News Reporting

Nagoya TV Ends Sunday Morning Anime Block After 40 Years


The block that gave us Gundam is signing off for the last time.

Earlier today, Japanese TV network Nagoya TV / Metele announced that they will end their Sunday morning anime block in September. In October, the slot will be replaced by a news show. By the time it signs off for the last time, the block will have hosted 42 anime titles.

According to Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, the block was cancelled as a result of decreased ratings due to a declining birth rate.

The slot made its debut in 1977, with Sunrise’s inaugural in-house title Muteki Chōjin Zambot 3. Two years later, the block became the home of the original Mobile Suit Gundam which, despite having low ratings at the time, has grown into a massive marketing juggernaut that spans anime, film, video games, toys, and much more.

This would cement a legacy of robot and toy-based shows on Nagoya TV, including B-Daman and Dinosaur King.

Source: Asahi Shimbun

About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

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