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Fair, then Partly Piggy facts for kids

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Fair, then Partly Piggy
Hare Tokidoki Buta cover art.jpg
Cover of the first picture book
Quick facts for kids
はれときどきぶた
(Hare Tokidoki Buta)
Genre Comedy
Novel series
Written by Shiro Yadama
Published by Iwasaki Shoten
Demographic Children
Original run September 5, 1980July 11, 2013
Volumes 10 (List of volumes)
Anime film
Directed by Toshio Hirata
Produced by Keiichi Koyama
Koichi Murata
Yutaka Sugiyama
Written by Hiroo Takeuchi
Hideo Takayashiki
Music by Etsuji Yamada
Studio Oh! Production
Licensed by
Discotek Media
Released August 23, 1988
Runtime 30 minutes
Anime television series
Directed by Shinichi Watanabe
Produced by Keisuke Iwata
Written by Yoshio Urasawa
Music by Toshio Masuda
TV Tokyo Music
Studio Group TAC
SPE Visual Works
Licensed by
Miramax Television
Buena Vista Sound Services
Network TV Tokyo (1997–1998)
Tokyo MX (2011)
English network
ABC Family (2002–2003)
Original run July 3, 1997September 29, 1998
Episodes 61 (List of episodes)

Fair, then Partly Piggy (はれときどきぶた, Hare Tokidoki Buta) is a fun picture book series written by Shiro Yadama. Some of these books were even translated into English!

The story is about a boy named Noriyasu Hatakeyama. He discovers something amazing: when he writes in his journal about what will happen tomorrow, it actually comes true! Imagine writing about a flying pig, and then one appears!

This popular series was made into a 30-minute animated film by Oh! Production in 1988. Later, an animated TV show was created by Group TAC. It aired in Japan from 1997 to 1998. When the TV show came to the United States, it got a new name: Tokyo Pig. It was also translated into Chinese and Tagalog, where it was called Sunny Pig.

Main Characters

Here are the main characters you'll meet in Fair, then Partly Piggy:

  • Noriyasu Hatakeyama (畠山 則安, Hatakeyama Noriyasu) / Spencer Weinberg-Takahama
    • Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa (Film), Omi Minami (TV series) (Japanese); Joshua Seth (English)

* Noriyasu is the main character. He's the boy who writes in his journal and makes things come true.

  • Harebuta (はれぶた, Harebuta) / Sunny Pig
    • Voiced by: Mika Kanai (TV series)

* This is the magical pig that appears from Noriyasu's drawings. Sunny Pig is Noriyasu's loyal and often silly companion.

  • Mama (ママ, Mama) / Mom
    • Voiced by: Rihoko Yoshida (Film), Naoko Matsui (TV series) (Japanese); Dorothy Elias-Fahn (English)

* Noriyasu's mom, who sometimes has to deal with the crazy things that happen because of his journal.

  • Papa (パパ, Papa) / Dad
    • Voiced by: Tesshō Genda (Film), Kiyoyuki Yanada (TV series) (Japanese); Wally Wingert (English)

* Noriyasu's dad, who also gets caught up in the adventures.

  • Tama-chan (玉ちゃん, Tama-chan) / Dizzy Lizzy
    • Voiced by: Rei Sakuma (Film), Kurumi Mamiya (TV series) (Japanese); Colleen O'Shaughnessey (English)

* A friend of Noriyasu.

  • Announcer Yadama (矢玉アナ, Yadama-ana) / The Weather Lady
    • Voiced by: Misa Watanabe (TV series) (Japanese); Diane Michelle (English)

* She reports the weather, which can get very strange thanks to Noriyasu's journal.

Other Characters

You'll also meet these fun characters:

  • Nabeshin (ナベシン, Nabeshin) / Angus
    • Voiced by: Hiro Yuki (Japanese); Jason Spisak (English)
  • Onigiriyama (おにぎり山, Onigiriyama) / Eggman
    • Voiced by: Wasabi Mizuta (Japanese); Mona Marshall (English)
  • Kimiyo Hiraga (平賀 きみよ, Hiraga Kimiyo) / Tiffany Van Hootenberg
    • Voiced by: Sumie Baba (Japanese); Brianne Siddall (English)
  • Koganei Musashi (武蔵小金井, Musashi Koganei) / Wigstaff
    • Voiced by: Yoku Shioya (Japanese); Jason Spisak (English)
  • Masako Sodefuri (袖振 マサコ, Sodefuri Masako) / Sweater Girl
    • Voiced by: Naoko Matsui (Japanese); Brianne Siddall (English)
  • Ms. Kazuko (和子先生, Kazuko-sensei) / Ms. Spelt
    • Voiced by: Yumi Takada (Film), Kotono Mitsuishi (TV series) (Japanese); Wendee Lee (English)
  • The Principal (校長先生, Kōchō-sensei)
    • Voiced by: Naoki Tatsuta (Japanese); Neil Kaplan (English)
  • Black Yadama (黒矢玉, Kuro Yadama) / Shadow Lady
  • Yuroba Hirohi (広飛優老婆, Hirohi Yūrōba) / Mrs. Tingly a.k.a. Lady Fujian
  • Kurobuta (クロブタ, Kurobuta) / Dark Sunny
    • Voiced by: Nobutoshi Canna
  • Yamada-san (山田さん, Yamada-san) / Wenworth
  • Snow Queen

