American Animation that's popular in Japan

The original Ninja Turtles cartoon was just as popular over in Japan as it was here back around 1989/1990. Heck, its popularity lasted so long that a two-episode OVA came out in 1996, when pretty much all western Ninja Turtles projects were winding down!

The 4Kids series also seems to have a pretty strong internet following in Japan, despite their dub lasting only 52 episodes.
 
Besides The Powerpuff Girls, Beast Wars was also an American cartoon that was popular in Japan. So popular, they made an anime spin-off called Beast Wars II and it's sequel Beast Wars II Neo, which were never release in America, though a comic book version of the series was release instead. I also believe that X-Men The Animated Series was also popular in Japan too.
 
I've heard that Japanese fans were pretty annoyed with Beast Wars with the Japanese dub because it made it more kid friendly and less serious.
 
Italian cartoon character Calimero had some popularity in Japan back in the seventies, to the point that Toei Doga bought the licensing rights to have an anime made. One of the first instance of a Japanese studio making a series based on a foreign cartoon.
 
Popular enough for a sight gag in the anime FLCL. (Anyone remember that anime?)

And the big eyes most "cute" Disney movie characters have (e.g. Bambi and Your Typical Disney Princess) are the reason Osamu Tezuka's characters (especially AstroBoy) have that "doe-eyed" look.
 
Anyone know if Futurama has done well there? Seems like something that would.

It'd probably be hilarious to see Japanese merchandise of Bender.
 
I wonder why Family Guy never caught on in Japan. Did all the American pop-culture references go over their heads, or was it too offensive for broadcast?
 
Just remembered another: Moomin, a Swedish character created by Tove Jansson.

It was turned into anime several times:

10/5/1969-12/27/1970
65 episodes (first 26 by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, rest by Mushi Studios)
Apparently Tove Jansson hated how TMS handled her characters, so she ordered to have the studio fired and replaced.

1/9/1972-12/31/1972
52 episodes (Mushi Studios)

4/12/1990-3/26.1992
104 episodes (Tele-Image)
 
I don't think the Japanese are really offended easily. They seem a bit more laid back when it comes to that kind of stuff, but I wouldn't swear to anything like that.



I guess it does air there, then.
 
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