For a lot of Gen‑X kids in the United States, Saturday mornings meant pajamas, a bowl of cereal, and hours of cartoons. For me, growing up in Chile, cartoons came in a very different package: every evening inside a children’s show called Pipiripao.
Hosted by the colorful and beloved Roberto Nicolini, Pipiripao wasn’t just TV. It was a portal into Japanese anime, giant robots, live‑action space operas, and even heartbreaking melodramas. For a whole generation of Chilean kids in the ’80s and ’90s, it was transformative.
What’s inside this episode
- Capitán Futuro — pulpy space opera, a heroic scientist, and a delightfully odd crew.
- El Festival de los Robots — four mecha series bundled together, with iconic themes sung by Chile’s Capitán Memo.
- Sankuokai — Japan’s live‑action answer to Star Wars, full of campy costumes and laser battles.
- Candy Candy — shojo melodrama that taught us about heartbreak, resilience, and love.
These weren’t just cartoons. They were the building blocks of my imagination, my sense of camp, and my queer identity.
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What shows shaped your childhood? Were you a Saturday morning cartoon kid, or did you grow up with a completely different lineup? Share your memories in the comments—I’d love to hear them.
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