Rabat – Most cartoons and anime lovers would drop a tear or two when they’d listen to a theme song of their favorite children’s programs of old times– if it’s not just the MWN team members being dramatic.

Most cartoons and anime that were aired in the 80s and 90s, or even in the early 2000s, are no longer as widely popular on TV channels as they were.

However, most of their faithful watchers might at least remember three or four of them, if not all — as is the case for the MWN team, we promise.

In the 90s, you could often see children and even teenagers singing along with a theme song, either to show off that they know the program or to show how they are fond of what they are watching.

Here are the best theme songs that Moroccans born in the 80s and 90s know:

Baby and Me (Ana Wa Akhi in Arabic)

Japan’s masterpiece Akachan to Boku, translated to Baby and Me, has been one of the most popular anime. Released in 1996 in Japan, the translated version was watched by millions of children across the Middle East and North Africa.

In the early 2000s, the cartoon television channel Spacetoon aired the cartoon, and the Arabic version theme song remains an earworm for many. The song, performed by Syrian artist Racha Rizk, has been searched for by millions. In 2019, Nai Oriental Orchestra published a video of Rizk singing the theme song, which generated 1.5 million views and thousands of comments.

“This is beyond words. The memories of all my childhood played again with such a huge orchestra and the singer’s voice has matured even more but somehow still feels the same,” one Youtube user said in a comment.

Ahd Al-As’deqa

The animated series Romeo’s Blue Skies, known in the Middle East and North Africa as Ahd Al-As’deqa (Friends’ Vow), also featured a popular song.

Again, Syrian singer and songwriter Racha Rizk produced a dazzling performance for the theme song for the anime series, which talks about Romeo and his adventures as a chimney sweeper.

Al Qanas – Hunter x Hunter

One of the classics is the animated series Al Qanas, whose Arabic version theme song remains a favorite and a definite ear-worn. Some could certainly feel nostalgic when listening to the song, which is again performed by Racha Rizk.

The great Al Namir al Mokanaa (Tiger Mask)

I won’t lie, but I became a fan of wrestling because of this Japanese manga series, the Tiger Mask known to people in the Middle East and North Africa as Al Namiro al Mokanaa. Adapted as an anime series in 1969, the series was featured on Moroccan television channels in the 90s. At the time, every girl and boy’s dream suddenly was to become a wrestling hero, but of course with a tiger mask, like the hero of the series.

The cast talks about the story of a journalist who pretended to be a calm and naive guy, but in reality, the journalist was also a wrestling hero named Maen Saleh.

Mohakik Conan (Case closed)

Detective Conan is one of the most well-known characters in the anime world. The Arabic version of the series is known to many people. As someone who rushed to leave school to be back home at 6 p.m and watch children’s TV programs, you can never forget the cartoon’s theme song, although forgetting the lyrics seems somewhat more w tolerable.

And the award for the best song goes to– well it is no longer a surprise because Racha Rizk sang the most popular songs of the series that were translated and aired on TV channels — particularly Spacetoon.

Sally (Princess Sarah)

This Japanese anime series features the story of a wealthy girl who is placed in an orphanage following her father’s death, the series quickly became one the most popular TV programs for children. The theme song in the Arabic version filled most viewers with a sense of sadness that reflects the series’ heart-wrenching tale. Jordanian artist Souhair Aouda performed the Arabic version of Princess Sara’s Theme song, in a dazzling but heartbreakingly sensational voice.

Pokemon

Ash and Pikachu cannot be excluded from the list, with a theme song translated in over 30 languages. The theme song of the Pokemon series made some of us, if not many, wish and hope to be a Pokemon master. 

The Arabic version of the the
me song was again performed by the renowned Syrian artist, Racha Rizk, whose name will forever be linked to the iconic anime series that we fondly remember.