Sazae-san

Sazae-san is a 1969 Japanese animated series based off of the 1946 comic strip of the same name. It was created by Machiko Hasegawa. Sazae-san is one of the most successful shows in Japan; it is the longest-running animated series in the world, with over 7,000 episodes, and new episodes are still being made. Despite this, it is obscure outside of its home country.

Plot
Sazae-san focuses on the traditional life of the Japanese housewife Sazae Fuguta and her family. It reminds viewers of an earlier, simpler time in Japan.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) It was one of the earliest shows that promotes traditional feminism (promotes gender equality and woman's role in society - as opposed to modern radical feminism).
 * 2) As of September 2013, it holds the Guinness World Record for the longest running anime ever made. With the first episode back in 1969, over 7000 + episodes have been aired, making the show so special. It is also one of the longest running TV shows in Japan alongside Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, Ultra Series, and Doraemon.
 * 3) It has simple, relatable plots.
 * 4) This was one of the last cel-animated shows in the world before switching to digital animation in 2015. Because of this, the show has a nice, nostalgic art style that is reminiscent of older shows.
 * 5) It introduces viewers to the various customs of Japanese families.
 * 6) It pokes fun at these customs creatively.
 * 7) The show is helpful for people learning Japanese because it contains several useful words about real life situations.
 * 8) While most of the episodes are based on the comic strip, the series will occasionally receive brand new episodes inspired by current events. This helps the show stand out from the comic strip and it keeps long-time viewers interested.
 * 9) The creator, Machiko Hasegawa, didn't want the show to become merchandise-driven and lower in quality. She requested for the show to never receive merchandise and toys, and this is still honored after her death.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) While Machiko Hasegawa didn't want to see her creation get turned into an endless line of toys, she didn't want to see any home video releases made, either. Because of this, it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to catch up on any episodes you missed, and a lot of episodes have been deemed lost.
 * 2) The animation in the earlier episodes, while good, can be jarring if your used to watching the more recent episodes.
 * 3) It didn't get any dubs at all, despite getting an attempted english dub. It is understandable though, given that most episodes are lost as explained before.