Anime Oyako Gekijo

あにめおやこげきじょう

Aired: 1981 - 1982

A television anime produced by Tatsunoko Production in cooperation with TV Tokyo, broadcast in 26 episodes from October 1981 through March 1982. A rare Japanese animated take on Biblical narrative, the series follows the contemporary boy Sho Asuka and his friends, who are transported by a mysterious 'Time Book' into the world of the Bible. Episodes 1-11 and 15-25 adapt stories from the Old Testament - Genesis, Moses, David, Solomon and beyond - while Episodes 12-14 and the finale Episode 26 cover the New Testament, dramatizing the birth, ministry, passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ in family-friendly adventure-fantasy form. Despite its serious subject matter, the show's time-travel framing and approachable Tatsunoko character designs made the often-unfamiliar material engaging for Japanese children, and the show stands as one of the most unusual hybrids of religious instruction and Saturday-morning anime ever produced. The opening theme 'Time Book no Uta' was performed by Ryo Miyauchi.