Astroboy: The Complete Series (2003)
Release Year: 2004
Format: DVD
No. of Discs: 5 Discs
Episodes: 50
Language: English Dubbed, Portuguese, Spanish
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo
Screen Format: 1.33:1 (Full Screen)
Running Time: 1010 Minutes
Other Features: Closed Captioned; Mastered in High Definition
Region: 1
Distributed by: Sony Pictures/Columbia – TriStar Home Entertainment
By Jmaruyama

Introduction

(From the back cover) “Blast off with the all-new ASTRO BOY, a state-of-the-art update of Tezuka Osamu’s classic series that started the anime explosion. Filled with exciting action, humor, and drama, ASTRO BOY tells the story of a young robot boy modeled after the son of a research scientist. This atomic-powered robot becomes a reluctant superhero who fights for justice and peace – for humans and robots alike! “

U.S. Production Staff

Director: Michael Hack
Writer(s): Larry Bischof, Todd Felderstein, Dick Grunert, Andrew Guerdat,
Marc Handler, Pamela Hickey, Dennys McCoy, Rick Suvalle
Executive Producer: Joe D'Ambrosia
Original Music: Patrick Griffin
Film Editing: Ken Ohara, Michael T. Smith
Casting: Michael Hack
ADR Recordist: Devon Bowman
Dialogue Editor: Devon Bowman
Production Executive: Grace Benn
ADR Writer: Marc Handler
Executive Story Editor: Marc Handler
Supervising Director: David Hartman

Cast (American Dubbed Version):

Candi Milo (Astro Boy)
Wally Wingert (Dr. O'Shay, Skunk, Blue Knight, Wally Kisagari, Katari, Harley, Kato)
Bill Farmer (Tawashi)
Susan Blu (Zoran)
Dorian Harewood (Tenma)
Maile Flanagan (Matthew)
Greg Cipes (Atlas)
Jennifer Darling (Nora)
Sandy Martin (Abercrombie)
Lara Jill Miller (Alejo)
Faith Salie (Yuko)
Tabitha St. Germain (Mimi)
Gregg Berger

Japanese Production Staff
Original 2003 Japanese Broadcast Version:
Director: Konaka Kazuya
Writer(s): Hasegawa Keiichi, Kobayashi Hirotoshi, Konaka Chiaki, Konuta Kenshi, Murai Sadayuki, Ota Ai, Hiki & McCoy, Larry Bischof
Story Editor: Marc Handler, Jordan Broger
Animation Director: Mochitsuki Kenichiro
Character Designer: Seiya Shinji
Mechanical Designer(s): Aramaki Shinji, Takakura Takeshi
Backgrounds: Kato Hiroshi
Director of Photography: Takahashi Hiroshi
Music: Mitsuya Masafumi
Color: Okano Hiroshi

OP Theme Song:
“Boy’s Heart”
Music by: Fumiya Fujii
Sung by: Fumiya Fujii

Cast (2003 Japanese Version):
Tsumura Makoto (Astro Boy/Atom)
Katsuda Hisashi (Dr. Ocha-No-Mizu)
Maruyama Miki (Uran)
Tomita Kosei (Hige Oyaji – Bearded Oldman)
Owada Shinya (Dr. Tenma)
Hiyama Yoshiyuki (Astran)
Ginga Banjyo (Inspector Tashyu )
Kawase Asako (Kisaragi Yuko)
Tatsuta Naoki (Robita)

Episodes: (English Dubbed Version)

