Fifty years in the past a Jap candy firm, a Tokyo comic strip studio, an American manufacturing outfit, a future biker-superstar, and TV stations across The USA would be half of forces to bring us adventures that crossed the boundaries of time and say and crooked both logic and frail sense. Soon these reports would vanish from television, residing on handiest as fuzzy memories and fuzzier bootleg VHS tapes, returning handiest with the advent of streaming video and digital broadcast television.
Join us, is no longer any longer going to you, as we take a survey at fifty years in the lifetime of Prince Planet.
1939: future Yusei Shonen Papi manga artist Hideoki Inoue is born in Hokkaido. He’ll enter the manga field as an assistant to Osamu Tezuka, and his unswerving manga debut can be at age 20 with the feature “TV Boy” in the journal “Omoshiroi E book.”
September 4, 1963 – Tokyo-primarily based animation studio TCJ’s first anime sequence Sennin Buraku premieres uninteresting on a Wednesday evening. Sennin Buraku is per the Edo-interval gag manga by Ko Kojima which has been persistently revealed since 1956.
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| Region Patrol Hopper |
October 20, 1963 – TCJ’s sharp Tetsujin-28 sequence airs on Fuji-TV. In step with the Shonen Magazine manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, Tetsujin-28 is the indispensable enormous robotic anime and can later be localized as Gigantor and syndicated across The USA by Trans-Lux.
November 1964- Hideoki Inoue illustrates Region Patrol Hopper manga for Bokura Magazine. Region Patrol Hopper can be a Toei Animation TV sequence from February to November, 1965.
1965- “Yoshikura Shouichirou” – a pseudonym for Higake Takeichi, Okura Sato, Yamamura Masao, Kano Ichiro, and Futaba Juzaburo – create Yusei Shonen Papi for TCJ, with financing by Japan’s high advert company Dentsu and recordsdata gathered from a witness of 10,000 Jap boys and girls. The utilization of a combination pen name as creator of an anime sequence will additionally be a trademark of Toei (“Saburo Yatsude”) and Nippon Shatter of day (“Hajime Yatate”) productions. Yusei Shonen Papi manga will first appear in Kobunsha’s Shonen in November 1964, drawn by Hideoki Inoue, and the TCJ-produced animation will premiere in June of 1965. Sponsor Glico will market a stout line of Yusei Shonen Papi tie-in candy and merchandise.
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| Papi and Riko-chan |
June 3, 1965- after a galactic council chooses to back the folk of Earth, the developed civilization of the hidden tenth planet Clifton sends a young member of the Galactic Peace Force named Papi to Earth to shield peace and justice. A genius with an IQ of over 300, Papi is in a say to consume the mysterious Metalyzer, a pendant powered by a generator on Clifton that permits Papi to switch the molecular construction of any object, as well to hover, assemble feats of strength, survive underwater and in outer say, emit unfavorable rays, and fabricate the leisure the script requires. Every 168 hours (one Earth week) unique energy is sent from Clifton to energy the Metalyzer. En path to Earth, Papi’s ship is struck by asteroids, and responsive to the wretchedness, Papi requests that HQ on Clifton erase segment of his reminiscence so he is no longer any longer going to be tempted to advance encourage and abandon his mission. The hurt to his ship results in a smash on Earth and Papi’s reminiscence is nearly completely erased. Touchdown on Riko-chan’s household farm, he remembers sufficient of the Metalizer to dart oil-speculating gangsters away. Soon Papi is joined by unique chums Sturdy the wrestler and Ajababa the Arabian wizard. He’ll consume the next 52 episodes scuffling with crime and robots, armies and monsters, flying saucers and say demons. After a year on Earth Papi is recalled to Clifton, and must recount farewell to all his chums on Earth. Yusei Shonen Papi can be broadcast on Jap television and launched on VHS and DVD in Japan.
