Astro Boy (1980 TV series)
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This article is about the 1980s series. For other Astro Boy series, manga and the videogame see Astro Boy (disambiguation)
| Astro Boy | |
|---|---|
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| Tetsuwan Atomu (Mighty Atom) |
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| Genre | Adventure, Mecha, Science Fiction, Shounen |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Noburo Ishiguro |
| Studio | Tezuka Productions DiC Entertainment |
| Network |  NTV RJTV 29 (1992) ABC (1986) |
| Original run | 1 October 1980 – 23 December 1981 |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
| Related works | |
Astro Boy is a remake of the 1960s anime series Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka.
This series focused more on Astro's robotic skills and also had a somewhat darker storyline. While it still had its fun moments, at times the series could be quite sombre and sad. It wasn't uncommon for robots or human characters that featured in episodes to suffer for their actions or the misdeeds of others. During the course of the series, Astro gained a mother, a father and a sister named Uran. The scripts of this version were largely written by Osamu Tezuka, although others were also involved. The story introduced Astro's evil brother Atlas, who was created from stolen blueprints by Count Walpurgis who was a European arms manufacturer.
Characters also had much different personalities. Astro himself comes across much more child like and innocent than his 2003 counterpart. He seems quite unsure of himself but gains confidence with time. Uran is a mischievous character who sometimes thinks of herself before others but does generally have a good heart despite how she acts sometimes. In the Japanese version also, when Uran featured in episodes the episodes would have special credits differing from the one normally used. Atlas' character is much like that of the Blue Knight in the 2003 series, always trying to get Astro to side with him and wanting to defeat the humans. Dr. Tenma hardly features at all in this version of the series. It is implied at the end of the second Episode (third in the Japanese version) that Tenma died while Astro was away being forced to work in Hamegg's circus.
The series ran for 52 episodes [edited down to 51 episodes for the English version] and did not have a proper series ending. The U.S. dub stayed quite true to the original Japanese version yet had a shuffled order of episodes due to the way American syndication worked at the time. The U.S. dub was called Astroboy, like before when the series came out there was no translation of the manga but an unauthorized comic book version was released. There are two different English language dubs, one from Canada and (the version shown in the US and Australia]]; the Canadian dub had Uran renamed "Sarah".[citation needed] While there was no official ending to the series the final episode in the Japanese run, "Astro's First Love", featured a special introduction by Osamu Tezuka.
The 1980 series has since been released on DVD by Madman Entertainment and Anchor Bay, though there are differences between the Madman and Anchor Bay sets. Madman's set having more deleted scenes and the first 2 episodes unedited in Japanese. However the U.S. Anchor Bay set has an edited Japanese track to go with the U.S. edited episodes and has put in some scenes originally not in the U.S. dub.
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[edit] Plot
In the future, the Head of the Ministry of Science, Doctor Tenma (Dr. Boynton in the official Tezuka Prod./NTV-coordinated English dub; Dr. Balfus in the Canadian dub), is attempting to create a robot with a soul, capable of expressing human emotions. After several failed attempts, his son, Tobio (Toby in English), suggests that his father should create a "boy robot". Doctor Tenma thinks it's a great idea and starts work on it.
While working on the robot, Tobio is killed in a car crash and Doctor Tenma is ordered to stop work on the project by the government. He secretly continues and remakes the robot in the image of his dead son Tobio. During the building of the new robotic Tobo, the plans for the Robot are stolen by Skunk for an arms dealer and evil genius, Count Walpurgis. He uses these plans to build a robot called Atlas.
