Anime Aired on KTEH (PBS in San Jose/Silicon Valley, CA), 1996–2003
Anime
Between 1996 and 2003, KTEH, the PBS affiliate for San Jose, California (i.e., the Silicon Valley), aired some anime on Sunday nights (and Thursday nights until 1999) as part of a sci-fi block that they usually paired with British/BBC-licensed sci-fi that many PBS stations across the country normally aired (e.g., Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, The Prisoner). As far as I'm aware, they were the only PBS station to air anime. And yes, this means that those who lived in the Silicon Valley got to watch Serial Experiments Lain and Sesame Street on the same channel.
Except for Robotech, which had aired in syndication since the mid-1980s, I believe all of these shows made their American TV premieres on KTEH. Some would go on to eventually air on national channels: Neon Genesis Evangelion and Tenchi Muyo! on Cartoon Network / Toonami / Adult Swim, and Lain on TechTV / G4 off the top of my head. But many others, afaik, only aired on stateside TV on this channel. These shows were often pretty costly to license from Japan, and by the time Toonami rose in the early 2000s, KTEH struggled to maintain their edge. Alas, anime on the station was no more after 2003. But this remains an utterly fascinating relic of the earlier days of anime fandom in the States.
Shows are listed in the order that they premiered on KTEH. Reddit user moncayk1 compiled a list of every known anime broadcast on KTEH, via newspaper, message board, and channel schedule archives. Credit goes to them for being the basis of this stack, and the full list can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1epXzGk_irPn8wRwy0mMn5MQUbSErGxFbEkJ08V61vOU/edit?usp=sharing
Except for Robotech, which had aired in syndication since the mid-1980s, I believe all of these shows made their American TV premieres on KTEH. Some would go on to eventually air on national channels: Neon Genesis Evangelion and Tenchi Muyo! on Cartoon Network / Toonami / Adult Swim, and Lain on TechTV / G4 off the top of my head. But many others, afaik, only aired on stateside TV on this channel. These shows were often pretty costly to license from Japan, and by the time Toonami rose in the early 2000s, KTEH struggled to maintain their edge. Alas, anime on the station was no more after 2003. But this remains an utterly fascinating relic of the earlier days of anime fandom in the States.
Shows are listed in the order that they premiered on KTEH. Reddit user moncayk1 compiled a list of every known anime broadcast on KTEH, via newspaper, message board, and channel schedule archives. Credit goes to them for being the basis of this stack, and the full list can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1epXzGk_irPn8wRwy0mMn5MQUbSErGxFbEkJ08V61vOU/edit?usp=sharing
Choujikuu Kidan Southern Cross
Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross
TV, 1984,
23 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Aired as Robotech: The Master's Saga, dubbed.
First airing was on Thursday nights, with a Sunday night encore, from January 7th to March 31st, 1996.
Second airing was on Thursday nights, with a Sunday night encore, from May 23rd to November 16th, 1997.
First airing was on Thursday nights, with a Sunday night encore, from January 7th to March 31st, 1996.
Second airing was on Thursday nights, with a Sunday night encore, from May 23rd to November 16th, 1997.
Macross
Super Dimension Fortress Macross
TV, 1982,
36 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Aired as Robotech: The Macross Saga, dubbed.
First airing was on Thursday nights, with a Sunday night encore, from April 5th to September 22nd, 1996.
Second airing was on Thursday nights, with a Sunday night encore, from December 20th, 1996 to July 27th, 1997.
Third airing was on Sunday nights only from November 21st, 1997, to April 3rd, 1998.
Codename: Robotech — essentially an extended version of the Robotech: The Macross Saga episode "Gloval's Report", which was itself an adaptation of the Macross episode "Global Report" — aired twice on the channel, first on November 26th, 2000, in place of a pair of Bubblegum Crisis episodes (see further down).
The second airing of Codename: Robotech was on August 26th, 2001.
First airing was on Thursday nights, with a Sunday night encore, from April 5th to September 22nd, 1996.
Second airing was on Thursday nights, with a Sunday night encore, from December 20th, 1996 to July 27th, 1997.
Third airing was on Sunday nights only from November 21st, 1997, to April 3rd, 1998.
Codename: Robotech — essentially an extended version of the Robotech: The Macross Saga episode "Gloval's Report", which was itself an adaptation of the Macross episode "Global Report" — aired twice on the channel, first on November 26th, 2000, in place of a pair of Bubblegum Crisis episodes (see further down).
The second airing of Codename: Robotech was on August 26th, 2001.
Kikou Souseiki Mospeada
Genesis Climber Mospeada
TV, 1983,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Aired as Robotech: The New Generation, dubbed.
First airing was on Thursday nights, with a Sunday night encore, from September 6th, 1996 to January 26th, 1997. The Sunday night encores were delayed by three weeks as those for The Macross Saga had not finished.
Second airing was on Thursday nights only from August 29th to November 21st, 1997.
Third airing was on Sunday nights from December 14th, 1997 to July 14th, 1998, and on Thursday nights from April 3rd to July 10th, 1998.
