Before the dominance of reality TV shows, Koreanovelas and even Telefantasyas, a genre took the whole country by storm, a chapter in Philippine Primetime TV that no one expected to happen. The Primetime Anime invasion.
Being tagged as The Philippines’ Anime Authority, GMA Network offered an alternative to primetime viewing when telenovelas and latinovelas were lording the ratings game.
GMA Network was clever to go an unfamiliar route and gave the viewers something different and unexpected. Known for their counter programming technique, they resurrected the world’s biggest animes and dubbed them in Tagalog to suit the taste of local viewers. These animes went head to head with ABS-CBN’s teleseryes and gave a good competition inching victory almost overnight.
Ghost Fighter is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi.
The series tells the story of Yusuke Urameshi (Eugene), a teenage delinquent who is struck and killed by a car while attempting to save a child’s life. After a number of tests presented to him by Koenma, the son of the ruler of the afterlife Underworld, Yusuke is revived and appointed the title of “Underworld Detective”, with which he must investigate various cases involving demons and apparitions in the human world.
This series was considered as a major breakthrough in Philippine TV amd considered as the most successful anime on primetime.
Voltes V a famous Japanese anime TV series that was first aired on TV Asahi starting April 6, 1977.
The anime was released Italy, Spain, and The Philippine sboth dubbed i. english and eventually in Tagalog. In 1997, an armada of horned humanoid aliens known as Boazanians invade earth and launch their “beast fighters” all over the world.
The series focuses on the struggle against Boazan invaders, and Go brothers’ search for their long-lost father, Kentarp Go. Later in the series, the brothers learn of their unique heritage of being half Boazanian. The characters deal with their identity’s impact on their own lives and that on both their close friends, bitter enemies and win over the invaders.
This series brought back the fans to their childhood and made anime collectibles a must have for the teens during it’s time.
Pokemon is abbreviated from the Japanese title of Pocket Monsters is a long running Japanese anime television series, which has been adapted for the international television markets including our country.
After he turns ten years old, Ash Ketchum is allowed to start his journey in the world of Pokémon and dreams of becoming a Pokémon master. On The day he is to receive his first Pokémon, Ash wakes in a panic having overslept. Professor Oak, the local Pokémon researcher, has already given away the three Pokémon (Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle). When Ash finally reaches Oak’s Lab. The only Pokémon that he has left is a Pikachu.
Determined to make it on his journey, Ash does his best to befriend Pikachu, but it does not trust him and will not even return to its PokéBall, even attacking Ash with its unique electric powers. It is only after Ash protects Pikachu from a group of angry Spearow that Pikachu realizes how much Ash cares.
Afterward, they both see a mysterious and unidentifiable Pokémon that spurs both of them to work towards Ash’s goal. This anime became a global phenomenon and well loved by fans and praised by critics.
Lupin III is considered the world’s greatest thief, known for announcing his intentions to steal valuable objects by sending a calling card to the owners of his desired items.
His right-hand man and closest ally is Daisuke Jigen, an expert marksman who can accurately shoot a target. Although Lupin and Jigen frequently work as a two-man team, they are often joined by Goemon Ishikawa XIII, a master swordsman whose sword can cut anything and Fujiko Mine, a femme fatale and Lupin’s love interest.
Although Fujiko usually works together with the others, she occasionally exploits Lupin’s interest in her to steal the treasure for herself. Inspector Koichi Zenigata of the ICPO is the show’s main antagonost has made it his life’s work to arrest them, pursuing Lupin across the globe.
This anime was even made to life by Ex-Kapuso Primetime King Richard Gutierrez.
Mojacko is a fluffu oranhe aline trapped in oir world who accidentally met Sorao Sorao is an ordinary student who lives an ordinary life of a typical kid, accidentally makes friends with two aliens stranded on Earth.
His life changes as he helps them find their way home, the Moja Planet. As the story progresses, wherein they do reach the aliens’ homeworld, Sorao along with Miki, discovers a feud between two different tribes. Things gone awry as the tribes’ representatives try to outdo one another in search of the missing treasure of the past with the help of an uncovered clue.
Other animes that ruled primetime were Daimos, Mazinger Z, Ranma 1/2, Flame of Recca and Fushigi Yuugi. These unforgettable Animes once made their marks in the minds and hearts of Filipinos and captured everyone’s imagination leaving that generation more creative and adventurous
Will Animes have it’s return anytime soon? Fans are requesting but only GMA Network can answer that.
