Astro Boy

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 The style may be outdated, but the messages are timeless and interesting to both kids an adults.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.

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!

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.

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".

"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.