Astro Boy (1980 TV series)

Astro Boy

English dub title screen
鉄腕アトム
(Tetsuwan Atomu)
Genre Action, Adventure, Science fiction
Anime television series
Directed by Noboru Ishiguro[1]
Studio Tezuka Productions
Licensed by

‹See Tfd›

Network NTV
English network

‹See Tfd›

Nickelodeon (1996–2001)
Boomerang (2008–2009)
ABC (1983–1992)
CTV (1980s)
Syndication (1985–2001)
Radio-Canada (1985–1990)
TV Land (2000–2007)
Radio Philippines Network (1984)
SBN (1998)
Hero TV (2006)
GMA (2009)
US Syndication (1986–2002)
PBS (1986–1992)
CBS (1987–1989)
WTGI (1986)
Original run October 1, 1980 – December 23, 1981
Episodes 52
Related works

Astro Boy (鉄腕アトム Tetsuwan Atomu, lit. "Mighty Atom"), sometimes referred to as New Mighty Atom (新・鉄腕アトム Shin Tetsuwan Atomu), is a remake of the 1960s anime series of the same name(s); both series are adapted from the manga series by Osamu Tezuka.

This series places more focus on Astro's robotic abilities and has a darker story line than previous incarnations of the series.

The series ran for 52 episodes (edited down to 51 episodes for the English versions).

Plot

The first episode takes place in the year 2030 in Tokyo, Japan.[2] Dr. Tenma, the Minister of Science, is attempting to create a robot capable of expressing human emotions. After his fourth failed attempt, Tenma is approached by Skunk Kusai, a man who offers him an "Omega Factor" circuit which, when installed, will humanize a robot. After rejecting Skunk's offer and throwing him out, Tenma's nine-year-old son, Tobio, suggests his father make a robot shaped like a child.

Inspired by his son, Tenma sets off to the Ministry of Science to work, forgetting his promise to take Tobio to an amusement park. Upset by his father's neglect, Tobio drives an aerocar home but crashes into an oncoming truck, dying in the process. Just before he dies, Tobio makes his father promise to name his boy robot "Tobio" and make it the strongest robot in the world, while still loving it like a son. Tenma then creates a 100,000 horsepower (75,000 kW) robot capable of flight, equipped with lasers and machine guns. However, Skunk obtains the blueprints, duplicates them, and takes them to the evil Count Walpurgis, who aspires to put the Omega Factor into a super robot and use it for world domination.

Afraid of the potential threat Tenma's robot son could pose to humanity, the Prime Minister of Japan orders the robot dismantled by the next night. Tenma, however, secretly finishes constructing the robot that night, only showing his two assistants that "Tobio" exists, and takes him home to raise him. After various mishaps with raising the robot, Tobio's mind suddenly goes blank, his eyes start blinking red, and he is summoned to wait in the middle of town. Atlas, Walpurgis' new super robot, had been activated and was connecting to Tobio. When the connection process fails, Tobio regains his senses, only to come under attack from a robot disposal tank piloted by Tenma, Honda, and Ushiyama. Something goes wrong and the tank malfunctions and goes berserk. Tobio recovers and saves everyone in the vicinity. Recovering in the hospital, Tenma realizes the public will discover that Tobio exists, and decides to take Tobio on an ocean cruise to America.

Tobio struggles to control his strength. After a disastrous meal on the cruise, Tenma disowns Tobio. Tobio hides on deck and is tricked into signing himself into a contract of slavery to the ringmaster Hamegg, who runs the Robot Circus. Tobio spots Atlas nearby and tries to attack him, but Tobio loses most of his energy in the process. Hamegg then shuts him in his suitcase. Tenma soon regrets his actions and begins searching for Tobio. At the circus, Tobio is renamed "Mighty Atom/Astro Boy" and is cruelly treated by Hamegg, but taught and cared for by a performer named Kathy, who shows him kindness and compassion. Professor Ochanomizu, a local scientist, discovers Tenma's lost robot at the circus and, with Kathy's help, smuggles Astro Boy out of the circus. Professor Ochanomizu becomes the new head of the Ministry of Science. From there, Astro Boy learns more about the world and becomes the defender of Tokyo and beyond.

