Children's dramas1970s1980s1990s
Children’s dramas in the nineties
Title Period
broadcast		 No of
times
broadcast		 Broadcasting
station
(network)		 Outline
Let’s go! Red Bikies August 29, 1980 – March 28, 1982 77 TV Asahi / Asahi Broadcasting Network Tomoko Saito, an elegant actress, played the role of the female manager in this series. Yukiko Yamada took over the role from episode 25. The legend of the red frogs lives on.
Robot 8-chan October 4, 1981 – September 26, 1982 52 Fuji Television Network Haruhiko Saito superbly plays the role of Barabara Man, a robot dealer and enemy of 8-chan.
Batten Robomaru October 3, 1982 – September 25, 1983 51 Fuji Television Network A robot with honor and a head which morphs into various shapes such as gachigachi, mecameca and gogotop.
Pettonton October 2, 1983 – August 26, 1984 46 Fuji Television Network Ishinomori’s surreal comedy was established in this drama.
Monday Drama, Pettonton Special 1August 27, 1984 1 Fuji Television Network Special program of the very popular Pettonton! Ayako Kobayashi, a famous actress who played the role of Oshin, makes a guest appearance.
Dokincho! Nemurin September 2, 1984 – March 31, 1985 31 Fuji Television Network Urasawa wrote a very humorous script for this drama. Outstanding, surreal comedy.
TV Ghost Telemonja January 10 – March 28, 1985 11 Fuji Television Network This drama was broadcast at peak viewing time as a trial. Telemonja, which eats electricity, appears on TV.
Do as You Like! Kamitaman April 7, 1985 – March 30, 1986 51 Fuji Television Network A god, Kamitaman, transforms primary school pupil Nemoto-kun into Nemoto Man.
Mori-mori Bok-kun April 6 – December 28, 1986 39 Fuji Television Network A story of a robot which had not been produced for a long time. Nice, simple design similar to Robocon.
Decisive Detective Group, Hado January 11 – December 27, 1987 50 Fuji Television Network Ishinomori version of a group of boy detectives. The group, called Hado, chases after a mysterious person, Matenro.
Jaman Detective Group, Marine January 10 – December 25, 1988 50 Fuji Television Network A group, called Marine, pursues the mysterious robber, Jigoma, is based on a submarine, as the name suggests. The second detective group series.
Witch Girl, Chukana Paipai! Witch Girl, Chukana Paipai! 26 Fuji Television Network Natsuki Ozawa plays the role of the heroin. The first Chinese witch series.
Witch Girl, Chukana Ipanema! July 23 – December 24, 1989 23 Fuji Television Network The second Chinese witch series. Wakako Shimazaki plays the role of Ipanema to the utmost.
■Comment■
Lots of children’s dramas were produced in the eighties, partly because Fuji Television Network produced many drama series, starting with Robot 8-chan. This caused a sensation and attracted many adult fans because of splendid casting unlike other dramas for children and the surreal world with lots of highly sophisticated humor beyond the understanding of children. Pettonton was particularly popular, as was proven by a special program broadcast at peak viewing time.
The children’s dramas had diverse subjects which included robots, extra-terrestrials, gods and detective groups. The transformation heroin drama series started with Witch Girl, Chukana Paipai!.
1970s
1990s