"ぼく、アンパンマンです!"
"I'm Anpanman!"
"元気100倍、アンパンマン!"
"A hundred times better, Anpanman!"
Anpanman (アンパンマン) is the titular main protagonist of Sore Ike! Anpanman, and he is the superhero character the show is named after. His head is made of anpan, which is Japanese bread filled with sweet anko. His enemy and the main antagonist of the show, Baikinman, was born on the same day as him.
Official Website Description
Anpanman is everyone's hero that flies to anywhere to help those hungry or in need. He was born when a star of life landed on the bread that Uncle Jam made with all his heart. Whenever Baikinman plots his evil plan on a certain character or the entire world, he gets blown away from his signature move "An-punch".
Appearance
Anpanman wears a red-orange uniform and a brown cape. His gloves, boots, and belt are yellow along with a smiley face symbol on his chest. He has a large round head made of anpan, bread filled with sweet red bean paste. He has a large red nose in between his rosy cheeks, and a big smile.
Personality
Anpanman is happy and friendly, ready to help anyone who needs assistance. His cape is always flapping in the wind, as he spends all day every day flying around saving and helping anyone who needs him. He does everything from pushing carts to finding lost pets, and fighting off any trouble makers. He even pulls off parts of his own head to feed poor, hungry people. He doesn't need to eat or drink to sustain himself and has never been seen eating, as it is believed the bean jam in his head allows him to sustain himself in this manner.
He seldom eats anything but he makes sure that everyone else around him get enough to eat. Instead of eating, he drowns the energy from the anko in his head.
When Anpanman comes across a starving creature or person, he lets them eat a part of his head, making him weaker and causes him to replace his head to regain his strength. He also has super hearing, which allows him to respond to anyone who calls his name out in distress, anywhere in the world.
Relationships
Baikinman
Baikinman is Anpanman's arch-nemesis. Anpanman fights Baikinman and defeats him for his evil deeds and/or general mischief. However, Anpanman doesn't hate Baikinman. When they first met, Anpanman tried to politely tell Baikinman that what he was doing was wrong, and he also tried to befriend him on occasion. They also work together when facing a more difficult enemy in some occasions. They seem to get along pretty well outside the main storyline. They were born on the same day.
Shokupanman
They first met when he saved Anpanman and Currypanman from Baikinman. Since then, they have been close friends, working alongside each other and Currypanman
Currypanman
Though Currypanman did make some slightly rude comments about Anpanman when they first met, they were quick to become close friends and work along each other, alongside Shokupanman.
Uncle Jam
Since Uncle Jam's his creator and raised him since infancy, Anpanman is very close to Uncle Jam. They are often seen together in episodes, and their relationship is very heavily implied to be that of a father and son, though Anpanman calls Uncle Jam by his name (although Anpanman did call him "papa" at one point, but it did not last long and didn't end up being featured in the anime).
Butterko
Batako raised Anpanman alongside Jam, so he's also very close to her, through not as close as he is with Uncle Jam. Batako is also the one who throws Anpanman's head during his battles with Baikinman and sews Anpanman's cape when his cape is damaged.
Cheese
Anpanman rescued Cheese when he was just a puppy. Since then, Cheese has been Anpanman's loyal pet dog. Early on, Cheese would sometimes accompany Anpanman on patrols.
Dokin-Chan
He punishes her alongside Baikinman when they cause trouble, but overall they have a pretty neutral relationship, since Dokin-chan doesn't want anything with Anpanman.
Melonpanna
Through they aren't officially siblings, Melonpanna is like a little sister to Anpanman, since she's young and was the youngest of the heroes before Creampanda. In the edutainment specials, he's always wiling to help her and Creampanda learn.
Rollpanna
Anpanman views Rollpanna as an ally and never wanted to fight her even she is antagonistic towards him when they met (due to being inserted with Baikin Plant before her birth) or during her evil state. Regardless, Anpanman and Rollpanna have helped each other during certain battles. Their relationship has improved in the later episodes.
Creampanda
Being somewhat of a adoptive little brother to Anpanman, Creampanda always looks up to him about strength and what truly means to be a hero. He also helps him and Melonpanna learn in the edutainment specials.
Abilities/Powers
- An-punch/An-kick: His hands and leg are shaped like earbuds for punches and kicks have super powers, being able to shatter metal to pieces and send huge robots flying into the distance. Shokupanman and Currypanman also have similar attacks, and when performed with each other creating Double or Triple Punches.
- Regeneration: Whenever Anpanman's head is damaged, he can easily replace it with a new head restoring him to full strength.
Weaknesses
If anything happens to his head it weakens him. This includes water, measles, mumps, rubella, mold (via Rot-rot), getting wet or dirty, and even pulling off parts of his own head himself to feed others. With each bit of damage made to his head, he gets weaker, eventually losing his power to fly and move. However, all of these are fixed if Anpanman gets a new head. In order to prevent his head from getting wet when underwater or in wet weather, Anpanman wears a bubble-like helmet to protect it.
When his cape gets torn, he loses the power to fly. This is the same with all capes with flying powers. His cape can be repaired by Batako, giving it back its power.
He also save his friends when their body is being wrapped with bandages by Houtaiman.
Character Songs
- Anpanman's March (feat. Dreaming)
- Anpanman Exercise (feat. Dreaming)
- なんのために飛ぶ (lit. "What's the Point of Flying?")
- Anpanman Ondo "89 (feat. Dreaming)
- Anpanman Ondo "99 (feat. Dreaming)
- The Amazing Anpanman (feat. Bonny jacks)
- Anpanman Drawing Song '89 (feat. Dreaming)
- Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Anpanman
- Runda of Courage
- We are the Heroes
Q&A Section
The following questions were focused on Anpanman and translated into English.