Characters

Atom/Astro Boy

Main article: Astro Boy (character)

Astro has a strong sense of morality and is always gentle and kind towards others. Astro is a superpowered robot, with seven secret super powers.[3] He is designed to look exactly like Tobio, the son of his creator. Dr. Tenma 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 his inability to control his strength. After being rejected by Dr. Tenma, Astro joins Hamegg's Robot Circus, where he learns to control his powers and meets Dr. Ochanomizu. He is unsure of his destiny in the beginning, but he gains confidence as the story unfolds.

Throughout 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 they are considered to be brothers. However, Astro refuses to help Atlas in his quest for world domination. He is voiced by Mari Shimizu, Patricia Kugler Whitely (American version) and then-12-year-old Steven Bednarski (Canadian version).

Uran

Main article: Uran (character)

Uran is Astro's naive but determined little sister. She was "born" on New Years Day, built by Dr. Ochanomizu as a gift to Astro. She has half the power of her brother (with 50,000 horsepower) but is quite powerful. Uran is depicted as a cute, tomboyish little girl.

Despite this, Uran is generally a good-hearted girl and is shown to be rather attached to Astro and generally looks up to him. (this is shown after he saves her from becoming a slave in episode 14.)

In contrast to the 1960s 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. Many times, she was the star of a few episodes, all of which had a special ending theme with pictures of Uran in costumes. Uran is voiced by Masako Sugaya in the Japanese dub and by Becke Wilenski in the American version.[4]

Doctor Tenma

Main article: Dr. Tenma

After several robot design failures, Dr. Tenma created Astro Boy from a suggestion from his son, Tobio. Dr. Tenma zealously worked on creating a robot that would be able to act and behave like a real human. In his search to obtain his goal, Dr. Tenma neglected Tobio, forgetting his promise to take his son to the amusement park. As a result, Tobio decides to go on his own and crashes the robot car, dying from the accident.

Dr. Tenma continues to work on the boy robot. Once completed, he calls the robot Tobio (Astro Boy), after his son. However, Astro Boy's inability to control his own strength begins to infuriate Dr. Tenma, and while on a cruise, Dr. Tenma angrily disowns the robot. Dr. Tenma is last seen mournfully calling out for Tobio, and is not seen through the remainder of the series.[5] He is voiced by Tamio Ōki, and Del Lewis (American version).

Professor Ochanomizu

Main article: Professor Ochanomizu

Succeeding Dr. Tenma as Minister of Science, Dr. Ochanomizu rescues Astro Boy from Hamegg's Robot Circus. Dr. Ochanomizu is a robot rights advocate and creates the "Robot Bill of Rights", which allows robots to be of equal status of humans. He often acts as a surrogate father for Astro Boy, providing him with advice and information. Early into the series, Dr. Ochanomizu builds Astro a mother, father, and a little sister named Uran. He is voiced by Hisashi Katsuta and Brian Parry (American version).

Atlas

Astro's half-brother and arch enemy, he was created by Walpurgis and Skunk who copied Astro's original design plans. Atlas was designed with a similar, childlike look and was planned to be used in theft, but Atlas was too naive and unprepared for criminal use. Only Livian, Walpurgis' robot maid, showed him any kind of compassion or kindness; he reciprocates in turn, considering her his only true friend. 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 an electric sword. The new Atlas believed robots were superior to human beings and repeatedly asked Astro to join him in taking over the world. Atlas and Astro share many of the same powers and abilities.

The new Atlas and Livian are adult in appearance. Over the course of the series, Atlas gained a floating crystal castle. He dealt with Skunk and then Walpurgis, whom he killed off for good after his creator blackmailed him to use a powerful destructive cannon by planting a bomb in Livian's body as a fail-safe. However, Livian escaped from Walpurgis' grasp and Atlas pulverized him alongside his Castle after retrieving Livian. Later, Atlas sacrifices himself and Livian to save Earth from alien invaders. He is voiced by Katsuji Mori and Paul Nelson (American version).