First airing was on Thursday nights, with a Sunday night encore, from September 6th, 1996 to January 26th, 1997. The Sunday night encores were delayed by three weeks as those for The Macross Saga had not finished.
Second airing was on Thursday nights only from August 29th to November 21st, 1997.
Third airing was on Sunday nights from December 14th, 1997 to July 14th, 1998, and on Thursday nights from April 3rd to July 10th, 1998.
Tenchi Muyou!
Tenchi Muyo! Tenchi Universe
TV, 1995,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Aired dubbed.
First airing was on Sunday nights from September 28th, 1997 to April 19th, 1998.
Second airing was on Sunday nights from May 3rd to October 25th, 1998.
First airing was on Sunday nights from September 28th, 1997 to April 19th, 1998.
Second airing was on Sunday nights from May 3rd to October 25th, 1998.
TV, 1981,
195 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Aired subbed. First 34 episodes and one special (see below) only.
The first four episodes aired consecutively on March 8th, 1998, but no more episodes were aired until September.
First full airing was on Sunday nights, with a Thursday night encore, from September 6th, 1998 to June 11th, 1999.
Second full airing was on Sunday nights from October 10th, 1999 to July 30th, 2000.
The first four episodes aired consecutively on March 8th, 1998, but no more episodes were aired until September.
First full airing was on Sunday nights, with a Thursday night encore, from September 6th, 1998 to June 11th, 1999.
Second full airing was on Sunday nights from October 10th, 1999 to July 30th, 2000.
Special, 1982,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
Aired between episodes 21 and 22 of the main series both times.
First half, "All-Star All-Out Attack", aired February 14th, 1999 and April 23rd, 2000.
Second half, "The School Excursion! Run, Kunoichi!", aired February 21st, 1999 and April 30th, 2000.
First half, "All-Star All-Out Attack", aired February 14th, 1999 and April 23rd, 2000.
Second half, "The School Excursion! Run, Kunoichi!", aired February 21st, 1999 and April 30th, 2000.
Kimagure Orange☆Road
Kimagure Orange Road
TV, 1987,
48 eps
Me:-
Author:-
The first episode, "Transfer Student! Humble First Love!", was aired as a one-off on November 12th, 1998. Chosen as part of a viewer's poll to determine which of 4 shows/movies (in general, not anime) the channel should purchase to air.
OVA, 1994,
15 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Aired dubbed.
First airing was Sunday nights from November 15th, 1998 to March 14th, 1999.
Second airing was Sunday nights from March 28th, 1999 to August 6th, 1999. A Thursday night encore was added from May 7th to August 6th.
First airing was Sunday nights from November 15th, 1998 to March 14th, 1999.
Second airing was Sunday nights from March 28th, 1999 to August 6th, 1999. A Thursday night encore was added from May 7th to August 6th.
OVA, 1987,
8 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Only the first three episodes of this show were aired due to broadcasting issues with AnimEigo. And said episodes were very erratically scheduled.
Episode 1, "Tinsel City", was first aired Thursday, March 4th, 1999.
Episodes 2 and 3, "Born to Kill" and "Blow Up", first aired Sunday, August 6th, 1999, with an encore on Thursday the 12th.
"Tinsel City" aired again on Sunday, September 12th, 1999, with an encore on Thursday the 16th. After this airing, anime in general on the channel took a brief hiatus, returning in October (with Urusei Yatsura) limited only to Sunday nights.
Per an archived Usenet thread, Episodes 4 and 5, "Revenge Road" and "Moonlight Rambler", had been scheduled to make their premiere on the channel on November 26th, 2000. But Animeigo pulled out last minute, and it was replaced with Codename: Robotech.
Afterwards, its first two episodes were aired again on December 17th, 2000, and "Blow Up" was aired on December 31st.
The final broadcast of this show on KTEH came on July 29th, 2001, with episodes 2 and 3 (but not 1).
Episode 1, "Tinsel City", was first aired Thursday, March 4th, 1999.
Episodes 2 and 3, "Born to Kill" and "Blow Up", first aired Sunday, August 6th, 1999, with an encore on Thursday the 12th.
"Tinsel City" aired again on Sunday, September 12th, 1999, with an encore on Thursday the 16th. After this airing, anime in general on the channel took a brief hiatus, returning in October (with Urusei Yatsura) limited only to Sunday nights.
Per an archived Usenet thread, Episodes 4 and 5, "Revenge Road" and "Moonlight Rambler", had been scheduled to make their premiere on the channel on November 26th, 2000. But Animeigo pulled out last minute, and it was replaced with Codename: Robotech.
Afterwards, its first two episodes were aired again on December 17th, 2000, and "Blow Up" was aired on December 31st.
The final broadcast of this show on KTEH came on July 29th, 2001, with episodes 2 and 3 (but not 1).
Boku no Chikyuu wo Mamotte
Please Save My Earth
OVA, 1993,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:-
First airing was on Sunday nights from June 6th to July 11th, 1999.
Second airing was on Sunday nights, with a Thursday night encore, from August 22nd to September 10th, 1999.
