Obake no Q-tarou

[Please let me know of any errors]

Hello everyone, I will try to list here a long list of anime that have been broadcast on French television, being as faithful as possible.

The 80s represent the very first generation of successful Japanese cartoons to land on televisions of the time.
This wave is mainly marked by the youth program "Récré A2" broadcast from July 3, 1978 until June 29, 1988 on the Antenne 2 channel.

There are also some films and series that date from before 1978 in this list but they did not have a huge impact in France, the year 1978 especially marks the arrival of Grendizer [UFO Robo Grendizer] who was a real pop-cultural tidal wave for years, which we still see its influence today. It will of course be accompanied by equally cult anime throughout the 80s and 90s.

(And also I'm doing this whole thread by translating it on google translate, sorry in advance for the bad turns of phrase)

This is the first part of a collection of articles where I aim to explore the evolution of anime related music. This part of the list attempts to collect a list of most iconic "Anime Songs".

The term "Anime Songs" used in this list refers to the theme songs that have a strong connection to the series demonstrated by their lyrics and the emotion invoked by the song related to the series. Essentially the song and the lyrics talk about the series or the characters in a direct manner forming a direct link between the performance and the series in question.

These types of theme songs were more common and popular before 1980s. The defining moment that can be said had influence on changing the theme songs away from this model is the popularity of the series "Urusei Yatsura" and how it used to promote a several "tie-up" songs that in contrast to "Anime Songs" by their nature don't necessarily have anything to do with the series, story or the characters.

I will write my thoughts on each of the entries on this list to further explain why I think the series and the theme songs included as a combined package have attained "iconic" status when it comes to the scene of "Anime Songs" in contrast to the "tie-up songs". I will also give a score related on how deeply intertwined I see the series and the performance related to the theme songs as a part of the experience as a whole. The series are ordered based on that score.

The term "iconic" in this list is defined by the popularity and how deeply established the meaning and the lyrical elements of the performance are in addition of them being intertwined with the series as a whole experience.

This list does not include iconic "tie-up songs" or other songs that by their lyrics or meaning do not establish a significant connection to the series, characters or the story.

More info about "Anime Songs" and "tie-up songs" and how they affect the performance from the perspective of the singer in this interview: https://www.cinra.net/article/interview-201509-horiemitsuko

Related stacks:

Chapter 1 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/24451
Chapter 2 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/24454
Chapter 3 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/24455

The Four Kings:

Mitsuko Horie - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/9754
Ichiro Mizuki - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/15851
Kumiko Oosugi - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/24461
Isao Sasaki - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/24460

Published in December of 2015, by the Video Research Ltd. (Japanese marketing research company, that conductes audience measurement for television and radio. Since its foundation in 1962), it shows the ten highest television ratings, that were recorded in the households of the Kanto Region (the most populous part of modern Japan), from since they begun online research on September 26 of 1977, plus four previously recorded high ratings that happened before said date. To qualify for the viewer ratings, a show must be a regular series with episodes that run for 15 minutes or longer.

Sources:
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-12-30/chibi-maruko-chan-sazae-san-dr-slump-top-list-of-most-viewed-anime-episodes/.97077
https://gakumado.mynavi.jp/gmd/articles/28414

List of longest anime series by total runtime (minutes). Movies, episodes and all other specials even if they are not listed on MAL included in the runtime. Movies and other specials are counted in the number of "episodes".

Last updated: 24th December 2025

Part 1: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/32408
Part 2: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/75607
Part 3: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/75608


https://myanimelist.net/stacks/26291
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/32408


Anime: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/32408
Manga: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/39346
Live: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/39525
All: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/39354

Fujiko Fujio was a manga writing duo formed by Japanese manga artists Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko. Professional debut in 1951 (under the authors' names "Abiko Motoo, Fujimoto Hiroshi"). Used the Fujiko Fujio name from 1953 until dissolution of the partnership in 1987, upon Fujimoto's illness. Motoo Abiko continued under the name of "Fujiko Fujio (A)" and Hiroshi Fujimoto under the name of "Fujiko F. Fujio." The pair was best known for their popular comedies, including Obake no Q-Tarō, Ninja Hattori-kun, Kaibutsu-kun, Perman, Kiteretsu Daihyakka, and Doraemon, which is officially recognized as a cultural icon of modern Japan. Some of their influences have included Osamu Tezuka as well as international cartoons and comic books.

These are anime, or anime adaptions of works referenced in the Daicon III and Daicon IV Opening Animations. The openings themselves are listed first to help people find this stack. Please let me know if I am missing anything here.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daicon_III_and_IV_Opening_Animations

These are anime, or anime adaptions of works referenced in Urusei Yatsura, in both the original and 2022 anime. The anime themselves are listed first to help people find this stack. Please let me know if I am missing anything here. Many go both ways, meaning that Urusei Yatsura both references the anime and is referenced in the anime.

Source:

https://uruseiyatsura.fandom.com/wiki/Cameos_and_References

Part 2:

https://myanimelist.net/stacks/73159