Higeoyaji

Real name Shunsaku Ban (Albert Duncan in the American dub), Daddy Walrus is Astro's teacher. Throughout the series, Mr. Pompous/Daddy Walrus is portrayed as a judo expert, an efficient private eye, and a keen flower arranger. As a trained martial artist, a recurring joke is Pompous reacting in terror when confronted but instantly rallying courage and "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, Pompous/Daddy Walrus regards Astro and Uran with genuine affection and would willingly risk his life on their behalf. He is voiced by Kazuo Kumakura and Bob Gonzalez (American dub).

Livian

Livian was formerly Walpurgis's robot maid, who befriended the young Atlas and took care of him. She was destroyed for accidentally breaking a decorative gargoyle and, as a result, Atlas went hysterical and attacked Walpurgis. Atlas rebuilt Livian and himself as adult robots, making Livian look like a princess. She is the only person to show compassion to Atlas and, in turn, he never harms her. Livian once leaves his crystal castle to warn Astro about Atlas's plans, and later tells Astro that he and Atlas are brothers. She is voiced by Keiko Yokozawa and Becky Wilenski (American version).

Jump

Jump is a yellow dog with brown patches and the pet dog of Tobio. Jump was loyal to his master and rushed to the scene after Tobio crashed the car and died. When Astro was first introduced to Jump, Jump was afraid and didn't like him. It is unknown how Dr. Ochanomizu found him, but when Astro visits his new home and parents for the first time, Jump is also with them. Jump grows to like Astro and his family, though Uran does not have the same amount of respect for Jump that Astro has.

Skunk Kusai

An enigmatic thief and mob leader in Tokyo, known for his blue skin and bloodhound eyes. In the beginning of the series, he works with Walpurgis in order to copy Astro's design blueprints. Skunk was assigned to teach Atlas, but, after becoming frustrated with him, the majority of the teaching was done by Livian. After Skunk set up Astro and Atlas's first battle, Walpurgis destroyed Livian, and Skunk just barely got away from Atlas's hysterical backlash.

Skunk went to Tokyo and started up a gang, whom briefly used the adult Atlas to commit several robberies when Atlas returned. Throughout the rest of the series, Skunk utilizes various robots for his own doings, most famously in the episode "The Light Ray Robot". He develops a strong hate for Astro because of the boy's constant interference with Skunk's work. At times, the latter tries to destroy or taunt him. He is voiced by Seizō Katō and Jay Rath (American version).

Tobio Tenma

A nine-year-old boy who is the son of Doctor Tenma who was fatally wounded in a car accident. After being neglected by his father, he goes in his car alone and crashes into an oncoming truck. Whilst on his deathbed at the Tokyo hospital, he tells his father to create a robot who looks like him. He dies in his father's arms after speaking his last words. He is voiced by Mari Shimizu, Patricia Kugler Whitely (American version) and Steven Bednarski (Canadian version).

Others

Broadcast and release

There are two different English language dubs. The first was coordinated by Tezuka Productions and Nippon TV and dubbed in 1982, which aired in Australia from 1983 to 1998. It had a very limited release in the U.S.,[6] where broadcasts were limited to syndication in a few markets, such as the Philadelphia-Wilmington area where it aired at 10:30am weekdays in 1986 on what was then WTGI—channel 61.[7] This is the version that was later released on DVD in both Australia and the United States (see third paragraph).

The second English dub was heavily edited and redubbed in Canada in 1985, solely for broadcast there. In the Canadian version, most of the characters had different names from their American counterparts. Due to laws which required a specific amount of Canadian content, the Canadian version also featured a pre-title sequence which recapped Astro's origin, and an epilogue where Astro would give a brief report about each episode's adventure to a computer named Geronimo. Astro's report would always contain a minor error about the story, and a narrator would encourage the viewers to find Astro's mistake, and compare answers with their friends. In India, the Hindi dubbed version of this show was broadcast on Pogo from 2008 to 2009.

The aforementioned first dub of the 1980 series has since been released on DVD by Madman Entertainment and Manga Entertainment, although there are differences between the Madman and Manga Entertainment sets. Madman's set contains more deleted scenes, as well as the first two episodes, unedited (in Japanese with English subtitles). The Manga Entertainment set has a newly edited Japanese language track to go with the U.S. version of the first episode.[8] As of March 2012, the Manga set is now out of print.