Third airing was on Sunday nights (by that point usually the only day of the week they aired anime), from August 27th to October 8th, 2000.
Second airing was on Sunday nights, with a Thursday night encore, from August 22nd to September 10th, 1999.
Third airing was on Sunday nights (by that point usually the only day of the week they aired anime), from August 27th to October 8th, 2000.
TV, 1989,
161 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Like with Kimagure Orange Road, the first episode, "Here's Ranma", was aired as a one-off picked by a viewer poll on Tuesday, November 9th, 1999.
However, that wasn't the only time KTEH aired something from this franchise...
However, that wasn't the only time KTEH aired something from this franchise...
Ranma ½: Chuugoku Nekonron Daikessen! Okite Yaburi no Gekitou-hen!!
Ranma ½: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China
Movie, 1991,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
Aired as a one-off on March 12th, 2000.
Ranma ½: Kessen Tougenkyou! Hanayome wo Torimodose!
Ranma ½: The Movie 2 - The Battle of Togenkyo: Rescue the Brides!
Movie, 1992,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
Aired as a one-off on June 25th, 2000.
Shinseiki Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion
TV, 1995,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Aired subbed, which I've read was an intentional choice by the channel despite the ADV dub already being available.
First airing was from March 5th to August 6th, 2000.
Second airing was from May 6th to November 25th, 2001.
(and no, they did not air The End of Evangelion)
First airing was from March 5th to August 6th, 2000.
Second airing was from May 6th to November 25th, 2001.
(and no, they did not air The End of Evangelion)
OVA, 1994,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:-
All three seasons of this show were aired, and are listed separately here.
First airing was from December 10th, 2000 to January 14th, 2001.
Second airing was from December 23rd, 2001 to February 3rd, 2002.
First airing was from December 10th, 2000 to January 14th, 2001.
Second airing was from December 23rd, 2001 to February 3rd, 2002.
OVA, 1995,
5 eps
Me:-
Author:-
First airing was from January 21st to February 18th, 2001.
Second airing was from February 10th to April 7th, 2002.
Second airing was from February 10th to April 7th, 2002.
OVA, 1995,
5 eps
Me:-
Author:-
First airing was from March 25th to April 22nd, 2001.
Second airing was from April 14th to May 19th, 2002.
Second airing was from April 14th to May 19th, 2002.
Sakura Taisen: Ouka Kenran
Sakura Wars
OVA, 1997,
4 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Only this OVA was aired, not the TV series.
First airing (all 4 parts consecutively) was on February 25th, 2001.
Second airing was from September 2nd to September 23rd, 2001.
Third airing was from April 7th to April 28th, 2002.
Fourth airing (two parts per night) was on February 9th and February 16th, 2003.
First airing (all 4 parts consecutively) was on February 25th, 2001.
Second airing was from September 2nd to September 23rd, 2001.
Third airing was from April 7th to April 28th, 2002.
Fourth airing (two parts per night) was on February 9th and February 16th, 2003.
Hikyou Tanken Fam & Ihrlie
Ruin Explorers Fam & Ihrie
OVA, 1995,
4 eps
Me:-
Author:-
First airing (all 4 episodes consecutively) was on June 3rd, 2001.
Second airing was from October 7th to October 28th, 2001.
Second airing was from October 7th to October 28th, 2001.
TV, 1998,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Aired dubbed.
First airing was from August 12th to November 4th, 2001.
Second airing was from October 13th, 2002 to February 16th, 2003. For some reason, "Layer 06: Kids", was aired out of order on November 3rd, 2002, with the show's broadcast otherwise taking a hiatus between episodes/Layers 04 and 05 from October 20th to December 22nd, 2002.
Third airing was from March 23rd to May 18th, 2003. Two episodes a night except for the final episode...which was also the last (known) time KTEH aired anime in general.
First airing was from August 12th to November 4th, 2001.
Second airing was from October 13th, 2002 to February 16th, 2003. For some reason, "Layer 06: Kids", was aired out of order on November 3rd, 2002, with the show's broadcast otherwise taking a hiatus between episodes/Layers 04 and 05 from October 20th to December 22nd, 2002.
Third airing was from March 23rd to May 18th, 2003. Two episodes a night except for the final episode...which was also the last (known) time KTEH aired anime in general.
TV, 1998,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
First episode, "The Visitors", was aired as a one-off on March 10th, 2002, the first of three show premieres that night.
Bannou Bunka Neko-Musume
All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku
OVA, 1992,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:-
First episode, "Phase 0I", aired as the second of three show premieres on March 10th, 2002. This would be the only one of the three shows aired that night to be later picked up in full.
First full airing was from June 30th to September 1st, 2002.
Second full airing was from January 5th to February 16th, 2003.
First full airing was from June 30th to September 1st, 2002.
Second full airing was from January 5th to February 16th, 2003.
TV, 1987,
51 eps
Me:-
Author:-
First episode, "One Cool Sweeper: XYZ Is a Dangerous Cocktail!", aired as a one-off on March 10th, 2002, the third of three show premieres that night.