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| Ajababa and Sturdy |
June 3, 1965– Yusei Shonen Papi premieres on Fuji TV at 7pm, and can air 52 episodes till Could perchance well unprejudiced 27, 1966. This would perchance well also be replaced in its Thursday time slot by the are residing-action Kokusaihoei adventure sequence Phantom Brokers, created by Tatsuo Yoshida, while Papi moved to 7pm Fridays. When Papi ends, its replace can be TCJ sharp sequence Yusei Kamen (“Asteroid Veil”). Both Yusei Shonen Papi and Phantom Brokers can be packaged for in a single other country license by Kazuhiko Fujita and his Okay. Fujita Mates. Okay. Fujita can be instrumental in the early days of Jap TV animation for his work securing financing from marketing agencies for Jap animation (as he did with Dentsu and Yusei Shonen Papi), as well to licensing Jap cartoons for export. Okay. Fujita’s other sequence comprise Gigantor, Eighth Man, Marine Boy, Escape Racer, and flicks like Fear Under The Sea.
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| the label of Okay. Fujita |
1966- Copri Global Movies, a Miami-primarily based dubbing condominium partly owned by a gentle Havana casino supervisor with ties to mob boss Meyer Lansky, hires Florida actress Catherine “Bobbie” Byers to verbalize the character of Prince Planet. Diversified cast participants comprise Kurt Nagel as Aja Baba and future “Santa Claus” actor Jeff Gillen as Pop Mighty. English-language scripts for Prince Planet can be written by Reuben “Ruby” Guberman, erstwhile screenwriter for Florida trash-movie king Okay. Gordon Murray. Copri additionally dubbed TCJ sequence Eighth Man, and did Spanish-language work for many patrons in conjunction with the CIA.
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| AIP alternate periodical commercial for Prince Planet and other sequence |
1964-1966- Yusei Shonen Papi manga by Hideoki Inoue is revealed in Kobunsha’s weekly Shonen journal, along with Mitsuteru Yokoyama’s Tetsujin-28, Osamu Tezuka’s Tetsuwan Atomu, Hisashi Sekiya’s Cease! Nii-chan, and Fujio Akatsuka’s Mosey away It To Chiyota.
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| Yusei Shonen Papi manga in Kobunsha’s Shonen |
1965-66 – formative years across Japan catch pleasure from both Yusei Shonen Papi on TV and the a form of Glico chocolates and candy premiums produced along with the sequence. Papi is featured on Papi gum, Papi chocolate, Papi stamps, Papi yo-yos, Papi whistles, Papi biscuits, Papi lenticular transferring photos, Papi finger puppets, Papi boomerangs, Papi bubble gum, Papi parachutes, Papi balancing toys, and what might perchance even be basically the most complex comic strip-character candy top charge ever, the Papi Panoramascope. Riko gets her win line of candy and toys marketed at ladies, with Riko hair charms and Riko pendants and a duplicate of Riko’s ladybug ring. Glico even produced replicas of Papi’s Metalyzer and a Papi costume sized for formative years. American formative years bought none of this, and we restful basically feel roughly cheated. Glico’s chocolate pretzel snack Pocky will, nonetheless, create unprecedented inroads into the North American snack grocery store.
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| about a Glico Yusei Shonen Papi merchandise |
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| Riko-chan toys are for ladies handiest |
June 10 1965- Television wrestler Sturdy is unable to govern his substantial strength, and loses his TV wrestling job. Compelled proper into a lifetime of crime, he is given a second chance by Yusei Shonen Papi, and aids Papi in his fight for justice (episode 2, “The Power of Sturdy”)
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| Sturdy is unprecedented |
June 17 1965– Prince Planet’s enemy, the Martian magician Warlock, first appears (as Kiritobi) in episode #3 of Yusei Shonen Papi (“Ultra Ninja Kiritobi”)
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| Kiritobi the Ultra Ninja & Grasp Of Martian Mischief |
July 1 1965– the Octopus Gang, led by Madame Whiplash, makes consume of flying robotic jellyfish to assemble mid-air hijackings of jet airplanes carrying gold bullion (episode 5, “The Flying Jellyfish”)
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| extra Papi toys |
December 23 1965– the Grasp Of Misery, Krag of Kragmire (aka Golem) makes his entrance in episode 30 of Yusei Shonen Papi, and can menace Prince Planet all the plot by the remainder of the sequence along with his bat wings, his funeral director’s demeanor, and his noticed-blade pocket peek.
