Shop Taipei, the first overseas Anpanman shop specializing in products related to the series, opened at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi shopping mall in Taipei on September 10, 2015.
Anpanman inspired the manga and anime series One-Punch Man. It is a webcomic/manga series created by One, with the title a play on the titular character.
The K-pop group BTS released a song in their hit album under the name "Anpanman" with many references to the series.
International versions
The Anpanman anime series has aired under the following names in other countries:- In the Arab world, it is known as ar-ragheef al'ajeeb
- In Southeast Asia, it has been dubbed into English and many other languages, it is known as Anpanman Breadman in English and airs on Cartoon Network.
- In India, it aired on Pogo in 2009, under the name Anpanman Breadman in all languages, dubbed into Hindi, English, Tamil, and Telugu. The series was eventually dropped.
- In South Korea, the series has been airing under the name Nalara! Hoppangman on MBC, Spacetoon and Animax.
- In China and Taiwan, it is known as "面包超人" in Mandarin, dubbed into Mandarin and many regional languages. In Taiwan the series airs on Momo in Mandarin and formerly in English, it also aired on Cartoon Network in Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English.
- In Pakistan, the series has aired on Cartoon Network
- In Spain, the series debuted in the 90s and dubbed into Spanish and Catalan under title "Pan Pan" and "L'home de pà" have aired on Antenna 3 and TV3.
- In Sri Lanka, the series dubbed in Sinhala as "Gnanakatha Malli" has aired on Rupavahini.
- In North America, the series currently airs in its original Japanese version on TV Japan.