Episode list

J# A# Original title (English)/English Dub title
Original title (Japanese)		 Original air date (Japan) Original air date (Australia)
1- "The Birth Of Atom"
"ATOMU tanjō" (アトム誕生) 		October 1, 1980-
Doctor Boynton is a robotics engineer struggling for a breakthrough, while his son Toby longs for his affection. One night, a shady criminal, Skunk Kusai, visits his home and offers Dr. Boynton a new circuit known as the Omega Factor, which would allow robots to become far more human-like, to the point of defying all Laws of Robotics. Boynton angrily throws him out of his home. Toby, having overheard their conversation, suggests to his father that he design a new robot that resembles a human boy. Boynton is inspired by this, and creates a new template for this design. However, he neglects his promise to spend time with Toby at an amusement park, hurting Toby's feelings. As Toby leaves the park, he is caught in a traffic collision and is horribly injured, and dies from his wounds in the hospital; before this, he has his father promise him to make the robot in his image and treat it like his own. Overcome with grief, Boynton completes the project, christening the new robot after his deceased son, and brings him to life. However, Skunk has copied the template designs as well, and takes them to a scientist named Walpurgis, who builds a robot he names Atlas. Boynton takes the robot Toby home, teaching him about life and how to live like a little boy. However, some time later Toby becomes paralyzed, his eyes blinking red, and disappears from Boynton's home. Boynton and his colleagues track Toby down using a robot tank, but the tank suddenly goes berzerk with them inside, causing Toby to rush to save his father and his colleagues. Little do they realize that Toby's behavior was caused when Atlas was activated; the two robots had "called" one another. Later, in the hospital, Boynton tells Toby that he is very proud of him, but since he was no longer a secret, the two would have to leave the country for a while. Atlas and Walpurgis' robot maid, Livian, discuss his purpose, with Atlas uncertain of what lies ahead for him. 
2- "Atom vs. Atlas"
"ATOMU tai ATORASU" (アトム対アトラス) 		October 8, 1980-

Dr. Boynton and Toby depart on an ocean liner for America, but Toby is unintentionally destructive, as he doesn't realize his own strength at times. Frustrated, Dr. Boynton has him stay in their cabin while he heads for dinner. However, a couple of guests want to meet Toby, so he has no choice but to bring him along. During the dinner, the guests realize that Toby is a robot, and even though he means no harm, manages to ruin the dinner by tipping the table over, causing a huge mess. Angrily, Boynton rejects Toby on the spot, declaring that he's just a robot and that he has no son. Meanwhile, Skunk Kusai has taken to educating Atlas in crime, teaching him how to rob armored trucks. Atlas, however, destroys the trucks before robbing them. Skunk then tries to teach him how to rob a supermarket, but Atlas, instead of steal money, makes off with receipts instead. Frustrated with his incompetence, Skunk tells Walpurgis that Atlas is a fool and the Omega Factor has done nothing for him, but Walpurgis counters that Atlas is becoming more humanlike, and mistakes are a human factor in learning. Atlas, meanwhile, is consoled by Livian, who begs him not to follow a life of crime, but Atlas insists that he become more human to impress Walpurgis. Livian tells Atlas that a man must not harm those weaker than he, and even though they are robots, they also identify by gender. Atlas asks if Livian can be like his mother, as she is the only one who truly makes him happy. However, Skunk interrupts their talk to take Atlas on a mission. As Toby considers what Boynton said to him, he is approached by a shady circus owner, Hamegg, who asks if he would like to join the circus now that he had been disowned by Boynton. He takes Toby with him and coerces him into signing a contract, declaring Toby Hamegg's property. Meanwhile, Skunk tells Atlas that he plans to sink the ocean liner and have Atlas go in and steal a haul of gold bars on board. His plan is to create a field of icebergs in the path of the ship to cause it to crash. Setting off explosives, he creates a large flow of icebergs, but Toby manages to destroy the icebergs by breaking them up, saving the ship. He encounters Atlas, who attacks him and nearly destroys him until he recalls Livian's words. In a show of mercy, Atlas leaves Toby on the ship's deck, where he hears Boynton, who feels remorse for what he has done, calling out in desperation for him. However, he is found by Hamegg first, who grabs him and stuffs him in a crate.

