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12 reviews in total

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16 out of 17 people found the following review useful:
The Grandaddy of anime, 6 February 2002
Author: Raymond Tucker from South of the Border

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.

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11 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
Surprisingly sophisticated kid's cartoon show, 5 August 2000
Author: rlcsljo from Hollywood, ca

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!

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
A classic series, a must-see for anime and classic cartoon fans, 18 June 2009

Author: SarahofBorg from United States

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.

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5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
A Japanese Anime Kids should have today, 26 April 2003

Author: lambiepie-2 from Los Angeles, CA

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

There are levels of Japanese Anime in my book. The upper level is what is being shown today that I don't think children should watch, but they do. Another level is the Adult Japanese Anime which children should watch..but they do. Then there is the 60's/70's Japanese Anime which every child should have a chance to see.

Astro Boy was my best friend. Every week on Wee-Willy Webber's Wonderful Cartoon Club, a local Philadelphia Children's show, we were treated to imported Japanese Anime, and Astro Boy was the first.

Forget Pinnochio, Astro Boy is what children can identify with. And besides, it didn't talk down to children either. The story (spoiler) is simple: A man loses his son in a car accident, he is so hearbroken that he builds a robot that looks like his son. He gets disappointed and sells his son to a robot fair. A scientist gets ahold of him, and the adventures begin. It's been years, but that is the gist of it.

This series has EVERYTHING for a child to grasp: robots, monsters, action. Not too violent, but it has its moments, Astro Boy is out to always save the day. And why not, he's very much equipt for it. Excellent Introduction to Children's Japanese Anime ages 5 on up.

A personal note: When I was watching A.I.-- I thought of Astro Boy many times than not throughout the film. Note to Speilberg: Ya shoulda done this one, it's up your alley and what you were actually looking to do.

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6 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
This film keep good contents, 5 August 2006

Author: west32 from Japan

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.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Enduring..., 27 May 2007

Author: poe426 from USA

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Now that I've had the opportunity to experience, once again (for the first time since my childhood), the joys of this groundbreaking series, I must say I'm even more impressed by it now than when I was a kid. My heart soars when I listen to the theme song (sung by a children's choir, if memory serves) and I'm whisked away through time and space to those "early days of yesteryear" when anime was just aborning. Osamu Tezuka's MIGHTY ATOM withstands the test of Time. For otaku like myself (fans from Way Back), this series is a must-have. Subsequent ASTRO BOY shows, while all worthwhile, can't touch the original for charm. Tezuka's little mandroid inspired my own ghost-kid comic book character, ASTRAL BOY. (ASTRO BOY, like PINOCCHIO, longs to be human; ASTRAL BOY longs to rejoin the living.) One of the great things about this re-release on DVD are the extras, which include behind-the-scenes features on Tezuka's production company, interviews with Fred Ladd, and several of the original Japanese-language episodes (including at least one in color). ASTRO BOY's final episode brought me to tears when I was a kid... and had me dabbing at my eyes when I saw it again just recently. ASTRO BOY endures.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
FOOD FOR THOUGHT DEPARTMENT: That Astro Boy is neither astronomical nor a true boy is immaterial; for is Captain Kangaroo either a Captain or a Kangaroo?, 2 April 2009

Author: John T. Ryan (redryan64@hotmail.com) from Chicago, Illinois, United States

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!!

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Theme song, 27 February 2006
Author: seanprussel from United States

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

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Astro Boy- entertainment for kids but not anyone from Minn, 31 October 2009
Author: Launchd-II from Central Coast, California

"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.

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2 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Astro Boy theme song: check out this great cover!, 9 July 2006
Author: trueluvnanarchy from United States

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~

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