Moretsu Ataro (1969 TV Series)

Aired: 1969 - 1970

A TV anime produced by Toei Doga (now Toei Animation). Based on Fujio Akatsuka's manga serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday from issue 48 of 1967 to issue 27 of 1970. Broadcast in 90 episodes on the NET network (now TV Asahi) from April 4, 1969 to December 25, 1970. Set in an old-time Tokyo shitamachi neighborhood, the series follows the greengrocer's son Ataro (voiced by Keiko Yamamoto), his father Bekoro (voiced by Ichiro Nagai) who watches over him as a ghost after a fatal accident, his loyal sidekick Dekohachi (voiced by Midori Kato), the talking stray cat Nyarome (voiced by Hiroshi Otake), and the gang boss Kokoro no Boss (voiced by Joji Yanami), in a fusion of warm human drama and slapstick gag comedy. With a debut rating of 22.0 percent, a peak of 25.9, and an average of 18.3, it switched from monochrome to color production in October 1970, marking it as a transitional work. It is counted among Akatsuka's three great hits alongside Osomatsu-kun and Tensai Bakabon. (C)Fujio Akatsuka / Toei Animation