User Reviews

I'm a little disappointed with the comments here. The negative comments seem to propose that the only quality that's important in a series is that it's well-animated and high-budget. This is not a Disney cartoon. This is, however, groundbreaking for Japan as it was the very first televised anime. The animation is not quality, but the art style is simplistically beautiful. What's honestly great about Mighty Atom AKA Astro Boy is the writing. The style may be outdated, but the messages are timeless and interesting to both kids an adults. Most of the plots of the show come from the original manga written by Tezuka. Tezuka is the god of manga and anime, without him neither would exist as it does today. Astro Boy was one of his best works, and certainly his most popular, but he also wrote fiction for adults and explored every genre imaginable. He even wrote an award-winning manga about Hitler. Personally I would recommend reading both Astro Boy and Phoenix, his other greatest work. Note that I am not speaking from nostalgia, nor am I Japanese. I found the works of Tezuka as an adult and appreciate him for both his adult and children's works.

WE recall seeing this ASTRO BOY (Japanese/NBC Distribution, 1963-66)* the first time on our local NBC Station. This was WNBQ, Channel 5 here in Chicago. This station, which would soon change its call letters to WMAQ in order to conform with the flagship & charter member NBC Radio station, aired the ASTROBOY Episodes on Sunday Mornings, at about 10:00 A.M.; which seemed to be an odd hour for a first-run series, animated or not.

THERE CERTAINLY must have been a lot lost in the translation; for we were not certain of this little android's origin nor what was his mission here on earth. The opening montage of scenes depicts the robot-child flying, punching and otherwise seemingly rendering his enemies harmless, helpless and hog-tied. All of these tightly edited highlight scenes were performed without any dialogue with a sound track that played an ASTROBOY Theme Song being rendered energetically by what is obviously a juvenile choral group and a robustly played organ.

AS WE recall little ASTROBOY engaged in some grown-up sized struggles with some nasty, evil and powerful villain-opponents. His actions and demeanor bore a strong resemblance to that of the American Comic Book Super Heroes; who had been doing their thing in the 4 Color printed pages of the Comics Magazines (aka Comic Books or even "Joke Books" in some circles) for well over a Quarter Century by this time. Their style of action & adventure had also been eagerly adapted to the airwaves in Radio and TV Series and Motion Picture Serials & Features.

BUT THIS character still seemed to be very different. Our instincts told our still less experienced and (even) innocent naivety that there was something distinctly alien or foreign about this production. The rather obvious post synchronized dubbing of the English dialogue adds to the highly unique overall look and feel of the adventures. The talk of the characters seems to be somewhat out of synch with their movements; which further adds to giving it a surreal and dream-like appearance.

IN THE EPISODES we recall, the little Android's 'life'** and activities were all played out under the auspices of a brilliant scientist-inventor. (What else didja expect, Schultz?) As his mentor, Professor Elephant provided counsel and guidance; but little in the way of family, love or true understanding. The kindly, but stern professor apparently got his moniker from his physical appearance.

IN MUCH the same manner as that followed so successfully by Chester Gould with his immortal comic strip, DICK TRACY (Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate, 1931-Present), the creative team behind young ASTROBOY'S supporting characters endowed them with names highly descriptive of their physical appearances. Ergo, as we might expect, Professor Elephant possessed a magnificent proboscis. His entire design, as were all characters in the series, was most definitely done in a cartoony style. The good Professor's entire look was sort of like a mixture of caricatures of W.C. Fields, veteran character Actor Maurice Cass and the proverbial "Rolly-Polly Policeman".

THIS SERIES was the first example of Japanese Animation that we ever saw. No doubt it was more than likely the same for most of our readers and viewers of the mid 1960's. The term "JAPANIMATION" certainly had not been coined at this point in time and ASTROBOY surely was a most memorable trail blazer for the genre in the U.S., U.K. and the rest of the Western Civilized World. While we don't pretend to have understood it, either then or even now, we had a bizarre attraction for its unique stories and method of rendering same.

IN short, we liked it. Both Schultz and I recommend it; so give it a try if you get the opportunity.

NOTE: * The Japanese name for the little guy was literally ATOM BOY; which was probably considered to be inappropriate for viewing for Americans. (Or some such silly-assed reasoning!)

NOTE: ** An Android is defined as an Automotan (Robot) with a human-like and realistic appearance.

POODLE SCHNITZ!!

