Ogon Bat (1967 TV Series)

Aired: 1967 - 1968

A co-production TV anime by Dai-ichi Doga (Japanese planning side) and Korea's Dong Yang Animation (animation subcontractor). Based on the classic hero 'Ogon Bat' originating from 1930s kamishibai street theater (created by Koji Kata, Ichiro Suzuki, and Takeo Nagamatsu), with the TV anime reconstructing the story independently. Broadcast in 52 episodes on the Yomiuri TV network from April 1, 1967 to March 23, 1968. Ogon Bat (voiced by Choko Iida), a golden-skull hero awakened from a 10,000-year slumber by the prayers of a girl named Marie, battles the four-eyed alien Nazo who plots world conquest. A representative early example of Japan-Korea anime co-production, actively exported overseas. Its serious and macabre visuals left a strong impression on contemporary children and reportedly influenced later hero designs such as Devilman and Gatchaman. (C)Dai-ichi Doga / Kodansha