Dr. Slump 1981

Overview

Dr. Slump is a Japanese television series based on the manga written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. The series, which aired from 1981 to 1986, follows the daily adventures of the residents of Penguin Village. The narrative centers on Senbei Norimaki, a genius but under-respected inventor and roboticist known by the nickname Dr. Slump. In an experiment in robotics, he creates an android named Arale, whom he poses as his little sister. Arale is a superhuman but naive girl who interacts with the colorful characters of the wacky rural community. The production features voice performances by Mami Koyama, Kenji Utsumi, Kazuko Sugiyama, and Toshio Furukawa. Directed by Minoru Okazaki, the show was produced by Toei Animation and broadcast on Fuji TV. The first season, titled Dr. Slump Arale-chan, spanned from April 1981 to April 1982 and included 50 episodes, three specials, and a short film. The original manga source material was serialized in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump from February 1980 to September 1984 and collected into 18 volumes.