Atlas returns to Walpurgis' castle, where he finds that Walpurgis has dismantled Livian as punishment for her accidentally destroying a gargoyle sculpture. In a fit of rage, he attacks Walpurgis, who escapes by car. Atlas chases him, and even though he is severely damaged by missiles from the car, manages to catch him and run him off the road, killing Walpurgis. Atlas returns to the lab and uses Walpurgis' equipment to begin rebuilding his body. 
-1 "The Birth of Astro Boy"  -May 7, 1982
Combines parts of episodes 1 and 2. 
32 "The Robot Circus" / "Robot Circus"
"ROBOTTOSAAKASU" (ロボットサーカス) 		October 15, 1980May 14, 1982
Toby is enslaved by a robot circus owner and is forced into manual labor, but befriends a young circus worker named Kathy. When Boynton's associate, Professor Elefun, comes to fetch him but the ringmaster refuses to surrender him, Kathy does the best she can to save the boy robot. It is during this episode that Toby receives his new name, "Astro", and his characteristic red boots. 
43 "Saving our Classmate" / "Save The Classmate"
"Watashitachi no Dōkyūsei o Hozon" (私たちの同級生を保存) 		October 22, 1980May 21, 1982
Rescued from the circus by Dr. Elefun, Astro Boy struggles with the bullying from classmates for being a robot. 
54 "Atom vs. Atlas 2: The Resurrection of Atlas" / "Atlas Lives Again"
"ATOMU tai ATORASU 2: ATORASU fukkatsu" (アトム対アトラス・2 アトラス復活) 		October 22, 1980May 28, 1982
In Astro's second encounter with Atlas, he stops Atlas' scheme of enslaving humanity by series of technological thefts, one of which involves the proposed robotic mother and father for Astro. 
65 "Robot Island" / "Robot Land"
"ROBOTTORANDO" (ロボットランド) 		November 5, 1980June 4, 1982
Astro Boy and Dr. Elefun are led to a animatronic fairytale theme park when a escaped swan/princess crash lands in their yard and tells them of their abusive indentured plight. 
76 "Frankenstein" / "Frankenstein"
"FURANKENSHUTAIN" (フランケンシュタイン) 		November 12, 1980June 11, 1982
The premature activation of a powerful Frankenstein robot is further exacerbated when Skunk convinces the robot to aid in his crime spree. The robotic crime wave leads to the deactivation of almost all robots in the city and briefly, even Astroboy. 
87 "Red Cat" / "The Red Cat"
"akai NEKO" (赤いネコ) 		November 19, 1980June 18, 1982
A red cat becomes the only clue to the mystery of disappearing children whose parents are involved in the development of the city's last natural and undeveloped area. 
98 "Atom vs. Atlas 3: Crystal of the Desert" / "The Crystal Of The Desert"
"ATOMU tai ATORASU 3: sabaku no KURISUTARU" (アトム対アトラス・3 砂漠のクリスタル) 		November 26, 1980June 25, 1982
While exploring the desertification of a forest, Astro Boy confronts Atlas for being cause but more so his crystal spaceship. 
109 "The Vehicle, White Planet" / "The White Planet"
"shiroi wakusei gō" (白い惑星号) 		December 3, 1980July 2, 1982
Astro boy and Dr. Elefun aid a championship racer whose vehicle, the white planet, was destroyed as part of Skunk's plan to win a global race. 
1110 "The Robot President" / "A Robot President"
"ROBOTTO daitōryō" (ロボット大統領) 		December 10, 1980July 9, 1982
Astro Boy and Daddy Walrus are invited to the inauguration of the first robot president and are caught up in the opposition party's plan to stop the ceremony. 
1211 "Damdam's Neck" / "Goliath's Head"
"DAMUDAMU no kubi" (ダムダムの首) 		December 17, 1980July 16, 1982
