The consequences of the pandemic have hit every industry in the worst possible way. While people are trying to entertain themselves staying at home, the demand for movie streaming websites, Netflix has skyrocketed overnight. But, the kids also need a constant source of refreshment. They indulge in various indoor games and not to mention watching cartoons. Cartoons, anime, and fictions are very popular among kids. Many old cartoons bring a feeling of nostalgia, especially when more than two to three generation grows up watching it. Sazae-san is a Japanese cartoon that started broadcasting from 1969. But, any further production won’t take place due to the lockdown.
Disruption due to the novel coronavirus
Sazae-san is a famous and one of the oldest cartoons running for 45 years. The sudden cease in the production will witness many gloomy faces. But, Fuji TV has decided to rerun two-years-old episodes from next week. This is the first time since February 1975 when it has stopped production. The last time it was due to the oil crisis which shook Japan’s economy. The lockdown has already resulted in the repeat telecast of many shows all over the world. But, with the increase in the intensity of the crisis, the rerun of cartoons will also take place.
A great loss
Before the pandemic disrupted the production, a fresh episode of Saeze-san was aired every Sunday night. Fuji TV is not going to air any new episode shortly. In the history of cartoon series, this anime TV show is the longest one still on the track. Since 1969, more than 2,500 episodes of Saeze-san were aired. With time, this anime series became a part of the Japanese culture. So, with a sudden pause in the production, it feels like the end of an era. The series also made into Guinness World Records as the longest-animated series after the famous U.S show, The Simpsons.
Who created Saeze-san?
Sazae-san, the longest-running cartoon adopts itself from the manga series by Machiko Hasegawa. Manga is the word used by the Japanese to refer to comics and cartooning. Machiko Hasegawa is one of the first female artists in the world of comics. She started creating her very own Sazae-san in 1946.
Born in Taku, Machiko and her family moved to Tokyo after her father passed away. She started drawing cartoons from the age of fifteen. Many of her cartoons and comic strips got published in newspapers and magazines. Holding the hands of Machiko, the four-panel layout of comics came into practice.
After she started designing the Saeze-san comic, it became a dramatic radio series in 1955. And, after that, it became an animated series broadcasted on television. The comic was also translated into English under the title The Wonderful World of Sazae-san. Machiko is the recipient of Order of the Precious Crown (fourth-order, 1990) and People’s Honor Award (1992).
The longest-running cartoon
The story of Sazae-san is based on a Japanese housewife and her extended family. It narrates the ups and downs of the life of Sazae-san who lives in a suburban area. The background story runs deeper than just revolving around her life which includes the story of more than one generation.
From next week, the old episodes will also come on Sundays for thirty minutes. Since two-years-old episodes will be telecasted, losing the audience is obvious. But, the show might still attract 10% of the total audience the show entertained. Though the number of coronavirus cases is comparatively low in Japan, it seems like it has hit a recession this year.
Return of Terrace House
It is not only one Japanese show that is making a reappearance this month. The famous Japanese drama, Terrace House is also coming back though with a single panelist. Terrace House was off the air for nearly a month and it declared its reentry today. Terrace House, the famous addictive Japanese show was only broadcasted on the television in the beginning. Later, it became a big hit for Netflix as well. The entertainment industry is trying its best to keep people busy and cheer them through the flat screen. It is a hard time and we have to patient and strong we combat it.
Annasha Dey is an NIT student, who apart from studying engineering is also a content writer. She has a great interest in photography, writing, reading novels, and travelling as well. She is a foodie who loves socializing and hanging out with her friends. She is also a trained Kathak dancer and a big fashion enthusiast. Dey also loves watching TV series, which includes F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and Big Bang Theory. To be a better writer she prefers to read more