Hakushon Daimao (1969 TV Series)

Aired: 1969 - 1970

A TV anime produced by Tatsunoko Production. Original concept and production by Tatsuo Yoshida, planning by Jinzo Toriumi, chief direction by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Broadcast in 52 half-hours (104 short segments) on Fuji TV every Sunday at 19:00 from October 5, 1969 to September 27, 1970. Second-grader Kan-chan (voiced by Midori Kato) finds an old jar in the attic, from which sneezes summon the bumbling sorcerer Hakushon Daimao (voiced by Toru Ohira). Although technically capable of granting wishes, his attempts almost always misfire, while his daughter Akubi (voiced by Toko Sasuga) - summoned in turn by yawning - adds to the weekly chaos in this family-friendly gag fantasy. Averaging 13.5 percent in ratings with a peak of 19.1, its final episode took an uncharacteristically serious turn, sealing the Daimao and Akubi away for 100 years and leaving a lingering coda rare among Tatsunoko works of the period. (C)Tatsunoko Production