A spacecraft crashes to the earth and a robot staggers burning from the wreck. Doctor Elefun contacts Astro, who rescues Goliath from the flames. Goliath is a mining robot from Mars, with his eyes on his chest. His head contains a neutron beam. Elefun has it removed for safety, but it is stolen. Goliath leaves and goes looking for his head, removing and trying on several other robot's heads. Daddy Walrus also searches for the head, discovering it being sold at a criminal auction. Skunk Kazi gasses the crowd and takes the head. he offers to return it to Skunk if he will destroy Astro. However, a tank with the head mounted on it fires on them while they fight and they are buried under rock. Walrus (as Sam Bannister) shoots it out with the criminals at their hideout, but Skunk gets into the tank and uses the neutron beam on the police. Astro dodges the beam and wrecks the tank and Walrus knocks out Skunk. Astro returns the head to Goliath, but the two fight for the head and the beam discharges, annihilating Goliath. 
1312 "Lightning Man" / "The Light Ray Robot"
"denkou ningen" (電光人間) 		December 24, 1980July 23, 1982
Skunk kidnaps and corrupts a robot capable of invisibility. 
1413 "Tomboy Uran" / "Uran The Tomboy"
"URAN wa otenba musume" (ウランはおてんば娘) 		January 7, 1981July 30, 1982
In a New Year's celebration, Dr. Elelfun presents Astro's family a younger robot sister Uran. Uran's naive and precocious demeanor gets her involved with a Pied Piper villain who kidnaps robot children in slavery. 
1514 "Robio and Robiet" / "Robio And Robiette"
"ROBIO to ROBIETTO" (ロビオとロビエット) 		January 14, 1981August 6, 1982
Astro Boy gets involved in a rivalry of scientists who used their robotic creations to one up one another, however the two robots from the competing camps fall in love. 
1615 "Adventure on Mars" / "Astro Fights Aliens"
"kasei taichō" (火星隊長) 		January 21, 1981August 13, 1982
Astro captains the Second Expedition to Mars, eventually fighting hostile aliens. 
1716 "SOS on the Space Shuttle" / "Save The Carolina 3"
"SUPEESUSHATORU SOS" (スペースシャトルSOS) 		January 28, 1981August 20, 1982
Astro boy gets involved in Skunk's outer space pirating attempt when a classmate is kidnapped. 
1817 "Atom vs. Atlas IV: The Menacing Comet" / "The Rainbow Comet"
"ATOMU tai ATORASU 4: kyoufu no sui hoshi" (アトム対アトラス・4 恐怖のすい星) 		February 4, 1981August 27, 1982
Astro Boy and classmates are kidnapped by Atlas on school field trip to a comet. 
1918 "The Devil's Balloon" / "The Death Balloon"
"akuma no fūsen" (悪魔の風船) 		February 11, 1981September 3, 1982
Astro untangles the mystery of balloons modeled after him as they attack the city 
2019 "Pook in Cruciform Island" / "The Transformation Robot"
"jūjika shima no PUUKU" (十字架島のプーク) 		February 18, 1981September 10, 1982
Astroboy visits a robot inhabited island where gangsters attempt loot uranium resources by enlisting the help of a robot who can transform into any shape. 
2120 "The Fool Ivan" / "The Wreck Of The Titan "
"IWAN no BAKA" (イワンのバカ) 		February 25, 1981September 17, 1982
The luxury spaceliner Titan is struck by an asteroid. Astro and several others are the last to escape before it explodes. Their lifeboat malfunctions, but they are able to land on the moon, in a crater with an atmosphere. Astro discovers the wreck of a Russian spacecraft from 1990 whose female pilot survived for thirty years, building a robot, Ivan and discovering several large diamonds. The diamonds are meaningless until rescue, when one of the passengers, a ruthless man, decides to take the diamonds. He finds them, but gets left behind. Ivan takes care of him. 
2221 "The Robot Who Lied" / "The Liar Robot"
"usotsuki ROBOTTO" (うそつきロボット) 		March 4, 1981September 24, 1982
A school field trip to a seismology department is interrupted by a robot constantly lying about a impending earthquake. 
2322 "The Girl from Alsore" / "The Girl From Alsoar"
"ARUSOA kara kita shōjo" (アルソアから来た少女) 		March 11, 1981October 1, 1982
Astro Boy and mysterious alien woman work together to stop an hostile alien invasion. 
2423 "The Biggest Robot on Earth Part 1" / "The Greatest Robot In The World (Part 1)"
"chijōsaidai no ROBOTTO zenpen" (地上最大のロボット・前編) 		March 18, 1981October 8, 1982
