Chibi Maruko-chan

Meet Maruko, a sweet schoolgirl with a hefty dose of curiosity (and occasional laziness!). She sails through life in a cozy town alongside her loving parents, grandparents, and sister. Maruko has a band of loyal friends, including her closest pal, Tama-chan, but her playful and doting grandpa is at the heart of it all. Life is never dull in this charming series.

Chibi Maruko-chan (1990-present) is a long-running Japanese television animated comedy produced in the anime tradition and adapted from the manga by Momoko Sakura, with a multi-decade run spanning 1755 episodes across three seasons. Its heroine is Momoko "Maruko" Sakura, voiced by TARAKO, a sweet, curious and sometimes lazy elementary schoolgirl. Her world is her loving household, shared by her mother Sakiko Sakura (Yuko Mizutani), her father Hiroshi Sakura (Yusaku Yara) and her playful, doting grandfather Tomozo Sakura, voiced by Kei Tomiyama and later Takeshi Aono, while her closest pal Tama-chan anchors a band of loyal classmates. The engine is pure everyday life: crushes, schemes, classroom rivalries, school trips and small obsessions, each episode spinning minor mishaps into big feelings. Nothing is plotted toward a climax; the series is a loose, episodic chain of vignettes that can be dipped into in any order. Its tone is gentle, wistful and comforting, a rose-tinted look back at provincial childhood in a Shizuoka town. Fans of Doraemon, Sazae-san and The Wonder Years will find the same warm, nostalgic, family-centered comfort here.

• Doraemongentle slice of life childhood comedy, warm family households, nostalgic small town tone
• Sazae-sanepisodic everyday family comedy with a bright cozy register and multigenerational household
• The Wonder Yearsnostalgic childhood vignettes in an elementary school setting with a warm episodic structure

Release Date

1990-01-07

Episode runtime

25 min

Rating

8.0 / 10 (25)

What is Chibi Maruko-chan about?

A curious, sometimes lazy elementary schoolgirl named Maruko moves through everyday life with her family, friends and her doting grandfather in a cozy Japanese town.

What is Chibi Maruko-chan like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Chibi Maruko-chan as measured, its intensity as subtle and its storytelling as simple.

Is Chibi Maruko-chan violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Chibi Maruko-chan.

Which shows are like Chibi Maruko-chan?

Shows with a similar feel include Doraemon, Sazae-san, and The Wonder Years.

How long is Chibi Maruko-chan?

Chibi Maruko-chan: 3 seasons, 1,755 episodes.

Is Chibi Maruko-chan still running?

Yes, Chibi Maruko-chan is still running.