"Those were the days my friend" exactly like (Mary Hopkin) sings and means. I watched it in the mid-1980s. Everyday, except Fridays, on the newly born third channel of our national Egyptian TV. Back then, that channel's transmission was locally for the city of Cairo only. After the transmission's beginning at 5:00 PM, I used to count the minutes patiently till 5:10. So while the calmness of our neighborhood, and just before the sunset, there was the daily meeting. I was always furious because it was on for only 24 minutes, and that in a time which didn't have any commercials to interrupt any show on air. I told you earlier.. Those were the days my friend!
That Arabic dubbed version was perfect. Nobody can forget the magical opening and closing credits, or the Arabic performer who sang them in a way that beyond-your-imagination beautiful, (sorrowfully, they didn't write her name ever!), and surely (Takeo Watanabe)'s melodies; OH that was genius. (Sandy Bell) is one of the works that has a special presence in my memory. For the 1980s, the nostalgia to my childhood, the appeal of cartoon that I've never watched anything like it afterwards, the adorable time that we've had,.. etc. Along with shows at the time like (Magnum, P.I.), (MacGyver), (Falcon Crest), I think (Hello! Sandy Bell) came to make it whole to watch, dream, be entertained, and be learned.
The aspect of this series was as its purport: purely wonderful and innocent. It speaks fluently to the goodness inside every one of us, so how about watching it as a kid. Its masterly adventures, with the tender sentimental sense, captured me utterly. Not to mention that magnificent direction. There were some original moments, especially action and romantic ones, that became a part of my taste as a real measure to define the very good from the good. It was too charming all together. The American cartoons can't compete with this, not for a second. I need a huge site to read more about some great Japanese cartoon series, because I didn't have any idea that I was watching classics while I was just 10 years old or less!
As you see, I nearly ran out of all the lovely adjectives that I know, as I can't find anything wrong about it. Maybe because its powerful passionate effect, maybe because it came from an age where I was watching less conscious, less cultured, or maybe because that's the sort of art to form the gustation rightly. Anyhow, I'm lucky to watch that series, at that age.
(Sandy Bell) was spreading the message of love. To love the world and all the people. Though when I grew up, I discovered that it's very hard thing to do.