A power-hungry Sultan commissions a powerful fighting robot named Pluto (Bruton in the dubs) with 1 million horse power, and sends him to battle 7 of the world's strongest robots: Mont Blanc, Molnar, Brondo, Zeron, Hercules, Photar, and Astro. Bruton manages to easily destroy Mont Blanc by catching him off guard. When he heads to battle Astro, he instead is met by Uran, who tells him Astro won't fight him. Bruton takes Uran hostage to lure Astro into a fight, and goes and destroys Molnar. When Astro catches up to Bruton, the robot wrestler Brondo appears, looking to avenge the death of his friend, Molnar. Bruton returns Uran to Astro, and takes on Brondo; however, he is heavily damaged in the fight. He begs for Astro to activate his summoning beacon to call his master; Astro does so, earning Bruton's gratitude. Later, Astro is contacted by Zeron, who has a warrant for Bruton's arrest. Soon after, Zeron is challenged by Bruton, and nearly gains the upper hand until Bruton rips his body in two. Soon, Dr. Elefun locates the Sultan's palace and flies there, with Astro tailing him. The Sultan holds Dr. Elefun hostage, as a bargaining chip to make Astro fight Bruton. Bruton returns to the palace and encounters Astro, and the two battle until Bruton catches Astro in his hands, and threatens to tear him apart. 
2524 "The Biggest Robot on Earth Part 2" / "The Greatest Robot In The World (Part 2)"
"chijōsaidai no ROBOTTO kōhen" (地上最大のロボット・後編) 		March 25, 1981October 15, 1982
Bruton releases Astro, as thanks for helping him before. Astro begs him to reconsider having to fight, but Bruton explains that he cannot, as that was his primary purpose. He asks Astro to take Elefun home, then goes off to battle Hercules, a powerful Greek Spartan robot. He successfully destroys him, then goes on to battle Photar, a kind, compassionate robot who takes care of orphans. Photar begs him for the chance to say goodbye to his orphans, which Bruton grants. Later, they battle in a terrible storm; as Photar is a solar powered robot, he runs out of energy and is destroyed. The Sultan calls out Astro once again, and has him battle Bruton at a volcanic valley. However, the volcano threatens to erupt and destroy all of the nearby villages and towns unless the power is contained. Astro begins throwing boulders into the volcanic vent to contain the power and begs Bruton for assistance. Bruton initially refuses, but finally has a change of heart and begins assisting Astro, much to the chagrin of the Sultan and the delight of Elefun. The two successfully stop the volcano from erupting, and Astro commends Bruton for his help and tells him that he is a good robot after all. Their victory is cut short, however, when Sultan's scientist, Dr. Abraham, reveals his own secret creation: a super robot named Bora, with a 2 million horsepower engine, and enough destructive force to knock out other robots simply by yelling its name and creating a katabatic wind. Bruton asks Astro to give his regards to Uran, and sacrifices himself to attempt to destroy Bora. However, Bora survives this attempt with nary a scratch, forcing Astro to fight it. He manages to destroy Bora by getting it to attack itself, and getting inside its damaged body and blasting its innards. As Sultan mourns the loss of Bruton, Abraham reveals himself to be a robot; he was Sultan's robotic assistant, and created Bora to prove that brute force alone isn't everything. Astro and Elefun mourn the loss of Bruton, as well as Mont Blanc, Molnar, Brondo, Zeron, Hercules, and Photar, and hope that a future will come where all of man, and all of robots, can live together in peace. 
2625 "Atom vs. Atlas 5: The Violent Gang Gadem" / "The Robot Vikings"
"ATOMU tai ATORASU 5: bōsōzoku GADEMU" (アトム対アトラス・5 暴走族ガデム) 		April 1, 1981October 22, 1982
