Synopsis
After a car crash claims the life of his son Tobio, Dr. Umatarou Tenma, head of the Ministry of Science, directs his team to build Atom, a robot modeled after the deceased boy. Possessing superior strength and intellect alongside youthful innocence, Atom is rejected by Tenma when he realizes the android cannot age. Dismissing the machine as a mere tool, Tenma sells him to a circus where performers are treated as disposable. Despite this harsh treatment, Atom remains compassionate toward both humans and robots, constantly risking his safety to protect others. His fortunes change when Dr. Ochanomizu, an advocate against robot mistreatment, rescues him. Under Ochanomizu’s mentorship, Atom strives for peace in a society where humans and robots coexist, while learning to navigate its intricate complexities.
Background
Tetsuwan Atom was the first television anime series to air in a 30-minute programming slot. It was broadcast by Fuji Television and reached over 40 percent viewership rating by the following year. The February 2004 issue of the Cinefantastique American magazine listed it as one of the 10 Essential Anime. It ranked second in the 100 Select Works of Media Arts survey for the animation category, which was held in 2006 by the Japan Media Arts Festival. The series also won several awards: the Special Award at the second Television Reporters Conference in 1964, The Ministry of Health and Welfare Award in 1965, and the Galaxy Award at the fourth Broadcast Critics' Discussion in 1967. When television producer Fred Ladd helped NBC Enterprises adapt the series for broadcast in the United States in 1963, the title Astro Boy was used instead of the manga's English title Mighty Atom. Only the first 104 episodes were made available in English and aired in an alternative order, with adjustments for the American audience. In North America, Right Stuf International released several VHS tapes of the series between 1989 and 1995; the company returned with all 104 episodes on DVD—as a collection of two 11-disc sets—from March 27, 2006, to August 29, 2006. A subsequent mini collection of two five-disc sets and an independent five-episode DVD Astro Boy: The Beginning also became available on October 6, 2009.