Spring 1997 Anime

Pokémon are peculiar creatures with a wide range of abilities and appearances; many people, known as Pokémon trainers, capture and train them, often for the purpose of battling others. Young Satoshi has not only dreamed of becoming a Pokémon trainer but also a "Pokémon Master," and on his 10th birthday, he finally gets a chance to make that dream come true. Unfortunately for him, all three Pokémon available for new trainers have already been taken, leaving only Pikachu, a rebellious Electric-type Pokémon. However, this chance meeting would mark the beginning of a lifelong friendship and an epic adventure! Setting off on a journey to become the very best, Satoshi and Pikachu travel across beautiful, expansive regions with their friends Kasumi, a Water-type trainer, and Takeshi, a Rock-type trainer. But danger lurks around every corner. The infamous Team Rocket is always nearby, trying to steal powerful Pokémon through devious schemes. It will be up to Satoshi and his friends to stop their efforts as he also strives to earn the eight Pokémon Gym Badges needed to challenge the Pokémon League and eventually claim the title of Pokémon Master.

Many years ago, a young princess suffered a terrible loss when both her parents died. Devastated and inconsolable, it seemed nothing could bring her comfort. But a wandering prince came to visit her, hoping to lift her spirits. He gently wiped away her tears, handed her a ring with a rose emblem, and promised that as long as she kept it, they would meet again one day. This encounter left a profound mark on the girl, Utena Tenjou, inspiring her to become a prince herself. Years later, Utena enrolls at Ootori Academy, where she notices the same rose emblem found on her precious ring. Drawn by the scent of roses, she sees Anthy Himemiya tending the flowers, accompanied by Student Council President Touga Kiryuu and Vice President Kyouichi Saionji, who appear to be arguing over Anthy. Though Utena thinks little of it, the Student Council soon gathers to discuss a crucial matter. Later, a misunderstanding pulls Utena into the world of Duelists—those who possess rings similar to hers. These Duelists compete for ownership of the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya, who is said to wield great power. Wanting to prove herself as a true prince, and furious that Anthy is being mistreated and objectified, Utena resolves to fight the Duelists and save her from this cruel fate.

For almost a thousand years, a magical barrier erected by demons has trapped its inhabitants from accessing the outside world. Now that the barrier has been shattered, various kingdoms are eager to explore the territories that were previously out of reach. To facilitate this, they form a peace delegation to establish contact with the people living in this newly accessible realm. In the meantime, the young sorceress Lina Inverse receives a communication from a mysterious figure named Filia ul Copt. Upon meeting, Filia reveals her intention to hire Lina and her companions for a mission leading to the outside world, citing their renowned past exploits. However, she first demands a demonstration of their power, forcing them to battle a dragon in the heart of the city. Once they have proven their worth, Lina and her fellow adventurers journey into the uncharted lands, where they encounter numerous adventures and face a troubling prophecy.

Tenchi Masaki embarks on a new chapter in his life as he moves to Tokyo for school. His departure leaves his female friends in a state of sulky dismay, unhappy with the idea of him being without their support. However, Tenchi does not remain solitary for long, as he encounters Sakuya Kumashiro, a gentle and empathetic young woman who assists him in adjusting to his new surroundings. The pair quickly form a strong bond, but Sakuya harbors feelings that extend beyond friendship and openly confesses her love for Tenchi. This revelation shocks not only Tenchi but also the girls back home. Determined not to lose him, they immediately travel to Tokyo to vie for his affection. As these rivals compete for his heart, Tenchi is forced to determine which woman holds the greatest significance in his life. This decision proves difficult, especially as mysterious occurrences begin to unfold, creating distance between Tenchi and his companions.

Hajime Kindaichi may come across as an ordinary high school student due to his disheveled appearance and easygoing attitude, but appearances can be misleading. He is the grandson of the man once hailed as Japan's greatest detective, and Hajime himself is an exceptional sleuth. Assisted by his closest friend, Miyuki Nanase, and the unconventional inspector Isamu Kenmochi, Hajime ventures to isolated islands, foreboding towns, dark seas, and other dangerous locations. His life's purpose is to solve the most cunning, harrowing, and disturbing mysteries the world has ever faced.

Set in 19th-century China during the declining Qing Dynasty, the narrative unfolds amidst political instability and a fictional period known as "The Era of the Cooking Wars." This was a time when elite masters of diverse culinary traditions strove to perfect their arts and claim the title of the nation's finest chef. In this society, culinary expertise commands immense authority; insulting a renowned chef or tampering with cooking can result in imprisonment, while impersonating a top-tier cook is treated as treasonous usurpation. Chefs vie for respect and influence, risking total loss in their pursuit of dominance. China is divided into four primary regions: Beijing, Szechuan, Shanghai, and Guangdong. The tale begins in Szechuan, the hometown of Mao. Following the death of his mother, Pai, revered as the 'Fairy of Cuisine', Mao strives to become a Super Chef to inherit her restaurant's Master Chef title. Yet, before assuming this role, he journeys across China to master various cooking techniques, aiming to achieve legendary status like his mother. Along the way, he encounters loyal friends and formidable rivals eager to test his culinary prowess.

The CLAMP School is a fully integrated educational institution spanning kindergarten through postgraduate studies, founded by Japan's largest business conglomerate, the House of Imonoyama. Entirely funded by the family's vast wealth, the school was envisioned as a sanctuary for the young men and women who will shape the future. Admission is based solely on talent, regardless of family background or financial means, and the campus is home to numerous exceptionally gifted students. It is also notorious for harboring an unusually high proportion of party animals. Even the brightest minds at CLAMP School cannot prevent crimes and mysteries from occurring. Or can they? Join Nokoru, Suoh, and Akira—the kid detectives who crack cases and even rescue the occasional damsel in distress!