Astroboy (based on the Japanese cartoon character Mighty Atom) was the creation of Dr Osamu Tezuka, an influential figure in the early development of manga (Japanese comics). Atom was the first animated series produced by Tezuka's TV and film production company, Mushi Studios. The initial episode was shown as a TV special on New Year's Eve (one of the most widely viewed evenings on Japanese television) and an instant success. NBC networking executives visiting Japan saw the popularity of the series and purchased the US broadcast rights. Shortly thereafter, the English version, renamed Astroboy, was in syndication throughout America. The story line follows the adventures of a robot created in the likeness of a scientist's dead son. The scientist goes mad and sells the boy robot to a circus. In the climax of the first episode, the robots, though horribly mistreated by the circus owner, rescue circus patrons from certain death when a massive fire destroys the main tent. In reward for their heroism, the robots are granted their freedom. The remaining episodes deal with a wide range of issues, from the longing of robots for human emotions and families, to the destruction of the environment. Pretty hefty stuff compared to the funny animal hi-jinx of Saturday morning! In retrospect, the series is pretty remarkable. Though the translation was greatly softened and sometimes edited for juvenile audiences, the often dark and profound subject matter still is quite apparent. Some episodes, particularly toward the end of the English dubbed series, also exhibit increasingly dreamlike and surreal imagery. Simultaneously there was an increasing amount of violence in these programs and American parents were concerned on the effect of such shows on impressionable young minds. Sadly the American series was canceled after 104 episodes, but the Japanese productions continued for another 89 episodes. In the final episode produced in Japan, Atom sacrifices himself to save the world by manually guiding a missile toward a runaway asteroid.

Tezuka'films are also good for not only children but for adults.

Last week I saw four episodes of this 'Astro boy' at a open-air theater. Episode-1 'Birth of ATOM'; Why Dr.Temma produced ATOM and what is a position of robots? We will know good relationship between us. 116,117 'The strongest robot'; Why we want strongest one? 193 'The greatest adventure on earth'. Last episode of series of TV.

Each episode teach us good friendship with us and robots and give us great courage and offer hope.

I watched movie on TV in my childhood and took encourages and hope. Both now and in the future they give us great things.

I was eight years old when this originally aired in the U. S. It very much resonated with me. Of course, I loved any kind of science fiction at that age, and still have a fondness for it, although I'm of course much more discriminating now. The show was set in the then far off year of 2000. Like many other such depictions, it was quite optimistic about what things would be like. Future society was depicted as full of automation (robots were commonplace), flying cars, space travel, an overall high level of prosperity, etc., which of course instantly appealed to me, but what really captured my imagination was the character of Astro Boy himself. He was immensely powerful and could fly, but he was also smart, heroic, kind, sensitive, and caring. He was my ideal of what a boy should be, and it didn't matter that he was a robot. The show advocated giving robots rights as sentient beings. I remember writing an essay in school about him.

Back then, I paid no attention to the low frame rate or the crudeness of the animation, and in retrospect, they never were what mattered. What mattered was the sense of wonder and thrills and empathy for a character who was superhuman, but wanted love just as any human does.

At age 68, with a pair of super speakers and a wife with a keen ear, I have transcribed the children's choir rendering, sung super unclearly, that thwarted even Engineer Bill's attempt to provide the lyrics on his show that hosted the Astro Boy series!

Even official lyrics simply are not correct. This is my perfected correct set of lyrics (IMHO). Don't ask Don Rockwell who wrote the English lyrics for the show, he won't answer because I think he is dead?

Beginning Song:

There you go, Astro Boy, On your flight into space. Rocket high, through the sky, What adventures soon you will make!

Astro Boy bombs away, On your mission today. Here's the count-down And a blastoff, Everything is go, Astro Boy!

Astro Boy, as you fly, Strange new worlds you will find. Atom-celled, jet-propelled, Fighting monsters high in the sky!

Astro Boy, there you go, Will you fight friend or foe? Cosmic ranger, laugh at danger, Everything is go, Astro Boy.

Crowds will cheer you, You're a hero, As you go, go, go, Astro Boy!

End Song:

(when the children's choir finishes the credits after the orchestra plays...)

Astro Boy says okay, (For years, I thought it could be "Astro Boy did okay,") On your flight into space. What can I do, to be like you? And become a real Astro Boy!

Osamu Tezuka's original Astro Boy manga was an overnight sensation, and by the mid-50s had inspired a live-action television show (very low budget, from what I can tell from the trailer for it I've seen). Then in 1962, Tezuka himself developed this animated cartoon series for television – writing, drawing, even participating in the animation with his staff of six (some of whom went on to become notable figures in the anime industry). Due to budget constraints, the series uses what is known as 'limited animation' with stock backgrounds, stock shots, very limited figure movement, etc. But I admit this actually increases the charm of the series for me; it has a quirky surrealistically mechanical aura in many of the visuals.

It should be noted that animation had been a fascination for Tezuka long before he initiated this series. His father owning a movie projector, Tezuka was, from quite an early age, fascinated with American animated films, primarily those by Walt Disney, although the main influence discernible in the Astro Boy series is that of the Fleischer Brothers. The Astro Boy series could not duplicate the slickness or gloss of the better-budgeted American animated television shows or films of the time, but it does evidence a sophisticated humor and a visual inventiveness well in advance of them. (It should be noted that Tezuka's manga were also always in advance of work being done in American comics of the same era.) Astro Boy was originally designed for Japanese males in their early teens – hence his physical appearance as a twelve-year old boy. The aesthetic psychology at work here is fairly plain. Astro looked like many of the members of his audience, but without physical blemish. However, he still represented the sense of alienation that young people often feel when entering the 'awkward years' of early puberty – he looked human, but he was 'different' – he was a robot.

