Astro Boy (1980 TV series)
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| Astro Boy | |
|---|---|
| 鉄腕アトム (Astro Boy: Tetsuwan Atomu) |
|
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Science fiction |
| TV anime | |
| Director | Noburo Ishiguro |
| Studio | Tezuka Productions |
| Network |  NTV RJTV 29 (1992) RPN (1984) Hero TV (2006) Syndication |
| Original run | 1 October 1980 – 23 December 1981 |
| Episodes | 52 |
| Related works | |
Astro Boy (アストロボーイ・鉄腕アトム Asutoro Bōi Tetsuwan Atomu?, lit. "Astro Boy: Mighty Atom") is a remake of the 1960s anime series of the same name; both series are adapted from the manga by Osamu Tezuka.
This series, which first aired during the 1980s, placed more focus on Astro's robotic skills--and had a somewhat darker storyline--than the previous incarnation of the series. While mostly light-hearted, and intended for general audiences, the series could be quite sombre and sad at times. It wasn't uncommon for robots or human characters to suffer for their actions or the misdeeds of others. During the course of the series, Astro gained a robotic mother, father and sister. The scripts of this version were largely written by Osamu Tezuka, although other writers were also involved. The story introduced Astro's evil brother Atlas, who was created from stolen blueprints by Count Walpurgis, a European arms manufacturer.
Characters' personalities in this series are somewhat different from other versions of the series. Astro himself comes across as much more child-like and innocent than his counterpart from the 2003 series; he seems quite unsure of himself at first, but gains confidence with time.
The series ran for 52 episodes (edited down to 51 episodes for the English versions) and did not have a proper ending (although the final episode in the Japanese run, "Astro's First Love", featured a special introduction by Osamu Tezuka). The US dub, while staying true to the original Japanese version, aired the episodes in a different order from the Japanese version.
There are two different English language dubs: one version which was shown in the US and Australia, and another version for audiences in Canada. In the Canadian version (which was also available in French), most of the characters had different names from their American counterparts. (Uran, for example, was named "Sarah", and Dr. Boynton was named "Professor Balfus".) Due to laws which limited advertising on children's programming, the Canadian versions featured extra, "filler" material in every episode: a pre-title sequence which recapped Astro's origin, and an epilogue wherein Astro would give a brief "report" about that episode's adventure to a computer named Geronimo. (The report would invariably contain a minor, intentional error about the story, and a narrator would encourage the viewers to write down Astro's mistake, and compare answers with their friends.)
[While the series was more popular in Australia and widely seen there, in the U.S. the series aired briefly on only a few UHF channels, like WTGI (channel 61) and only in certain markets like the Wilmington-Philadelphia area in the late 1980s and was basically unknown in other regions of the U.S.A. (The version that aired in the U.S.A. is the same version that aired in Australia and is different from the version that was aired in Canada as noted above.)]
The US version of the 1980 series has since been released on DVD by Madman Entertainment and Anchor Bay, although there are differences between the Madman and Anchor Bay sets. Madman's set contains more deleted scenes, as well as the first two episodes, unedited (in Japanese with English subtitles). The Anchor Bay set has a newly-edited Japanese language track to go with the U.S. version of the first episode.
The 1980s series of Astro Boy is also available on iTunes.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The first episode set in 2030 AD, Tokyo, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Tenma (Tenma-hakase; "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 his fourth failed attempt, Tenma is approached by a shady character named "Skunk" Kusai (Sukanku Kusa'i) who offers him an "Omega Factor" circuit which will turn a robot into a "human" if inserted into its electronic brain. After seeing Skunk thrown out, Tenma's nine-year-old son Tobio tries to console his father by suggesting he make a boy-robot.
Inspired, Tenma sets the Ministry to work (including his assistants, Dr. Honda and Dr. Ushiyama), accidentally reneging on his promise to take Tobio to the amusement park. Upset, Tobio took his father's car for a ride and crashed into an oncoming truck. Tobio made his father promise on his hospital deathbed to name his new robot "Tobio" and make it the strongest robot in the world, saying it would be loved in his place. Tenma does so, making a 10,000 horsepower robot capable of flight, equipped with lasers and machine guns - unaware that Skunk had his blueprints duplicated using insectoid surveillance robots on behalf of his boss, Count Walpurgis (Warupurugisu-hakushaku), who intended to place his Omega Factor circuit into Tenma's super-robot to create the world's greatest robot.
Afraid of the potential threat Tenma's robot could pose to humanity, the Prime Minister of Japan ordered the robot dismantled by the next night. Tenma secretly finished the robot that night, covering it with synthetic skin to fulfill his promise - a boy robot called "Tobio" to take his dead son's place (complete with the theme music to 2001: A Space Odyssey). After activating the robot, Tenma takes "Tobio" home to raise as a human child - complete with the eccentricities and inconveniences caused by an unknowingly super-powered child.
One day, Tobio's mind goes blank and his eyes start blinking red, as though someone was calling him... "another me" - Atlas (Atorasu), Walpurgis' new super robot, which had just been activated. When the activation process was over, Tobio regained his senses in time to be struck down by a Robot Disposal Car piloted by Tenma, Honda, and Ushiyama. Conflicting thoughts over Tobio made the scientists cause the Robot Disposal Car to malfunction and go berserk. Tobio recovered and saved everyone from the Car, beating it senseless and dumping it in the ocean. Recovering in hospital, Tenma realizes public awareness of Tobio would cost him his position in the Ministry of Science and Technology and decides for them to leave for America.