#1 – “Power Up!”
#2 – “Rocket Ball”
#3 – “Atlas”
#4 – “Astro vs. Atlas”
#5 – “Destination Deimos”
#6 – “Into Thin Air”
#7 – “Rainbow Canyon”
#8 – “Neon Express”
#9 – “Franken”
#10 – “The Venus Robots”
#11 – “Reviving Jumbo”
#12 – “Robot Hunters”
#13 – “The Rise of Pluto”
#14 – “The Fall of Acheron”
#15 – “Dragon Lake”
#16 – “Lost In Outland”
#17 – “Deep City”
#18 – “The Blue Knight”
#19 – “Hydra-Jacked”
#20 – “Geo Raider”
#21 – “Secret of the Blue Knight”
#22 - “Robot Circus”
#23 – “Little Sister, Big Trouble”
#24 – “Micro Adventure”
#25 – “Only A Machine”
#26 – “Robot Boy”
#27 – “Dawn of the Techno-Revolution”
#28 – “The Legend of Tohron”
#29 – “March of the Micro Bears”
#30 – “Old Dog, New Tricks”
#31 – “The Case of the Phantom Owl”
#32 – “Gideon”
#33 – “Fairy Tale”
#34 – “Shape Shifter”
#35 – “Firebird”
#36 – “Space Academy”
#37 – “Atlas Strikes Back”
#38 - “Battle-Bot”
#39 – “Time Hunters”
#40 – “Escape From Volcano Island”
#41 – “Avalanche!”
#42 – “Battle of Steel Island”
#43 – “Undercover”
#44 – “Into The Drangon’s Lair”
#45 – “Night Before The Revolution”
#46 – “Robotonia”
#47 – “Showdown in Robotonia”
#48 – “Journey To Tomorrow”
#49 – “Astro Reborn”
#50 – “The Final Battle”

(Original 2003 Japanese Version)

#1 – “Power Up!”
#2 – “Robot Ball”
#3 – “Atom Uchu E Iku” (Atom Goes To Space)
#4 – “Denkou” (Lightning)
#5 - “Robot Nojou O Tsuku – Save The Robot Farm”
#6 – “Atlas Tanjyo” (Enter Atlas)
#7 – “Atom vs. Atlas”
#8 – “Robot Cho Tokuyu” (Robot Express)
#9 – “Franken”
#10 – “Kin Sei Robot Chokai!” (Venus Robot Rebellion)
#11 – “Robot Circus Ga Yatekita” (Here Comes The Robot Circus)
#12 – “Yomigaetta Jumbo” (Jumbo Reborn)
#13 – “ Uran Tanjyo” (Enter Uran)
#14 – “Micro No Daibouken” (The Micro Sized Adventure)
#15 – “Jinko Chino O Mamore!” (Protect the A.I.)
#16 – “Yami No Robot Hunter” (The Dark Robot Hunter)
#17 – “Chijyo Saiko No Robot” (The World’s Strongest Robot)
#18 – “Bluuto O Shinazu” (Don’t Die Bluuto)
#19 – “Robot Boy”
#20 – “Eien No Shonen” (The Immortal Youth)
#21 – “Umi No Kaibutsu” (Monster In The Lake)
#22 – “Sayonara Princess” (Goodbye Princess)
#23 – “Ushiwareta Kiroku” (Lost Memory)
#24 – “Bear Chan” (Tiny Bear)
#25 – “Moshimo Namida O Nagasetara” (What If I Could Cry)
#26 – “Aoi Kishi Toujyo” (Enter The Blue Knight)
#27 – “Mei Tantei Hige Oyaji” (The Great Detective – Bearded Oldman)
#28 – “Uchu Plant No Kiki” (The Space Plant is in Danger)
#29 – “Uran To Mei Tantei” (Uran and the Great Detective)
#30 – “Chi Tei Tanken” (The Subterranean Adventure)
#31 – “Gunon No Daibouken” (Gunon’s Grand Adventure)
#32 – “Oi Kishi No Himitsu” (The Blue Knight’s Secret)
#33 – “Yousei Monogatari” (The Fairy Fairytale)
#34 – “Henkei Seimei Movie” (The Changeling Movie)
#35 – “Atom vs. Rock”
#36 – “Koi Suru Robot” (Robots In Love)
#37 – “Atlas Gyakushu” (Atlas’ Revenge)
#38 – “Emily No Negai” (Emily’s Wish)
#39 – “Time Hunter”
#40 – “Robot Kirai” (Robot Haters)
#41 – “Chojin No Kiyoku” (Memories of a Giant)
#42 – “Kotetsu Shima No Tatakai” (Battle on Metal Island)
#43 – “Ningen Ni Okagareta Robot” (The Robot Who Yearns For People)
#44 – “Ryu No Mori E” (Go To the Forest of Dragons)
#45 – “Kakumei Zenya” (Yesterday’s Revolution)
#46 – “Robotania Teikoku” (The Empire of Robotania)
#47 – “Kessen! Nankokutairiku” (Showdown in Antarctica0
#48 – “Ashita E No Tabidachi” (Forward To Tomorrow)
#49 – “Atom Bukkatsu” (Atom Reborn)
#50 – “Saigo No Taiketsu” (The Last Battle)

