Nobody makes episodic stories like this anymore, five minutes a day, Monday through Saturday, designed so you wake up knowing exactly what happens next. The rhythm is everything; it's less about plot and more about spending time with characters you actually want to see again tomorrow. By Sunday you've lived a complete story. By Monday you're already waiting for the next one.

Sobakasu Pucchi is a 1969 children's program that blends adventure and comedy in very short installments. Each of its 162 episodes lasts about five minutes and aired six days a week, from Monday to Saturday. The episodes link together into one ongoing tale over the course of each week, and that tale reaches its conclusion by the week's end, so each week delivers a complete story in small daily pieces.