ANPANMAN isn't like other superheroes. Neither Superman nor Batman, last time we checked, are half-human, half-bread crime fighters who live in a bakery and spend their days finding lost pets. First appearing in a 1973 children's book, the magical character has been an anime favourite since 1979, and even got a shout-out from K-pop titans BTS on their 2018 album Love Yourself: Tear. Part of the appeal is the show's unrelentingly upbeat songs, which charm youngsters with their sparkling sound, bouncy melodies and positive messages.