Story

Atom is the creation of Prof. Tenma, a brilliant yet troubled genius in robotics who sought to resurrect his son Tobio, who had died years earlier in a tragic car accident. Tenma however abruptly abandoned Atom and went into hiding, renouncing humanity and vowing to have robots rule the world (similar to Dr. Mann in “Chodenshi Bioman” [Toei; 1984]). Tenma’s kindly assistant Prof. Ochanomizu takes up the task of completing Tenma’s work and succeeds in activating Atom. While at first Atom has the mind of a baby, he surprises Prof. Ochanomizu by rapidly learning at an accelerated rate. He also discovers that he has incredible powers and abilities designed into his body. Atom desires nothing but to be accepted by humans and goes as far as attends human elementary school as a student much to the chagrin of Prof. Ochanomizu, who is being pressured to have Atom examined and studied by the Robotic Institute where he works. Atom’s life is further complicated when Tenma returns from his isolation and actively launches several attacks on humanity through the use of various rogue robots and other devastating machines of destruction. While Atom grows to love his father, he knows that he must stop his plans and prevent the increasing tensions that are growing between robots and humans.

Who is Atom?

Tetsuwan Atom is the creation of the brilliant robotic scientist Prof. Tenma who has sought to create the perfect robot that so closely mimicked man that it would be near humanlike. Atom was a perfect visual copy of Tenma’s only son Tobio, who had died years earlier in a car accident.

Tenma abandoned Atom before he was fully realized and was later activated by the kindly scientist Prof. Ochanomizu who saw great potential in Atom.

When first activated Atom had the mind of a child but due to his advanced programming and incredible learning/adaptive capabilities was able to master human language and acquire basic knowledge in a matter of hours.

Atom has a number of extraordinary abilities that were built into his robotic body by Tenma and further refined by Prof. Ochanomizu:

Jet Boosters – Jet Boosters are built within Atom’s legs that enable him to fly through the skies.

Computer Brain – Has the ability to learn at an extraordinary rate. Has mastered 60 human languages and can even communicate with computers and other robotic life forms. While his intellect is still developing, he has the potential to have genius level intelligence.

Empathy Circuit – Has the ability to read human intentions and discern between good and bad. This is what distinguishes Atom from his other robot brethren. He has the potential to feel human emotion and to experience what no robot has up to this point accomplished.

Superhuman Hearing – His hearing is almost 1000 times greater than human hearing.

Eye Searchlight – Able to project light from his eyes that can act as searchlights.

Arm/Finger Gun - Atom is equipped with a power laser gun blaster in his arm. He can fire this gun through his finger or arm. The laser gun is extremely powerful and can destroy most objects (In the manga, Atom’s gun projected out from his rear!).

Super Strength – As a robot creation, Atom’s strength is many times greater than humans and he can lift objects many times greater and heavier than himself. There are only a few other robots with strength that matches or even exceeds Atom’s.

Review

While I haven’t been fortunate enough to see the original 1963 Anime version or the 1980 remake, I’ve been a fan and admirer of Tezuka Osamu’s works since a child. While his drawing style may seem a bit cartoonish, there is something very much endearing and appealing about his characters and it is little wonder that Tezuka’s characters like Kimba and Atom have become cultural icons in Japan. The anime “Tetsuwan Atom” was beloved by millions when it debuted in 1963 and has transcended language barriers to become recognized around the world.