After activating the robot Tobio. Tenma treats the robot like his child right away and takes it back to his home. It soon becomes apparent that robot Tobio struggles to have control over his strength, after a disastrous meal on a cruise Tenma denounces the robot as his son. While brooding the robot signs himself away to a man called "Hamegg" who runs a robotic circus. He's treated badly by "Hamegg" however he is later saved by Hamegg's assistant, Kathy and Doctor Elefun, an inventor (Prof. Peabody in the Canadian dub) that takes Tenma's place as head of Ministry of Science after Tenma goes mysteriously missing.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Astro Boy
Astro has a strong sense of morality and is always gentle and kind towards others. Astro is a super powered robot, with seven secret super powers[1] designed to look exactly like Toby, the son of his creator. Dr. Boynton initially treated Astro like a real boy as a replacement for his son who died in a car accident. However, Astro Boy was clumsy from an inability to control his strength. After being rejected by Dr. Boynton, Astro joins Hameggs' Robot Circus, where he learns to control his powers, and meets Dr. Elefun.
Through out the series, Atlas attempts to persuade Astro to help Atlas conquer the world. By design, both Astro and Atlas were created from the same blueprints, and so are considered to be brothers. However, Astro refuses to help Atlas in his quest for world domination.
[edit] Dr. Boynton
After several robot design failures, Dr. Boynton created Astro Boy from a suggestion from his son, Toby. Dr. Boynton zealously worked on creating a robot that would be able to act and behave like a real human. In his zealous search to obtain his goal, Dr. Boynton neglected Toby, forgetting his promise to take Toby to the amusement park. As a result, Toby decides to go on his own and crashes the robot car, dying from the accident.
Dr. Boynton continues to work on the boy robot, and when the project finally reaches completion calls the robot Toby, after his son. However, Toby's (Astro) inability to control his own strength begins to infuriate Dr. Boynton, and while on a cruise Dr. Boynton angrily disowns Toby. Dr. Boynton is last seen mournfully calling out for Toby, and is not seen through the remainder of the series.[2]
[edit] Dr. Elefun
Succeeding Dr. Boynton as Minister of Science, Dr. Elefun rescues Astro Boy from Hameggs' Robot Circus. Dr. Elefun is a robot rights advocate and creates the "Robot's Bill of Rights" which allows robots to be of equal status of humans. He often acts as a surrogate father for Astro Boy, providing Astro Boy with advice and teaching him about the world. In addition, Dr. Elefun provides Astro Boy with a family, creating for him a mother, father, and finally a little sister, Uran.
[edit] Daddy Walrus
Daddy Walrus is Astro's Teacher. He is a judo expert, a private eye, and sometimes a flower arranger and always loves the smell of action. His real name is Albert Duncan.
[edit] Uran
Uran is Astro's little sister. She was "born" on New Years Day, built by Dr. Elefun as a gift to Astro. She has half the horsepower of her brother but is quite powerful. Uran is a cute little girl and uses this to her advantage, however her personality is more that of a tomboy.
Uran isn't as wise as her older brother is and sometimes her naive personality gets her into trouble. Though Uran's decisions are sometimes bad, she doesn't realise the consequences of some of her actions until they happen. Despite this Uran is generally a good girl and gets on fairly well with her brother Astro
[edit] Atlas
Astro's Brother and arch enemy. Atlas was developed by Walpur guiss after he obtained Astros original design plans through Skunk. He was designed with a similar child like look to Astro originally and was known as "Atlas". Walpur guiss and Skunk planned to use him to steal things however they became fustrated when Atlas stole recipts instead of cash. After this Walpur guiss installed an Omega Factor into Atlas that allowed him to defy the robot laws. After attacking Walpur guiss and Skunk for destroying Livian and being heavily damaged himself, he rebuilt his own body and Livian's, along with a horse and a special weapon.
The new Atlas and Livian are adult in appearance. Over the course of the series, Atlas gained a floating crystal castle and delt with his creator and Skunk again. In his second-to-last episode of the series, Atlas learns from Livian that Astro is his brother.
[edit] Jump
Jump was the pet dog of Toby, an off white coloured dog with brown batches. Jump was loyal to his master and rushed to the scene after Toby crashed the car and died. When Astro was introduced to Jump originally Jump was scared and didn't like him.
It's unknown how Dr. Elefun found him but when Astro visits his new home and parents for the first time, Jump is also with them. Jump has grown to like Astro and his family. Though Uran doesn't have the same amount of respect for him that Astro has.