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| the atrocious Krag, or Golem ought to you prefer |
February 18 1966– Riko finds a pair of gloves that she believes renders her proof against hurt, forcing Papi to consume the leisure of the episode retaining her from the hurt she knowingly exposes herself to (episode 38, “The Magic Gloves”).
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| Riko-chan in Paris |
1966- the Planet Radion sends young Current Peace Corps member Prince Planet to Earth to shield decency and justice. The utilization of his Pendant of Power, Prince Planet can switch the molecular construction of objects, fireplace extremely effective rays, and is given flight and unprecedented strength. Wreck landing on the ranch of “Pop” Mighty, he is befriended by Mighty’s daughter Diana. Soon he meets out-of-work studio wrestler Dan Dynamo, Ajababa the wizard from Abadon, and coffee supporting character Kevin Kirby, who is both a hydro-electric energy arena engineer and Diana’s uncle. Collectively they face crime and robots, gangsters and say aliens, invading armies and unfavorable vegetation. After a year on Earth, Prince Planet leaves his unique chums and returns to Radion. From 1966 till the mid 1970s, Prince Planet can be viewed on American syndicated UHF television and can additionally change into a most popular sequence in Australia. The sequence is by no manner launched on licensed dwelling video in North The USA. MGM will create the Prince Planet sequence on hand on streaming video and digital TV in the 2000s.
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| the “Papy Designate” |
1965-66– the Galactic Peace Force chooses likely the laziest, most forgetful officer on Clifton to be to blame for guaranteeing Papi’s Metalyzer is fully charged. Rest assured every time Papi’s in wretchedness and wishes a fresh burst of Metalyzer recharging, this doofus can be asleep at the literal switch.
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| those idiots on Radion |
1966– the Carol Lombard Singers assemble the theme song to Prince Planet. Carol Lombard labored with legends like Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, and Elvis Presley, and her singing community additionally did the theme to Flipper and masses AIP musicals produced by Prince Planet musical director Al Simms.Could perchance well unprejudiced 20 1966- Kiritobi (Warlock) is destroyed in a fierce battle with Ajababa (episode 51, “Ajababa’s Grandchildren”)
Could perchance well unprejudiced 27 1966- Golem (Krag) is at remaining defeated in battle with Yusei Shonen Papi, and Papi returns to his dwelling planet, leaving in the encourage of all his Earth chums, in the closing episode of Prince Planet, “A ways-off Dwelling Planet.”
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| Wild Rebels superstar Bobbie Byers |
1968– Manga artist Hideoki Inoue spends his Yusei Shonen Papi profits on high residing and leisure, and is soon broke and in wretchedness for nonpayment of taxes. His put up-Papi work entails licensed character manga per Ultraman, Ultra Seven, Ultra Q, and Thunderbirds, as well to non-licensed manga sequence Teach Seven, Loopy Planet, and Dogma 3.
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| Inoue’s Thunderbirds and Teach Seven |
1968– Prince Planet verbalize actor Bobbie Byers stars in the motorcycle gang movie Savages From Hell (aka “Mammoth Sufficient ‘n Archaic Sufficient”), additionally starring Sidney Poitier’s brother Cyril. The movie is directed by Joseph P. Mawra, who additionally directed “Chained Girls” and “Shanty Tramp”, the latter screenwritten by Prince Planet creator Ruben Guberman.
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| Savages From Hell |
1973- Future Let’s Anime blogger Dave Merrill watches Prince Planet for the indispensable time on Chicago’s WSNS Channel 44. The program is hosted by ventriloquist Steve Hart and sponsored by KAYO Chocolate Drink. The memories of Prince Planet will spark a lifelong hobby in Jap animation for Merrill and masses others.
1977– the indispensable nationwide Jap fan community, the Sketch Delusion Group or C/FO, begins in Los Angeles California. Eventually this can bear chapters in most indispensable American cities, in conjunction with Atlanta.