While the series has been successfully remade in 1980, this 2003 version is less a remake than an reinterpretation of the original, incorporating new technology (CGI animation) and other advanced cell animation techniques to create a series that is more a homage than direct rip off of the original (“Re: Cutie Honey “, “Cutey Honey Flash”, “Shin Getter Robo” and “Appleseed” are other examples of this trend).

The stories from what I can tell are all original stories and focus on some of the overall themes that Tezuka tackled in his manga (the troubled relationships between humans and robots, the strength of family, the meaning of friendship, and the power of love).

The stories themselves run the gamut of being so-so to some being pretty exceptional. There are quite a few story arcs that run through many episodes. While the overall tone is lighthearted and comical, there are also some dramatic elements and some of the storylines are pretty intense.

While fans of the original 1963 series may see this new series as merely an inferior “pretender to the throne”, I think it does succeed in reintroducing newer generations to this great character and while far from perfect, this series is overall very enjoyable and fun.

Sony Pictures/Columbia – TriStar Home Entertainment has done a fairly good job at transferring this series to DVD. The transfer is great and the colors are vibrant and crisp (no surprise as this series is relatively new).

The sound is loud and sounds great on stereo speakers.

While purists may scoff at the fact that this DVD set excludes the original Japanese Dialogue, the series doesn’t seem to suffer any real setback by this fact (this was most likely a calculated marketing decision by Sony Pictures/Columbia – TriStar Home Entertainment to prevent piracy and secure sales within the US markets).

I’m not a fan of English Dubbed works but I wasn’t that put off by this English Language version.

The packaging is very attractive and I particularly liked that Sony used slimmer DVD cases for the box set.

The menus are a bit boring however and I wish that more animated menus could have been used.

The set includes only one notable Special Feature. A 9-Minute behind the scenes making of the series which is pretty standard fair but interesting none-the-less.

Preview Trailers are also included for the following:

“Steam Boy”; “Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis”; “Kaena: The Prophecy”; “Tokyo Grandfathers”; “Spider-Man: The MTV Animated Series” ; “Godzilla Millenium”; “Memories”.

Trivia:

Based on the landmark manga series “Tetsuwan Atom” (Lit. Iron Arm Atom) by legendary manga artist/writer Tezuka Osamu which was serialized in 1968 in “Shonen” Magazine (Kobunsha Publishing).

There have been at least three different animated adaptations of the “Tetsuwan Atom” manga:

“Tetsuwan Atom AKA Mighty Atom” (1963)
Episodes: 193
Dir.: Tezuka Osamu, Sugi Gisaburo, Sakamoto Daisaku, Yamamoto, Eiichi, Dezaki Osamu, Tomino Yoshiyuki, Okazaki Minoru, and Nagaki Fusahito
Screenwriter: Tezuka Osamu, Honma Noriyuki, Tsuji Masaki, Takahashi Kenichi
Designer: Tezuka Osamu
Animation: Sakamoto Daisaku
Music: Takai Tatsuo
Production Company: Matsuzaki Productions in association with Mushi Productions
Broadcast by: Fuji TV later NHK TV

This first anime adaptation aired on Japanese TV between 1963-1968. This black and white anime is the one most fans are familiar with and is the one that aired as “Mighty Atom” on US Television. The English language dubbed version was marketed by Fred Ladd.

In 1980 Osamu Tezuka remade the original series in color as “Astro Boy – Testuwan Atom” (Tezuka Pro/Fuji TV; 1980) although this series did not last as long as the original.

In 1977 Osamu Tezuka debuted a ‘reinterpretation’ of the original series entitled “Jetter Mouse” but it proved to be vastly inferior to the original series.

Veteran voice actress Shimizu Mari portrayed Tetsuwan Atom in both the 1964 and 1980 versions.

Jmaruyama