Does anyone else remember Superbook, the terrible Christian anime from the 1980s? It's even stupider, and therefore funnier, than I remembered.

I was reminded of it and told my daughter about it. For those not in the know, it was an incredibly bizarre show even by both Christian show and anime. It was about two kids and a robot plus a book/time machine who went to visit various Old Testament stories and participate in them.

They’re all on YouTube.

She immediately went to watch and reported back that the first episode was hilariously awful and she would be watching more because of it.

She is correct. It is Mystery Science Theater 3000-level hilariously bad. I remember being bored to tears by it when I was a kid.

Here’s a full playlist for anyone who wishes to feel the pain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxPfWVVtIRY&list=PLV4Ztn9euy7Twsn19KFiQVUHyNpJtiDL1

Some fun facts:

• It was a co-production between Tatsunoko Production Co., which had a lot of Anime experience, and the Christian Broadcasting network.

• The main character in the American version is named Chris Peeper and his father is Professor Peeper. They were not called that in the Japanese version. That was someone in America’s intentional choice.

• The lady who dubbed the main character's voice in English was also the voice of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Jimmy in Gigantor. Her final role was Eustace's mother on Courage the Cowardly Dog.

• There was another series made by the same companies at the same time called The Flying House where kids in a time-traveling and flying house went and visited Jesus and pals.

• They were both broadcast in Japan on TV Tokyo.

• The title of the first season of Superbook in Japan is translated as "Animated Parent and Child Theatre."

• The Japanese version changed it’s name in the second season. The new name is translated as "Personal Computer Travel Detective Team."

• 1.5% of Japan’s population is Christian, which may explain the two previous fun facts.

Edit: Pictured: Dog.