Hustle Punch

Aired: 1965 - 1966

A TV anime produced by Toei Doga. Original concept by Kei Iijima. Broadcast in 26 episodes on the NET (now TV Asahi) network from November 1, 1965 to April 25, 1966. Set at a patisserie atop a small hill in the forest, the trio of bear cub Punch (voiced by Nobuyo Oyama), weasel Touch (voiced by Keiko Yamamoto), and mole Block (voiced by Eiko Masuyama) confront the villainous gentlemen from the town: Dr. Garigari (voiced by Kenji Utsumi), Count Nuppara (voiced by Chikao Otsuka), and Black (voiced by Nobuaki Sekine) in this forest comedy. As Toei Doga's first full-fledged TV anime series, it is positioned as the starting point of Toei Animation's long-running lineage leading to Mahotsukai Sally, Sazae-san, and Dragon Ball. The work also stands as one of Nobuyo Oyama's signature young-boy/animal roles and marks the starting point of Kenji Utsumi's villain-voice career. (C)Toei Animation