Music from the TV Show

The Fair, then Partly Piggy TV series had some cool theme songs!

Opening Songs

  • "Tsuyoki na Futari" by Yumi Yoshimura (Episodes 1-17)
  • "Karette Tokidoki Buta" by TSUNAMi (Episodes 18-36)
  • "BOO~Onaka ga Karaku Hodo Warattemitai~" by The Gospellers (Episodes 37-61)

Ending Songs

  • "I'm Home" (Tadaima) by Ami Onuki (Episodes 1-17)
  • "Airplane Cloud" (Hikouki Kumo) by Flower Companies (Episodes 18-36)
  • "Ah Buta da! 〜Tsuitachi yu kai ni ikiru uta〜" by Delicious Pigs (Episodes 37-61)

English Crew

  • Steve Kramer was the voice director for the English version.

Picture Books

The Fair, then Partly Piggy series started as a collection of picture books. Here are the 10 books in the series:

No. Title Japanese release English release
1 Fair then Partly Piggy
Hare Tokidoki Buta (はれときどきぶた)
September 5, 1980
ISBN: 4-26-591613-9
1986
2 Tomorrow is Pig Day and Pig Time
Ashita Buta no Hi Buta Jikan (あしたぶたの日ぶたじかん)
July 29, 1985
ISBN: 4-26-591628-7
-
3 Sometime's I'm a Pig
Boku Tokidoki Buta (ぼくときどきぶた)
September 26, 1987
ISBN: 4-26-591636-8
-
4 My Digestable Manga
Boku Hesomade Manga (ぼくへそまでまんが)
September 28, 1990
ISBN: 4-26-591653-8
-
5 Yumenbo from Dreams
Yume Kara Yumenbo (ゆめからゆめんぼ)
September 30, 1993
ISBN: 4-26-591656-2
-
6 Moving and Moving
Hikkosu de Hikkosu (ヒッコスでひっこす)
January 17, 1996
ISBN: 4-26-504126-4
-
7 Fair then Partly Squid
Hare Tokidoki Tako (はれときどきたこ)
September 30, 2002
ISBN: 4-26-502840-3
-
8 Fair then Partly Ahaha
Hare Tokidoki Ahaha (はれときどきアハハ)
August 31, 2007
ISBN: 4-26-582009-3
-
9 Fair then Partly Amanojaku
Hare Tokidoki Amanojaku (はれときどきあまのじゃく)
September 15, 2010
ISBN: 4-26-582030-1
-
10 Fair Piglet Chance
Hare Tamatama Kobuta (はれたまたまこぶた)
July 11, 2013
ISBN: 4-26-582040-9
-

Episode List

The Fair, then Partly Piggy TV series had 61 episodes! Here are some of them:

