Otogi Manga Calendar

Aired: 1962 - 1964

A TV anime produced by Otogi Pro. Broadcast in 312 monochrome 5-minute episodes on the TBS network as a strip program from June 25, 1962 to July 4, 1964. Sponsored by Kirin Brewery (now Kirin Holdings) as the first work in the Kirin Monoshiri Series. A representative work of Otogi Pro led by Ryuichi Yokoyama, it serves as the substantial continuation and development of its predecessor Instant History (Fuji TV 1961-1962). An educational mini-anime that introduces historical figures, events, and anniversaries related to On This Day in 5-minute episodes daily, it is historically important as a pioneer of long-running serialized TV anime in strip-broadcast format. As one of the TV anime broadcast in series form before Astro Boy began airing on January 1, 1963, it is often mentioned alongside Astro Boy as a candidate for Japan's first television anime series. After its conclusion on July 4, 1964, the Kirin Monoshiri Series time slot was inherited by successor programs Kirin Monoshiri Daigaku and Kirin Kodomo Gekijo.