In a world where humans and monsters live side by side, Sasahara Natsuki is a bounty hunter struggling with poverty. Most of her jobs involve monsters infringing on the rights of humans, who are legally shielded from their generally stronger neighbors. As a half-human, half-cat-beast hybrid, Natsuki exists between both societies and works to understand and respect each while upholding the law. She is aided by a werewolf named Batanen, who is too afraid to confess his love for her; another werewolf, Tommy; and a Kyubi fox demon named Sakura, who harbors her own intentions—including eating Natsuki to finish her nine tails and thus unlock her full magical power.

Maze awakens in her home, which is completely destroyed, and she has no memory of what happened. Before she can figure things out, a girl named Mill bursts in, thanking Maze for saving her life. Mill explains that Maze's house suddenly fell from the sky, crushing the pursuers who had been chasing her. Soon after, the two are fleeing from more enemies who want to capture Princess Mill. They manage to escape only when Maze discovers she can use phantom light magic and summon Mill's family heirloom mecha. However, Maze's performance piloting the mecha is weak—until night falls and she transforms into a lecherous man. Other travelers eventually join them as Maze struggles to protect Mill and uncover her own purpose in this fantasy world.

In the year 4699, a brave young man embarks on a futuristic quest to locate the sole individual capable of saving Earth from the universe's most fearsome monster, the great white whale Moby Dick. However, tracking down the outlaw Captain Ahab and his phantom crew of whalers to convince them to end the leviathan's long reign of terror proves to be a daunting task. The central question remains whether Ahab will choose to accept this challenge once again.

Musashi lives with his father. His mother walked out on them three years ago. Musashi is convinced she will return. One day, they relocate from Tokyo to a village out in the countryside. Musashi despises rural life and begs his father to bring him back to Tokyo. He worries that his mother won't be able to locate him at their new address. Soon after settling in the countryside, Musashi stumbles upon a man fishing for bass using a lure. Musashi becomes captivated by the art of lure fishing. He picks up many lessons from the man and learns that his mother's father was a former grand champion in bass fishing. Musashi comes to believe that fishing might be the key to finding his missing mother. He displays remarkable talent in lure fishing and embarks on journeys to numerous locations across the globe in pursuit of all kinds of extraordinary fish. Through his fishing experiences, Musashi grows to appreciate life surrounded by nature.

Saito High is an educational institution populated by spiritual entities and led by a principal who is obsessed with collecting occult items. To safeguard the school, the Holy Student Council, chosen by prophecy, stands as the primary defense. However, these students face their own unique struggles. Haruto Houjo, the council president, possesses the ability to summon spirits but would gladly quit his post for a mundane existence if not for the principal’s influence. Kazumi Ryodo, the second member, excels at allowing herself to be possessed and harbors a crush on Hanako. The final council member, Mutsuki Asahina, is an exorcism expert who is attracted to young boys. Despite their personal quirks, the trio is responsible for maintaining order at the school and protecting the world from supernatural threats, a duty that consistently lands them in absurd situations.

Hareluya Hibino's sole aim is to dominate the entire world. Even though he appears rough, he has a good heart, and when necessary, he goes out of his way to assist others. Alongside Kiyoshiro, a budding artist, Hareluya faces whatever challenges life presents.

Through the Italian National Broadcasting Network, the Vatican made a fervent request to Tezuka Osamu to create an animated version of the Bible. This request was likely intended to see how the non-Christian Tezuka Osamu would depict the Bible. He accepted and spent two full years completing a pilot film, which focused on the myth of Noah's ark. Tezuka Osamu enthusiastically wrote the scenario and drew the pictures himself. However, he unfortunately passed away during production, and Director Dezaki took over to finish the film.

Aoi is an ordinary boy afflicted by a curse that transforms him into a frog whenever he becomes wet. He is transported to a different world that includes a frog kingdom, where he must locate the princess to break the spell. Upon discovering that the princess herself does not know how to remove the curse, the two of them embark on a journey to find the spell that can do so. During their travels, they encounter a variety of fascinating creatures, face numerous perils, and gain many new companions.

Chou Tokkyuu Hikarian centers on a group of bullet trains that transform into robots. Working alongside two humans, Tetsuyuki Shinbashi and Minayo Kanda, these robotic trains must prevent an alien invasion.

Bamboo-Lee, Dah-Lee, and Slo-Lee are three bears driven by a singular mission: to prevent global extinction events. Their primary obstacle is the cowardly antagonists running Ratco Corporation. Fortunately, with the assistance of Ai-Ai, a pink dragon, the trio might just manage to protect the environment before it is too late.

The third installment of the Virtual Trilogy, combining anime with live-action footage. At the dawn of the 22nd century, society underwent rapid progress. Now even children can become genuine doctors—a task that previously required twenty-five years to accomplish. Nanomachines have become widespread for fighting disease. Keita is a Nanosaver, a child physician who leverages the virtual world to apply life‑saving techniques by entering patients’ bodies and treating them inside a virtual medical station (VMS). As more and more patients are admitted, various mysteries about them come to light. In the latter half of the anime, a small alien known as an Ethanarian and a galactic federation are introduced.

An NHK toddler's anime following a Spoon Princess and other kitchen themed characters.

Three-part TV special for <i>Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo</i> broadcast in a 2-hour block along with episode 34 of the TV series.