Astro Boy

Synopsis

Continues the story of Atom: The Beginning

In the near future, a catastrophic event of unknown cause strikes Japan. Five years later, the nation is still recovering. At a local university, two budding scientists dedicate themselves to robotics research. This story delves into the origins of the legendary hero Astro Boy, laying the groundwork for his eventual birth.

In this installment

After his son Tobio dies in a car accident, Dr. Umatarou Tenma, the head of the Ministry of Science, orders his team to build Atom—a robot modeled after the boy he lost. Atom possesses incredible strength and intelligence along with a childlike innocence, but Tenma discards him when he realizes the android will never age. Seeing Atom as nothing more than a machine, Tenma sells him to a circus where the performers are mistreated. Even under these harsh conditions, Atom remains gentle toward both humans and robots, often endangering himself to protect others. His situation changes when Dr. Ochanomizu, a firm opponent of robot cruelty, frees him. Under Ochanomizu's guidance, Atom strives to create harmony in a world shared by humans and robots, learning to navigate the complexities of society along the way.

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.