J# U# Title Original airdate (Japan) Original airdate (US)
1 1 "Pi-Pi-Pig Panic!" / "When Pigs Fly"
Transliteration: "Bū-Bū-Buta Panic!" (Japanese: ブーブーぶたパニック!)
July 3, 1997 (1997-07-03) September 14, 2002
Noriyasu's world changes when he draws a sky full of pigs. Suddenly, Harebuta appears! Noriyasu learns he can make anything he imagines come to life. Now, he and Harebuta must try to keep his drawings from causing too much trouble.
2 2 "Koganei Musashi-kun is Bad" / "Invasion of the Pig Clones"
Transliteration: "Musashi Koganei-kun wa Mazui" (Japanese: 武蔵小金井くんはまずい)
July 10, 1997 (1997-07-10) September 21, 2002
Noriyasu forgets his gym bag. His mom sends Harebuta to school to deliver it. A smart kid, Koganei Musashi, kidnaps Harebuta. He wants to copy Harebuta's brain to make his own pig. He hopes to win the "Weirdest Kid in School" title.
3 12 "Papa is a Cook From Hell!" / "Dad is the Worst Cook Ever"
Transliteration: "Papa wa Jigoku no Kokku-san!" (Japanese: パパは地獄のコックさん!)
July 17, 1997 (1997-07-17) November 30, 2002
Noriyasu's mom wins a vacation. She leaves the kids with their dad. Noriyasu doesn't want to eat his dad's terrible cooking. With Harebuta's help, Noriyasu tries to make his mom come home early.
4 10 "Summer! Pool! Principal!" / "Pigtoven vs. Principal"
Transliteration: "Natsu da! Pūru da! Kōchō da!" (Japanese: 夏だ!プールだ!校長だ!)
July 24, 1997 (1997-07-24) November 23, 2002
Noriyasu and Harebuta get into some pool-time trouble with the school principal.
7 6 "Hectic Hometown" / "Tickled Pigs Feet"
Transliteration: "Tenyawanya no Satogaeri" (Japanese: てんやわんやの里帰り)
August 14, 1997 (1997-08-14) October 19, 2002
Noriyasu's family visits his grandparents. A old picture causes a fight between his mom and her parents. Noriyasu tries to stop the fight. He wishes for tickling aliens to come and tickle his family.
14 5 "Explosive Fight! Tears of the Sports Festival" / "Luck of the Draw"
Transliteration: "Faito Ippatsu! Namida no Undōkai" (Japanese: ファイト一発!涙の運動会)
October 9, 1997 (1997-10-09) October 12, 2002
Noriyasu has to do a three-legged race with Masako Sodefuri. He wants to be popular. He finds out she wants to win for a red dress. He agrees to help her.
15 23 "Pigs and Pigs and Pigs are Everywhere!" / "Pooped Out Pig"
Transliteration: "Furimukeba Buta Buta Buta!" (Japanese: ふりむけばブタぶたブタ!)
October 16, 1997 (1997-10-16) February 8, 2003
Harebuta goes missing! Noriyasu tries to find him. He draws "missing" posters. But the drawings come to life! Many copies of Harebuta appear, making the search much harder.
27 - "A Dream of a Snowman that can Never Melt"
Transliteration: "Yukidaruma no Tokenai Yume" (Japanese: 雪だるまのとけない夢)
January 15, 1998 (1998-01-15) -
Noriyasu draws a magical world where it's always winter. The next day, a huge winter storm hits! He tries to erase the drawing, but it doesn't work. The town freezes. Noriyasu and Harebuta must find a way to stop the endless winter.
32 13 "Snow Lady - The Fire of Love Burns" / "A Trip to the Slopes"
Transliteration: "Yuki Onna - Koi no Honō de Achichi no Chi" (Japanese: 雪女・恋の炎でアチチのチ)
February 19, 1998 (1998-02-19) December 7, 2002
Noriyasu's family goes to a ski mountain. But there's no snow! The Snow Queen of the Mountain left for Hawaii to find love. Noriyasu and Harebuta go to Hawaii to convince her to come back.
45 4 "Oh My Where Did the School Go?" / "The Incredible Shrinking School"
Transliteration: "Ō Mai Gakkō Dokoyatta?" (Japanese: オーマイ学校どこ行った?)
June 9, 1998 (1998-06-09) October 5, 2002
Noriyasu worries his family will embarrass him at Parent-Teacher Night. He thinks of a snail that can shrink the school to cancel the event. Harebuta draws the snail, and the school shrinks! Now Noriyasu must find a way to make the school big again.
48 15 "I Love School Lunches" / "Samurai Lunch Lady"
Transliteration: "Watashi wa Kyūshoku ga Suki Desu" (Japanese: わたしは給食が好きです)
June 30, 1998 (1998-06-30) December 14, 2002
The Samurai Lunch Lady protects kids from bad lunches. But a new "Homemade Woman" arrives with competition. Harebuta has to help the Samurai Lunch Lady.
51 28 "Sammer Looks at the Summer Disappear" / "Bummer Vacation"
Transliteration: "Kiero Samā de Zamā Miro" (Japanese: 消えろサマーでザマー見ろ)
July 21, 1998 (1998-07-21) March 22, 2003
Summer vacation is almost here, and Noriyasu is excited! But the Principal has a plan to get rid of summer vacation forever. Can Noriyasu and Harebuta stop the Principal in time?
53 24 "The Story of the Decent Dinosaur's Stomach" / "The Lovesick Castaway"
Transliteration: "Kyōryū no Onaka no Naka no Ee Hanashi" (Japanese: 恐竜のおなかの中のええ話)
August 4, 1998 (1998-08-04) February 15, 2003
Noriyasu is at the beach. He ends up on a deserted island. There, he meets an old sea captain. The captain lost his brother and his true love to a sea monster.
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