What is Anpanman?
{{italictitle}} '''''Anpanman''''' is a [[Japan|Japanese]] children's superhero [[picture book]] series.<ref name=ANN>{{cite news|publisher=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-29/nycc-metaverse-event-lists-10-anpanman-films-set-to-stream-on-tubi/.164615|access-date=February 9, 2021|title=NYCC Metaverse Event Lists 10 Anpanman Films Set to Stream on Tubi|author=Alex Mateo|date=February 29, 2020}}</ref><ref name=CBR>{{cite news|publisher=CBR|access-date=February 9, 2021|title=Anpanman: The Children's Show That Inspired One-Punch Man|author=Nizza Risan|url=https://www.cbr.com/anpanman-children-anime-inspired-one-punch-man/|date=January 22, 2021}}</ref> It was written by Takashi Yanase. It ran from 1973 until the author's death in 2013. ''Anpanman'' is one of the most popular anime series for young children. Anpanman is a superhero with an anpan (a red bean paste filled pastry) for a head. He protects the world from an evil anthropomorphic germ named Baikinman. == Plot == Anpanman patrols around the house of Uncle Jam everyday. Anpanman gives starving creatures or people a part of his head, fights with Baikinman and saves people. Anpanman regains his health and strength when he gets a new head. Uncle Jam bakes him a new head. Anpanman has two special attacks; An-punch and An-kick. == Characters == ''Anpanman'' has a long story and the author increases new characters to keep the series fresh. It holds the Guinness World Record for the most characters in an animated franchise. There are a total of 1768 characters in the first 980 episodes. There are additional bread heroes, for example Currypanman and Shokupanman. == Media == The ''Anpanman'' picture book series which debuted in October 1973 has published over 150 picture books under different series labels. These were written and illustrated by Takashi Yanase until his death. Animation by TMS Entertainment entitled Soreike! Anpanman consists of a single episode. Over 1300 episodes broadcasted since October 3, 1988. A total of 32