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 the Robot Circus. He's treated badly by Hamegg however he is later saved by Hamegg's assistant, Kathy, and Dr. Ochanomizu ("Dr. Elefun" in the official dub; "Prof. Peabody" in the Canadian dub), a scientist who becomes the new head of the Ministry of Science and Technology 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]
Dr. Boynton is hardly featured at all in this version of the series. It is implied at the end of the second Episode (third in the Japanese version) that Boynton died while Astro was away being forced to work in Hamegg's circus.
The credits of the opening of the Canadian dub credits a "Professor Balfus" as Astro's creator. Therefore in the Canadian dub Dr. Boynton is known as Professor Balfus.
[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.
In the 1980s Canadian dub, Dr. Elefun is known as Professor Peabody.
[edit] Daddy Walrus
Real name Albert Duncan, Daddy Walrus is Astro's teacher. Throughout the series, Duncan is portrayed as a judo expert, an efficient private eye, and a keen flower arranger. As a trained martial artist, he loves the smell of action and is capable of "polishing off" an adversary twice his size. A sharp advocate for Robotic rights, he is one of Astro's strongest supporters, and frequently engages in vitriolic arguments with the formidale Inspector Gumshoe. While loud, brash and comically short-tempered, Duncan regards Astro and Uran with genuine affection and would willingly risk his life on their behalf.
In the 1980s Canadian dub, Daddy Walrus is known as Dr. McNuggett.
[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 power 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.
While her naive personality was employed mainly for comic effect, her trusting nature took on a darker aspect in episode 29, where she is lured into an "underground" lab and experimented on by a malevolent scientist. While never stated explicitly, the relevant scenes carry heavy overtones of child abuse.
Other storylines featured Uran raising key philosophical questions (Episode 44, Uran's Quest) or confronting the implications of Death (Episode 29, Uran's Twin). Her childlike innocence was frequently used to explore commonly accepted notions of ethics and morality. Coming-of-age themes were similarly handled as Uran discovered that looks can be deceiving (Episode 48, Uran Falls in Love) or that nothing is ever completely black and white (Episodes 23 & 24).
In contrast to the original series, Uran occupied a less prominent position in the general storyline, and her appearance was revised to make her softer and rounder, possibly to appeal to female viewers. She was, however, the unofficial 'star' of several episodes, a reflection of the importance she holds in the Tetsuwan Atom mythos.
On the 2003 series of Astro Boy, her name is Zoran.
In the 1980s Canadian dub, Uran is known as Sarah.
[edit] Atlas
Astro's brother and arch enemy. Atlas was developed by Walpurgis after he obtained Astro's original design plans through Skunk. He was designed with a similar child-like look to Astro originally and was known as "Atlas". Walpurgis and Skunk planned to use him to steal things, however they became frustrated when Atlas stole receipts instead of cash. After this Walpurgis installed an Omega Factor into Atlas which allowed him to defy the robot laws. After attacking Walpurgis 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.
Atlas believed robots are superior to human beings and repeated asked Astro to join him in taking over the world. Atlas and Astroboy share many of the same weapons. Atlas had the ability to fly, and shoot laser beams from his index fingers, but his preferred weapon was his lighting saber – a sword which pulsed with electricity and shot beams of power at his assailants.
The new Atlas and Livian are adult in appearance. Over the course of the series, Atlas gained a floating crystal castle and dealt with Walpurgis and Skunk again. In his second-to-last episode of the series, Astro learns from Livian (despite Atlas not wishing it) that Atlas is his brother. As a result he appears to sacrifice himself and Livian to save Earth from alien invaders to protect Astro and prevent him being destroyed.
Livian was the only person to show compassion to Atlas when he was first created. She doesn’t approve of his schemes to take over the world and on one occasion helps Astro to foil his plot. Despite this and Atlas’s anger at her betrayal he never harms her.
[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] Episodes
Though there is a rough story progression throughout the series, it need not necessarily be watched in order, something reflected by the fact that the English broadcast order was significantly different from the original Japanese broadcast order. Some scenes were also cut for the English version, usually because of violence.
[edit] The lost episode
For unexplained reasons, the first two episodes of the Japanese series were edited into one for English language broadcast. Most material omitted related to the birth of Atlas, Astro's brother-nemesis. This made for a confusing situation for English-speaking viewers, as some of these events were alluded to in later episodes.
The two episodes are available in their unaltered state on the Madman Entertainment DVD release, though the first exists in Japanese with English subtitles only.
[edit] List of episodes
- The Birth Of Astroboy (Atomu Tanjō)
- Robot Circus (Robotto Sākasu)
- Save the Classmate
- Atlas Lives Again
- Robot Land
- Frankenstein
- The Red Cat
- The Crystal of the Desert
- The White Planet
- The Robot President
- Goliath's Head
- The Light-Ray Robot
- Uran the Tomboy
- Robio and Robiette
- Astro Fights Aliens
- Save the Carolina 3!
- The Rainbow Comet
- The Death Balloon
- The Transformation Robot
- The Wreck of the Titan
- The Liar Robot
- The Girl from Alsoar
- The Greatest Robot in the World (Part 1)
- The Greatest Robot in the World (Part 2)
- The Robot Vikings
- The Time Machine
- The Robot Stuntman
- The Great Meltdown
- Uran's Twin
- Speeding Through the Storm
- The Return of Cleopatra
- The Runaway Subway Train
- The Baby Elephant Pook
- The Secret of Bee City
- The Monster of Clarken
- Lilly On Peligro Island
- The Anti-Proton Gun
- The Man Made Solar Sphere
- Blackie Young
- The Genie from Outer Space
- The Robots Nobody Wanted
- Atlas Forever
- The Snow Leopard
- Uran's Quest
- Outer Space Port R-45
- The Hijacked Airship!
- The Human-Faced Rock
- Uran Falls in Love
- The World of Odin
- The Secret of the Mayas
- Astro's First Love