Nonetheless, there were compensations for this alienation – he was extremely smart, had amazing powers, and always demonstrated a conscience superior to many of the adult humans around him. So he wasn't just different, but his difference marked him as superior. Fortunately for the world, he had no vanity, so never exhibited smug satisfaction with himself. On the contrary, he was always trying to find his way through the world, trying to be both robot and boy in a world where many could accept him as neither.

So there's the initial hook for his young audience, the process of identifying with a like, though superior (in some way) hero.

But that's not the case for adults, is it? well, certainly many of us still secretly long for our childhood after all.

But I think the appeal runs deeper. For one thing, there are those big innocent eyes of his, staring out in wonder at the brave new world of the future. He can express a number of emotions, even negative ones, but the two primary expressions we see in his face (certainly the most memorable) are a fierce determination when in action, and a winning, unambiguous smile – unambiguous because there is not the slightest hint of duplicity or of pretension in it. So Astro Boy is all of a piece – he never seems temperamental or given over to deep doubt, he never holds a grudge or engages in hidden agendas. He says what he means (and frequently takes what humans say all too literally). And of course he is always willing to help others, frequently at the risk of his own existence: he's a true hero. In many ways an ideal human being.

Except – he's a robot. And that makes all the difference.

While there are no major flaws with this series plot-wise, but when compared to other cartoons from the same time period (I.E. Looney Tunes, Hanna Barbara) the animation quality is lax. Somewhat like modern Japanese cartoons, there is very little in the way of organic movements of the characters.

Instead, characters will be drawn holding a pose with only their mouths or eyes moving, or movement scenes may be looped. It's a good period study of Japanese film, but so far as animations go, not particularly good. If you're looking for a good quality 60's cartoon, doesn't compare to American cartoons.

This cartoon show was typical of the many 1960's cartoon shows that came from the time that tried to be appealing to both children and adults.

When I was young, I was amazed by the cool robots and monsters.

When I saw it later, I was surprised by the sophisticated themes that were presented under the science fiction cartoon genre. Some themes were runaway technology; obedience to morality and programming; science can lead to both good and bad.

Time warp: apparently a tv show back in the 1960's only had 30 seconds of commercials per half hour!

If you can imagine what black and white, jerk action "animation" that lacks any quality or artistic value, both visually and audibly, and would be produced in the USSR during the 1950s would look like, Astroboy is it. This pathetic show is actually out of Japan from the 1960s but is devoid of any imagination whatsoever. I never cared much for Speed Racer or any other Japanimation as a kid in the '60s, but thankfully this turd had completely slipped my mind. Perhaps that was due to no US stations stooping so low as to broadcast such garbage, at least in my market. This show makes any of Hanna-Barbera's worst material from the seventies or eighties look like Disney's masterpiece, Fantasia. I find it rather curious, not so much that Adult Swim has picked it up, but that Astro Boy has such a high rating on this site. Proof that the rating system here is not only subjective, but also seriously flawed. Hopefully Adult Swim will dump this load soon; it's a terrible waste of airtime but I am certain that the price is right!

I thought the 60's theme song from this cartoon series was one of the best and coolest of any cartoon series ever. Very underrated. Sounded like a school chorus choir, from what I remember. Anyone know of where you can find it/download it? "there u go Astro boy, on your mission today, rocket high to the sky,etc" Also are there any remastered DVD's out on this series. I checked Ebay and Amazon and could not find anything? There was a complete VHS set put out years ago but I thought the quality was terrible even for VHS Also, who was the name of the cool villain , who always regenerated body parts?Any help out there? Seansky

"Astro Boy" the original series not only broke ground but was a fun and a much loved series for kids at the time, much more so than what passes for "animation" or cartoons now days. It and "Gigantor" apparently just zoom over the heads of people that need to be hand fed all aspects of cartoons, etc. These were entertainment that kept the viewing child's mind involved instead of hypnotized by blatant meaningless tripe like so much on Adult Swim. The new movie, which approximates the overall intent and background story of the series is somewhat fun, with a good look. I do however recommend the series to new viewers. It is something I would introduce my kids to.

Fans of this cartoon cult classic will definitely want to check out the fantastic rendition of the Astro Boy theme song, featured on the Osaka Popstar album 'Osaka Popstar and the American Legends of Punk'. It takes the theme song, speeds it up, and puts a punky twist on it, but without a hint of the snotty patronization you hear in other punk covers. It really makes you think, "now that's what this theme song is supposed to sound like!" Also, some of you Astro Boy fans might be interested to know that the album contains another cover of a popular cartoon's theme song, Sailor Moon. A less-speedy, but just as catchy version, with heart-felt vocals and melodious guitar riffs. A real gem for fans of TV theme songs, and anime/classic cartoons. :-) ~Darlene~

I've listened to the theme song many times and can never be sure of the lyrics. One particular line has never sat well with me. Everywhere I look it says "fighting monsters high in the sky" but it doesn't sound like that to me. The closest I've come up with is "fighting monsters flying the skies".