Operation Deep Deep

The Ocean Patrol Headquarters- under the seâ is responsible for protecting the world's oceans. Marine Boy and his crew, Piper and Bolton are operatives there. The operations were run by Dr. Mariner (Marine Boy's father) and his scientific assistant Professor Fumble. In the course of their adventures, the Professor invents all sorts of inventions to aid in defeating bad guys. Marine Boy has a dolphin named Splasher, and a mermaid friend named Neptina.

Marine Boy, Neptuna, Clicli, Dr. Mariner, Piper, Bulton, Professor Fumble, Splasher

The series title literally translated to English as "Marine The Sea Bottom Boy," this series is more popularly known as "Marine Boy" in it's English showings. Neptuna was renamed Neptina in the United States version.

Originally released in Japan in 1969 as "Kaitei Shônen Marin", that series also included two earlier Japanese series- a 1965 series "Dolphin Ôji" and the 1966 series Ganbare! Marine Kid (known in English as "Marine Boy" or "Go for It, Marine Kid"). The original series(s) ran 130 episodes. Only the second season of the final series of 78 episodes were dubbed to English.

The entire series run was not broadcast until 1971, when it appeared in Nippon TV.

Three episodes (episodes # 42, 55 and 57) were initially dropped in the United States due to violence. However, these were shown in the 1970s, when the series was rebroadcast.

The National Association for Better Broadcasting condemned the program as "one of the very worst animated shows. Child characters in extreme peril. Expresses a relish for torture and destruction of evil characters."

This was the first anime series to become successful in Britain (it was aired by the BBC). In the U.S., only "Speed Racer" was a more popular anime.