[edit] List of episodes
[edit] The Birth of Astro Boy
This episode dealt with the origins of Astro and his brother Atlas. In the English version, this episode was an amalgamation of the Japanese first episode and the second episode. (In the English version, all instances of Atlas, Skunk and Walpurgis appearing in the first few episodes are removed)
[edit] Astro vs. Atlas
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Astro (known as Toby at this point) and Dr Boyton take a cruise, however after some clumsy mistakes made by the robot boy, Boyton disowns the robot as his son. A man named Hamegg then dupes the robot into signing himself away to him.
As the name suggests this episode also had an Astro and Atlas boy encounter that takes place after Astro saves the cruise ship, though this was cut out and this episode became part of the first episode.
1The Birth Of Astro 2Robot Circus 3Save the Classmate! 4Atlas Lives Again 5Robot Land 6Frankenstein 7The Red Cat 8The Crystal of the Desert 9The White Planet 10The Robot President 11Goliath's Head 12The Light-Ray Robot 13Uran the Tomboy 14Robio and Robiette 15Astro Fights Aliens 16Save the Carolina 3! 17The Rainbow Comet 18The Death Balloon 19The Transformation Robot 20The Wreck of the Titan 21The Liar Robot 22The Girl from Alsoar 23The Greatest Robot in the World: Part 1 24The Greatest Robot in the World: Part 2 25The Robot Vikings 26The Time Machine 27The Robot Stuntman 28The Great Meltdown 29Uran's Twin 30Speeding Through the Storm! 31The Return of Cleopatra 32The Runaway Subway Train 33The Baby Elephant Pook 34The Secret of Bee City 35The Monster of Clarken 36Lilly On Peligro Island 37The Anti-Proton Gun 38The Man Made Solar Sphere 39Blackie Young 40The Genie from Outer Space 41The Robots Nobody Wanted 42Atlas Forever 43The Snow Leopard 44Uran's Quest 45Outer Space Port R-45 46The Hijacked Airship! 47The Human-Faced Rock 48Uran Falls In Love 49The World of Odin 50The Secret of the Mayas 51Astro's First Love
The English Versions
[edit] Music
[edit] Astro Boy opening theme (English version)
Soaring high in the sky
He may be small, but only in size.
Astro Boy, Astro Boy
He is brave and gentle and wise.
Stronger than all the rest
This mighty robot will pass the test
Oh we'll endear him, oh we'll cheer him
The amazing Astro Boy.
When you need someone strong
Our robot friend is there before long.
Astro Boy, Astro Boy
He will try to right any wrong.
When there's danger nearby
No matter who, what, where, when or why
He will defend us. He'll befriend us
The amazing Astro Boy.
[edit] Uran's theme (Insert)
A tomboy, maybe
More Fresh than wind
Your smiles are so innocent
Uran
Uran
Everybody's calling you
Prettier than a flower
More fresh than wind
Uran when you're around
Everything is fun
You love your Brother Astro
Love to sing
Love to dream
Just like an angel, you are Uran
Everyone's calling you
[edit] Uran's theme ("Uran and Uran" version; Insert)
A tomboy I may be
My smile is so innocent
(Humph!)
Uran
Uran
I'm the real one
(Humph.)
Prettier then a flower
More fresh then the wind
Uran you're...
My fake.
Even Brother Astro
Can't tell us apart
But to me
It's so obvious
Just like two angels, Uran
But I'm definately the real Uran
[edit] Astro Boy closing theme (English version)
Come and join us in our melody
A song of happiness for you and me
Dream of joys, sing about a boy
Name of hero Astro Boy.
Come and join us in our fantasy
We can all be heroes you and me
Dream of joys, sing about a boy
Name of hero Astro Boy.
Trying not to wait so long
So tune in for a fight for life
Strong as steel and with a heart of gold
Dream of love and all your heartfelt voices will be heard
Sharing dreams and bringing joy for all.
