The Best TV Shows on Tokyo Channel 12

Every Tokyo Channel 12 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Our curated list, current as of July 2025, showcases over 20 of Tokyo Channel 12’s highest-rated series. For top-tier entertainment, Tokyo Channel 12 delivered Ninja Captor and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother in 1976 and 1976. Boasting a rich catalog, Tokyo Channel 12 features more than 20 shows, with broadcasting dates ranging from 1976 to 1981.

  • Future Robot Daltanious
    Future Robot Daltanious (1979)8.4

    Future Robot Daltanious was an anime series that aired from 1979 to 1980. The show is one of the mecha shows which was and still remains very popular among Asian countries and Italy.

  • 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
    3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1976)7.7

    Italy is in a deep depression, so to support her family, Marco's mother goes to Argentina to work as a domestic. But after she writes to her family that she is sick, her letters stop coming. So Marco decides to go to Argentina to look for her. He travels across Argentina to find her, meeting many wonderful people, and having many adventures during his journey.

  • Dinosaur War Izenborg
    Dinosaur War Izenborg (1977)7.6

    Dinosaur War Izenborg was a Japanese television program produced by Tsuburaya Productions that aired from 1977 to 1978 on Tokyo 12 Channel. It combined Tsuburaya's trademark suitmation tokusatsu techniques with Japanese Animation, so this program can be categorized anime or Daikaiju tokusatsu. The show runs for about 39 episodes.

  • Kaiketsu Zubat
    Kaiketsu Zubat (1977)7.5

    Kaiketsu Zubat, translated as Extraordinary Zubat or Magnificent Zubat, was a tokusatsu superhero series that aired in 1977. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, this 32-episode series, harkens back to tokusatsu superhero shows of the 1950s, but with a late-1970s twist.

  • Japanese Spiderman
    Japanese Spiderman (1978)7.3

    Follow the exploits of motorcycle racer turned super hero Takuya Yamashiro, as he slings and swings, battling the evil Iron Cross Army along the way.

  • Dinosaur Corps Koseidon
    Dinosaur Corps Koseidon (1978)7.0

    The series follows the adventures of Go, a superhero leading a patrol who travel in time to defeat the Godmess Empire, an alien armada who, after landing on Earth 70 million years ago, has altered the course of time. Go's enemies include dinosaurs which are telepathically controlled by the aliens. He has the ability to stop time for 30 seconds.

  • Gordian Warrior
    Gordian Warrior (1979)7.0

    The Earth had become a wasteland of deserts as the survivors work to rebuild communities. Daigo Otaki is a young orphan raised by his uncle. Becoming an adult, Daigo discovers that Victor City was in fact planned by his father who was a genius scientist. Daigo's sister Saori had been managing it. She pleaded with Daigo to take on the inheritance that Daigo's father left him, a super robot system known as Gordian. Daigo would join the Mechacon mechanic combat 18th regiment unit, an organization of law enforcers that defend Victor City against attacks from the Madokuta organization.

  • Josephina the Whale
    Josephina the Whale (1979)7.0

  • Hello! Spank
    Hello! Spank (1981)6.4

    Morimura Aiko is a junior high school student who is short for her age. Her father went on a yacht ten years ago and his whereabouts remained in obscurity. Her mother, a designer for hats, left for Paris, leaving Aiko in the care of her uncle, Mr Fujinami. Aiko had a pet dog, Papi, but it died in a car accident. Around the same time, another dog, Spank, appears before her. Having gone through so many unfortunate events in her life, Spank's presence begins to brighten up Aiko's life and put a smile on her face.

  • Bark! Bun Bun
    Bark! Bun Bun (1980)6.2

    Bunbun, an abandoned puppy meets the old Big, also a stray dog. Bunbun will learn to survive in an hostile and strange world.

  • Gold Lightan - Golden Warrior
    Gold Lightan - Golden Warrior (1981)6.0

    Hiro finds what appears to be a broken lighter. However, it is actually Gold Lightan, who has fallen to Earth from the Robot Dimension. He stays in compact size until called upon to act as a valiant warrior to save Earth from alien invasion.