1985– future Let’s Anime creator Dave Merrill helps found a C/FO chapter in Atlanta GA and assists in cyber web web page online hosting traditional screenings of venerable and unique Jap animation in libraries, neighborhood centers, comic book and SF conventions, and anywhere else with a TV and a VCR.
August 1986- Yusei Shonen Papi manga artist Hideoki Inoue passes away in his home in Japan. He had kept a ways flung from fee of earnings tax on his Yusei Shonen Papi profits, which by now had all been squandered. Estranged from his wife and household, Inoue died on my own.
1986- Membership in the C/FO facilitates contact with anime followers across the country, some of whom bear Prince Planet episodes and are bright to alternate. Tape purchasing and selling with C/FO participants enables many, in conjunction with this creator, to leer Prince Planet once more for the indispensable time in 13 years.
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| Prince Planet Foundation promotional mailing |
1988- The nationwide C/FO self-destructs, the local anime club turns proper into a chore, and future Let’s Anime blogger Dave Merrill decides to consider of his core interests, the Jap cartoons of the 1960s. He’ll launch a firm called the Prince Planet Foundation, in an are attempting to rep together 60s anime followers. The Prince Planet Foundation will put up a e-newsletter, “Ten Thousand Gigantors”, that comprises articles and fan art work and fiction, and can connect followers of classic anime across The USA.
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| comic strip by Prince Planet Foundation member Meg Evans |
about Prince Planet.
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| Let’s Anime #4, art work by Paul Young |
1995- The unique digital technology of “the cyber web” results in Prince Planet Foundation founder David Merrill receiving plaintive emails from total strangers, asking if there change into once any manner they’d perchance even ever leer this comic strip they grew up with. Merrill spends the following few years copying Prince Planet episodes for total strangers.
October 1995 – The Jap animation competition Anime Weekend Atlanta holds its first annual convention, and the badges for personnel and attendees feature YSP/Prince Planet art work designed by convention graphics specialist CB Smith.
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| AWA director’s badge |
1999- Sufficient is sufficient, says Prince Planet Foundation organizer Dave Merrill. He stops responding to queries about Prince Planet episodes.
2007 – Classic anime weblog Let’s Anime begins on-line newsletter.
November 2009 – MGM announces extra than 45 episodes of Prince Planet can be made on hand on streaming video sites Hulu and YouTube. The 47 episodes on hand on YouTube will by hook or by crook vanish, nonetheless the Hulu catch admission to will live for years.
November 2009 – Let’s Anime readers participate in a Prince Planet art work contest to bear an very excellent time the open of Prince Planet on Hulu and YouTube. The weblog receives masses of unprecedented art work and all americans gets a T-shirt, courtesy MGM.
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| winners of the Prince Planet Fan Art contest |
January 16 2012 – Let’s Anime posts the first of a 3-segment English translation of Yusei Shonen Papi manga, partly scanned proper now from a crumbling 1965 rep 22 situation of Shonen Magazine.
February 18, 2012 – Manga Store Series 445 is launched, the indispensable volume of mild Yusei Shonen Papi manga. This 288 web page dim and white digest-sized book collects the indispensable half of of the YSP manga because it looked in Shonen Magazine, as well to reproductions of illustrations from the Asasi Sonorama Papi storybook single. Manga Store Series 446 completes their YSP reprint.
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| Manga Store 445 and 446 |
April 2014 – digital broadcast TV community The Works, a channel owned by MGM Television, begins airing Prince Planet as segment of its schedule.
Could perchance well unprejudiced 2014 – TGG Divulge, Inc announces the open of Prince Planet on DVD in North The USA, and the DVD say is listed on Amazon. Could perchance well unprejudiced comes and goes and not using a open, and the itemizing is eradicated from Amazon. Queries to TGG high-tail unanswered.
November 2016 – Classic anime weblog Let’s Anime celebrates fifty years of Prince Planet with a celebratory weblog put up crammed with recordsdata on both Yusei Shonen Papi and Prince Planet, which you are basically reading. Will there be extra excitement forward for YSP/Prince Planet followers? Will Prince Planet return from Radion, or MGM’s vaults, to battle for truth and justice once more? Utterly time will divulge!