List of Bakery Friends Questions
Why is Anpanman always so kind? Why does he help everyone?
- When Anpanman was still a small child, he was very happy when he helped someone in need and was told “Thank you” with a smile. Anpanman learned that his heart felt warm and fuzzy, and since then he has continued to help people in need and bring smiles to everyone's faces.
Can Anpanman and his friends exchange faces?
- What do you think? After all, when Anpanman is in a pinch, his friends at the bakery help him out.
Anpanman is kind, cool, and a hero who can do anything, but is there anything he is not good at?
- Even Anpanman has something he doesn't like. That is... plays (おしばい, oshibai). Sheila invited him to perform in a play a couple of times, and it was a big deal! What can I say, he was doing a tasteful job on the play!
Anpanman is not allowed to get his face wet, but what does he do in the rain or in the ocean?
- Have you ever seen the round thing around Anpanman's face when he must either go on a rainy-day patrol or into the sea? That is a special helmet made of transparent glass. His face doesn't get wet, and you can see him properly, so he can spend his time as usual.
Does Anpanman have days off?
He does not have days off. He goes out on patrol every day. Even on rainy days, he patrols wearing a helmet to keep his face dry. Thanks to Anpanman, everyone feels safe.
How many centimeters is the full-size Anpanman?
Since the unit of size of Anpanman World seems to be different from the world we live in, we have no idea how big he really is.
What is Anpanman's body made of?
Anpanman was clothed from birth. No one has ever seen his body, so we don't know what he is made of. What do you think it is made of?
What do you do when you don't have the material for Anpanman's face?
There were several times when Anpanman ran out of materials for his face due to Baikinman's pranks and was in a pinch, but each time Uncle Jam made it with different materials. For example, “Anpanman Big Picture Book”! (but still, Anpanman is the best!)
Who made Anpanman's cape?
He has been wearing a cape since birth. By the way, if it gets torn, Batako will sew it up and fix it.
I have never seen Anpanman eat. Doesn't he eat anything?
There is anko (bean paste) in his head. Anpanman doesn't need to eat because that bean jam is his energy.
Who named Anpanman?
When Anpanman was born from Kamado in the first episode, he named himself Anpanman. In other words, Anpanman himself named himself Anpanman!
When is Anpanman's birthday?
No one knows when Anpanman's birthday is, because the Anpanman World doesn't have a calendar, but Uncle Jam and his friends seem to know. By the way, the first episode was broadcast on October 3, 1988, and the author, Takashi Yanase, was born on February 6th!
Anpanman's “bean paste” is “tsubu-an” or “koshi-an”? or strained bean paste?
It's tsubu-an. Anpanman's bean paste is said to be very delicious (according to everyone at Anpanman World). Wouldn't you like to try it?
Where does Anpanman's dirty face go when it is replaced?
When his old face changes to a new one, the old face gets thrown away.
Other Questions
What is Anpanman Day?
2016 marks a new anniversary. Since the TV animation “Sore Ike! Anpanman” was first broadcast on October 3, 1988, we have designated October 3 as ‘Anpanman Day’. We hope you will continue to enjoy Anpanman!
Where can I see the Anpanman show?
For more information about Anpanman musicals and shows, check out the “Musicals and Shows” section of the portal site. It is updated every month. Is there one near your home?
Note: This is exclusively only to Japan.
Where is the Anpanman Museum?
The Anpanman Children's Museum is located exclusively in different parts of Japan.
Trivia
- Anpanman is the character that inspired the famous mangaka ONE to create the One-Punch Man franchise.
- Saitama’s design is based on Anpanman, which explains why he doesn’t have any hair.
- Early on in the 70s, Anpanman could have his whole head eaten and he would be just fine. In the current anime, however, this state was only shown in the 2011 movie, where in this state he's completely paralyzed and unable to move.
- He has Glossophobia, a great and irrational fear of speaking in public (especially when he needs to perform on stage).
- His signature attack,the 'Anpunch", was actually an ad-lib by his voice actress Keiko Toda, that she did while testing for the role.
Portrayals
Japanese
- Umino Katsuo - Musical: Kaiketsu Anpanman (1976)
- Toshie Kusunoki - Musical: Kaiketsu Anpanman (voice; 1976)
- Eriko Hinata - Musical: Fly! Anpanman - Anpanman and Omusubiman - (1983)
- Mitsuki Jun - Musical: Fly! Anpanman - Anpanman and Omusubiman - (voice; 1983)
- Meiko Nakamura - Anpanman (Ohanasi Ehon episode), Haruyasumi Kodomo no Hiroba ― Ohanashi Ehon (1979)
- Keiko Toda - Sore Ike! Anpanman (1988-present)
English
- Ghia Burns - Sore Ike! Anpanman movies (Tubi; 2021-2024)
- Ell - Sore Ike! Anpanman movies (Netflix; 2025-present)
Gallery
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Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アンパンマン Anpanman |
From 「あんパン」 ("anpan", Japanese sweet roll filled with red bean paste and 「マン」(man) | |
| あんぱんまん Anpanman |
Used in early books and manga | ||
| Chinese (simplified) | 面包超人 Miànbāo chāorén |
From 「面包」 （Miànbāo, "bread") and「超人」(chāorén, "superman") | Used officially in mainland China |
| Chinese (traditional) | 麵包超人 Miànbāo chāorén |
From 「麵包」 （Miànbāo, "bread") and「超人」(chāorén, "superman") | Used officially in Taiwan |
| Korean | 호빵맨 Hoppangmaen |
From "호빵" ("hoppang", steamed bun filled with red bean paste commonly seen in South Korea) and "맨" (maen, "Man") |