History Anime / Ojarumaru

The series was originally created by Rin Inumaru in 1993, as a manga that was serialized in Shogakukan's ''Ciao'' magazine.[[note]]However, due to the lack of documentation of the manga's history, it's unknown how long it actually ran.[[/note]] It eventually was adapted into an anime in 1998 (directed by [[Manga/{{Kodocha}} Akitaro]] [[Manga/FruitsBasket Daichi]]), and has been running ever since on NHK E-Tele, becoming their second [[LongRunners longest-running anime]] (just behind ''Manga/NintamaRantarou'') and the third longest-running anime of all time (behind the aforementioned ''Nintama Rantarou'' and ''Manga/SazaeSan''), currently having over 1800 episodes produced up until this day.

The series was originally created by Rin Inumaru in 1993, as a manga that was serialized in Shogakukan's ''Ciao'' magazine.[[note]]However, due to the lack of documentation of the manga's history, it's unknown how long it actually ran.[[/note]] It eventually was adapted into an anime in 1998 (directed by [[Manga/{{Kodocha}} Akitaro]] [[Manga/FruitsBasket Daichi]]), and has been running ever since on NHK E-Tele, becoming their second [[LongRunners longest-running anime]] (just behind ''Manga/NintamaRantarou'') and the third longest-running anime of all time behind ''Manga/SazaeSan'', currently having over 1800 episodes produced up until this day.

The series was originally created by Rin Inumaru in 1993, as a manga that was serialized in Shogakukan's ''Ciao'' magazine.[[note]]However, due to the lack of documentation of the manga's history, it's unknown how long it actually ran.[[/note]] It eventually was adapted into an anime in 1998 (directed by [[Manga/{{Kodocha}} Akitaro]] [[Manga/FruitsBasket Daichi]]), and has been running ever since on NHK E-Tele, becoming their second [[LongRunners longest-running anime]] (just behind ''Manga/NintamaRantarou'') currently having over 1400 episodes produced up until this day.

* ArtEvolution: The series has gone through this over the years. Ojarumaru's mouth became smaller, Kisuke's [[EyesAlwaysShut always-shut eyes]] became smaller, and some of the character's faces, most notably the main characters, were modified to look more cuter. The animation has also improved, along with the character outlines being drawn thinner since the 3rd series.

* HappilyMarried: Ojarumaru's parents and Kazuma's parents, Ai and Makoto. Kin-chan's parents, Komachi's parents, and Hoshino's parents.

* NiceHat: Ojarumaru and his father wear tate-eboshi caps. Not only are they capable of storing any object, but also warp people to alternate worlds! Asako wears a red cap with the letter "A" on it, while Marie wears a purple hat with feathers on it.

* InsomniaEpisode: In Series 13 episode 9, Ojarumaru fins himself unable to sleep and asks Kazuma to sing him a lullaby. The lullabies he sings, as well as the ones that are sung by other characters who are pulled into the problem, keep failing to satisfy Ojarumaru.

* HotBlooded: Honda-sensei.

** The Italian dub uses [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxgaCRz6yhs this opening theme.]]

** [[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm14435432 "Hatsukoi wa Minora Nai"]] has '''16''' Ojarumarus in a AKB48-esque outfit[[note]]Referred to as the "Ojarumaru Sisters"[[/note]] dancing to the fast-paced rhythm of the theme.

The series was originally created by Rin Inumaru in 1993, as a manga that was serialized in Shogakukan's ''Ciao'' magazine.[[note]]However, due to the lack of documentation of the manga's history, it's unknown how long it actually ran.[[/note]] It eventually was adapted into an anime in 1998 (directed by [[Manga/KodomonoOmocha Akitaro]] [[Manga/FruitsBasket Daichi]]), and has been running ever since on NHK E-Tele, becoming their second [[LongRunners longest-running anime]] (just behind ''Manga/NintamaRantarou'') currently having over 1400 episodes produced up until this day.

* SuperNotDrowningSkills: In 22nd series episode 25, Denbo, Kame, and Tome spend quite some time underwater searching for Enma's scepter, which fell into the Moonlit Night Pond at the beginning of the episode. The trio suffer no apparent breathing problems the entire time, other than echoey underwater voices. Denbo is only equipped with a small straw, which somehow allows him to breathe air deep in the pond. Somewhat justified with Kame and Tome as [[https://www.cuteness.com/article/do-turtles-breathe-under-water some turtle species can spend longs periods of time underwater by absorbing oxygen from the water]].

* SugarBowl: The Heian era and Moonlight Town fit this trope. The only threat that ever happens in Moonlight Town are just the Hoshino family's benign attempts at taking over Earth, all of which end up failing anyway.

* ArtShift: Happens in all the episodes that are centered on Japanese and Western folktales or stories that take place in different scenarios. While the character designs are retained, softer colors are used and the character outlines are colored.

* CrossPoppingVeins: These occurred frequently during the 1st series. Episodes afterwards started using them less frequently to the point of eventually becoming extremely rare.

** Ojarumaru loves eating pudding. He loves it so much that he cries whenever he is unable to eat it (whether it gets taken away from him, or it drops on the floor, etc.).