  • Space Runaway Ideon
    Space Runaway Ideon (1980)5.3

    From the continuing reclamation of the ruins of the planet Solo, mysterious mechas are excavated. But suddenly, an alien called Baff Kuun attacks seeking the limitless energy “Ide.” The earthlings are backed into a corner, when the three mechas piloted by the earth boy Yuki Cosmo and others fuse together. Becoming the giant robot Ideon, they use their incredible power to fight back against Baff Kuun.

  • Ninja Captor
    Ninja Captor (1976)5.0

    Ninja Captor is a Japanese tokusatsu TV series aired from April 7, 1976 to January 26, 1977 on TV Tokyo 12 Channel, produced by Toei Company, Ltd. This Sentai-esque series aired during the run of Shotaro Ishinomori's original Super Sentai series, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and was notably first superhero team show produced by Toei under the Saburo Yatsude/Hatte pseudonym. Daisuke Izumo graduates from the Wind-Demon Stealth-Army, a secret army aiming for the conquest of Japan. He instead escapes, and becomes the leader of the "Captor," a ninja team supervised by Mujin Tendou. The Captor team's mission is to battle the ninja sent out by the Wind-Demon General, Retsufuu Fuuma. This show used to be considered by some to be a part of the Super Sentai franchise* , but was later excluded. In 2013, it got a Shout-Out in the fourth episode of Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger: Season 2.

  • Manga Mito Kômon
    Manga Mito Kômon (1981)5.0

  • Manga Sarutobi Sasuke
    Manga Sarutobi Sasuke (1979)4.0

    Manga Sarutobi Sasuke is a 24-episode anime series about the young Sarutobi Sasuke, a legendary ninja. It was first aired from October 9, 1979, to April 29, 1980 on Tokyo 12 Channel, and was later dubbed in several languages. The whole 24-episode run was aired in many European and Arabic countries. It is best known to the American fans as Ninja, The Wonder Boy: a highly edited, highly condensed feature-length version of this series. This version, dubbed in English, was produced by Jim Terry Productions of Force Five fame. The names of several characters were changed, with Sarutobi Sasuke becoming "Duke Hayakawa", his female companion Sakura being changed to "Blossom", and the villain Devilman became "Dragon."

  • Little Women
    Little Women (1981)2.0

    In the United States, the Civil War has just broken and Mr March, a physician and father of four daughters, went to the front. Madam March remains alone with her four daughters: the eldest Margaret (Meg), Josephine (Jo) budding writer, a real boy failed, Elisabeth (Beth), the timid passionate piano, and the latest addition, Amy, who loves to draw. The four girls will quickly get to know their neighbor Mr. Lawrence, which they had a little scared at first, but also to his grandson Laurie who at the age of Jo. Together, they go through many hardships, more or less happy, the furies of Aunt March, jealousies, the joys and the war in fabric background, hoping that their father will come back safe and sound...

  • Mechander Robot
    Mechander Robot (1977)N/A

    Mechander Robot was an anime series aired in 1977 in Japan. There were 35 episodes aired at 25 minutes each. It is also known as "Gasshin Sentai Mechander Robo", "Mekander", "Mechander", "Gasshin Sentai Mechander Robo", "Combiner Battle Team Mekander Robot", "Combining Squadron Mechander Robo", "Mekander Robot" and "Mekanda".

  • Isabelle of Paris
    Isabelle of Paris (1979)N/A

    Set during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, Isabelle Laustin is a 15 year-old girl, born in a noble French family living in Paris. When Napoleon III' army loses the Paris siege she escapes to London, fighting as a secret agent for France.

  • Monchhichi Twins
    Monchhichi Twins (1980)N/A

  • Space Emperor God Sigma
    Space Emperor God Sigma (1981)N/A

    Space Emperor God Sigma is an anime series aired from 1980 to 1981. There were 50 episodes. It is also referred to as "God Sigma Empire of Space" and "Space Combination God Sigma".