Perman

Perman
Cover art from the second volume of Perman. From left to right characters:Booby (Perman#2), Mitsuo (Perman#1), and Sumire (Perman#3)
パーマン (Pāman)
Genre	Comedy, Magical boy
Manga
Written by	Fujiko Fujio
Published by	Shogakukan
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Sunday
Original run	1967 – 1968
Volumes	4
Anime television series
Directed by	Shin'ichi Suzuki
Music by	Hiroshi Tsutsui
Studio	TMS Entertainment
Original network	TBS
Original run	2 April 1967 – 14 April 1968
Episodes	65
Manga
Written by	Fujiko F. Fujio
Published by	Shogakukan
Demographic	Children
Magazine	CoroCoro Comic
Original run	1983 – 1986
Volumes	3
Anime film
Perman: The Birdman Has Arrived!!
Directed by	Shin'ichi Suzuki
Music by	Akihiko Takashima
Studio	Shin-Ei Animation
Released	12 March 1983
Runtime	25 minutes
Anime television series
Music by	Akihiko Takashima
Studio	Shin-Ei Animation TMS Entertainment
Original network	TV Asahi
English network	Sonic-Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon (India) TV2, TV9 (Malaysia) Disney Channel (Southeast Asia)
Original run	4 April 1983 – 2 July 1985
Episodes	526 + 3 specials
Anime film
Ninja Hattori-kun + Perman: ESP Wars
Directed by	Masuji Harada
Studio	Shin-Ei Animation
Released	17 March 1984
Anime film
Ninja Hattori-kun + Perman: Ninja Beast Jippō vs. Miracle Egg
Directed by	Masuji Harada
Studio	Shin-Ei Animation
Released	16 March 1985
Game
Perman: Enban o Torikaese!!
Developer	Tamtex
Publisher	Irem
Genre	Action, platform
Platform	Famicom
Released	December 14, 1990
Game
Perman Part 2: Himitsu Kessha Madoodan o Taose!
Developer	Irem
Publisher	Irem
Genre	Action
Platform	Famicom
Released	December 20, 1991
Anime film
Pa-Pa-Pa the Movie: Perman
Directed by	Ayumu Watanabe
Music by	Kei Wakakusa
Studio	Shin-Ei Animation
Released	8 March 2003
Anime film
Pa-Pa-Pa the Movie: Perman: Tako de Pon! Ashi wa Pon!
Directed by	Ayumu Watanabe
Music by	Kei Wakakusa
Studio	Shin-Ei Animation
Released	6 March 2004

Perman (パーマン, Pāman^?), by Fujiko Fujio, is a Japanese manga and anime about a clumsy boy, Mitsuo Suwa, who is chosen to apprentice to a powerful superhero. Although created as a parody of Superman (the name "Perman" is based on "Superman" without the "Su"), the character's creators appear to have distanced themselves from this origin story. In the comic-essay "Passionate Days of Perman" (PARマンの情熱的な日々), Fujiko F. Fujio claims the name is actually a reference to the "par" concept in golf. In addition, due to copyright concerns, the name of Mitsuo's boss was later changed from "Superman" to "Birdman". It is also a comic series in Ninja Hattori; Kenichi really enjoys reading them.

The first series was serialized in Shōnen Sunday and other magazines from 1967 to 1968, and the second was serialized in CoroCoro Comic from 1983 to 1986. The first anime series was first produced in black and white in 1967. It was remade in color in 1983 and films were released in 1983, 1984, 1985, 2003 and 2004 along with Doraemon films.

"Superman" (not to be confused with the American superhero Superman), later "Birdman", gives a clumsy human boy, Mitsuo Suwa, three items to help him as Perman, Superman/Birdman's apprentice:

In addition, he gives him a copy-robot which transforms into an identical clone to help him keep his secret identity during missions. However, if his secret identity becomes known to others, his brain will be destroyed for betraying the secret of Perman. This penalty is reduced to being turned into an animal in later chapters of the manga and in the anime.

Mitsuo begins by rescuing people who are victims of crimes or disasters, so as Perman he is admired. He is, however, often troubled by his dual life as a both brilliant superhero and as an unrewarded ordinary boy. He wishes to abandon his role as Perman, but he continues to be Perman out of a desire to help people caught in disasters.