* DancingTheme: Ending themes "Purin Sanka", "Purin de ojaru"[[note]]This one recycles the same animation from the previous ending theme, except with a different background[[/note]], "Kooni Trio no Theme", "Acchi Muite Hoi de ojaru", "Warera Gekkō Chō Chicchai Mono Club", "Denbo no Bunbun Fushi", "Sankyukkyu Dancing", "Hatsukoi wa Minora Nai", Purin Sanka ~20th à la mode edition, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qftUG96Ntd0 Yada na～ Ii na～]].

* ADayInTheLimelight: Many of the recurring characters and antagonists get at least a couple episodes starring them. The most popular one is episode 1176 in which the God of Poverty transforms Okorinbou and Nikorinbou into half human, half guardian dogs as a punishment for talking negatively about it behind its back. Both of them decide to take advantage of their rather adorable transformation by opening up an outdoor cafe at the Mangan Shrine called the "Dog Mimi Cafe" in order to make money. Everything goes well until [[spoiler: the God of Poverty decides to transform them back into guardian dogs.]]

* DancingTheme: Ending themes 1, 2 [[note]]This one recycles the same animation from the previous ending theme, except with a different background[[/note]], 4, 6, and 16.

* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Ending themes 2-10 are sung by the characters. The series took a break from this trope for ending themes 11-20, however, when ending 18 was reused for the 16th series, it was sung by Ojarumaru, Kazuma, and Denbo instead of Chopiiin. The trope is back again for ending 21, which is sung by Hoshino, Ken, Kawakami, Kanbutsu, and the Haunted House Director.

* HappilyMarried: Ojarumaru's parents and Kazuma's parents, Ai and Makoto. Kin-chan's parents, Komachi's parents, and Hoshino's parents. Honda-sensei and Asako met each other in episode 81 and became a married couple for the remainder of the series.

** Komachi Ono comes from the Japanese waka poet, Ono no Komachi.

* ADayInTheLimelight: Many of the recurring characters and antagonists get at least a couple episodes starring them. The most popular one is episode 1176 in which Okorinbou and Nikorinbou transform into half human, half guardian dogs by the God of Poverty. Both of them decide to take advantage of their transformation by opening up an outdoor cafe at the Mangan Shrine called the "Dog Mimi Cafe" in order to make money. Everything goes well until [[spoiler: the God of Poverty decides to transform them back into guardian dogs.]]

--> '''Hoshino''': No, papa. "Ojarumaru".

* ArtEvolution: The series has gone through this over the years. Ojarumaru's mouth became smaller, Kisuke's [[EyesAlwaysShut always-shut eyes]] became smaller and were more separate from each other, and some of the character's faces, most notably the main characters, were modified to look more cuter. The animation has also improved, along with the character outlines being drawn thinner since the 3rd series.

* CouchGag: In the 6th ending theme, ''Acchi Muite Hoi de ojaru'', Ojarumaru's position whenever he sings the word "Hoi" is different per episode of the 5th Series.
* DancingTheme: Ending themes 1, 2 [[note]]This one recycles the ''exact same animation from the first ending theme'', except with a different background[[/note]], 4, 6, and 16.

* NiceHat: Ojarumaru and his father wear a tate-eboshi cap. Ojarumaru's tate-eboshi cap is even fourth-dimensional and is capable of both storing objects, no matter how big, and warping people to a different world. Asako wears a red cap with the letter "A" on it, while Marie wears a purple hat with feathers on it.

* ExtremelyShortThemeTune: The opening themes in the Filipino and Thai dubs are only ''five seconds long''.

* TheSongRemainsTheSame: The Cantonese and Philippine dubs leave the opening [[note]] Strangely, the opening theme in the Philippine and Thai dubs are only ''five seconds long''. [[/note]] and ending themes in Japanese.

** Ojarumaru loves eating pudding. He loves it so much that he cries whenever he is unable to eat it depending on the circumstance (whether it gets taken away from him, or it drops on the floor, etc.).

* SugarBowl: The Heian era and Moonlight Town fit this trope. The only threat that ever happens in Moonlight Town are just the Hoshino family's benign attempts at taking over Earth, all of which end up failing.

* ArtEvolution: The series has gone through this over the years. Ojarumaru's mouth became smaller, Kisuke's [[EyesAlwaysShut always-shut eyes]] became smaller and were more separate from each other, and some of the character's faces, most notably the main characters, were modified to look more cuter. The animation has also improved, along with the character outlines being drawn thinner since Series 3.

* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Ending themes 2-10 are sung by the characters. The series took a break from this trope for ending themes 11-20, however, when ending 18 was re-used for Series 16, it was sung by Ojarumaru, Kazuma, and Denbo instead of Chopiiin. The trope is back again for ending 21, which is sung by Hoshino, Ken, Kawakami, Kanbutsu, and the Haunted House Director.

* TotemPoleTrenchcoat: In episode 3, Aobee, Kisuke, and Akane do this in the disguise of a deliverer in order to get inside the Tamura family's house. Funnily enough, Kazuma seemingly falls for the disguise while Ojarumaru doesn't.