A wild gang of robots rampage through the city, causing havoc and destruction. Meanwhile, Uran is trying to teach Jump how to do tricks, but gets upset when Jump can't perform one of her tricks. Astro explains that Jump isn't the same as a robot, and Uran becomes upset and keeps Jump out of the house. When she finally relents and lets Jump back in from the rain, she gets angry when he shakes himself off all over her toys. Astro scolds her and tells her of the history between him and Jump. That night, the robot gang attacks Astro's house, grabbing Jump and throwing him into a high rise building. The next morning, Astro discovers the footprints from the robot gang in the yard, and Astro's father tells them that the papers reported on the incident, calling the gang "Robot Vikings". Just then, a neighbor comes to the house, bringing a badly injured Jump with her, frightening Uran and Astro. Determined to confront the Robot Vikings for their crimes, Astro wants to head off to find them, but is stopped by his mother, who tells him that Dr. Elefun is not in town to give his consent to fight. Astro's father hires a temporary robot watchdog, and that night, when the Robot Vikings return, it manages to take out several gang members before getting destroyed. Astro intervenes and damages another member, until the entire gang retreats at the sight of a press helicopter. The police inspector calls Astro the next morning and demands he stay in his home. Disguising himself as a dog, Astro sneaks out to search for the Robot Vikings. When he encounters them, he surprises them all by easily besting them in combat, but they attempt to gain the upper hand and combining themselves into a centipede-like tank robot; Astro manages to trounce them. In a last ditch effort, the leader tries spraying Astro with an adhesive, but Astro manages to drag the entire gang across town and electrocute them, but the gang escapes. Later, Astro phones Uran but is scolded instead by his father, who tells him that Uran is at the vet watching over Jump; she felt remorse for her previous treatment of Jump and does not want to see him die. Tracking the Robot Vikings to a cavern, Astro is shocked to find Livian, Atlas' assistant, encased in a glass coffin. The Robot Viking leader attempts to kill Astro by flooding the cavern with lava, but Astro escapes with Livian, while the Robot Vikings die in the lava. Astro encounters Atlas, who is grateful that he saved Livian, and explains that the Robot Vikings were once his soldiers, but were given the Omega Factor, causing them to rebel. Astro berates him for using the Omega Factor so blindly, but Atlas brushes it off, wishing to repay Astro for his help. Astro asks him to make a medicine to help Jump; although puzzled, Atlas complies and delivers the serum to the vet. Jump recovers from his injuries and returns home to Astro and Uran, who now appreciate his presence more than ever. 
2726 "Major Operations by Black Jack" / "The Time Machine"
"BURAKKUJAKKU no daisakusen" (ブラックジャックの大作戦) 		April 8, 1981October 29, 1982
Astro boy is asked to intervene in correcting a time travellers interference by summoning a renowned doctor from the future to save a injured prince from the past. 
2827 "The Great Adventure of Little Robot Sam" / "The Robot Stuntman"
"chibi ROBOSAMU no daibōken" (ちびロボサムの大冒険) 		April 29, 1981November 5, 1982
. 
2928 "Atom vs. Atlas 6: The King of the Ice" / "The Great Meltdown"
"ATOMU tai ATORASU 6: koori no naka no teiō" (アトム対アトラス・6 氷の中の帝王) 		May 6, 1981November 12, 1982
. 
3029 "Uran and Uran" / "Uran's Twin"
"URAN-chan to URAN-chan" (ウランちゃんとウランちゃん) 		May 13, 1981November 19, 1982
. 
3130 "Dash in a Storm!" / "Speeding Through The Storm"
"arashi no naka wo tsuppashire!" (嵐の中を突っ走れ!) 		June 3, 1981November 26, 1982
. 
3231 "Cleopatra's Mystery" / "The Return Of Queen Cleopatra"
"KUREOPATORA no nazo" (クレオパトラの謎) 		June 17, 1981December 3, 1982
. 
3332 "Atom vs. Atlas 7: The Runaway Subway" / "The Runaway Subway Train"
"ATOMU tai ATORASU 7 chikatetsu daibōsō" (アトム対アトラス・7 地下鉄大暴走) 		July 1, 1981December 10, 1982
. 
3433 "The Little Elephant Pura" / "The Baby Elephant Pook"
"kozō PUURA" (子象プーラ) 		July 8, 1981December 17, 1982
. 
3534 "The Secret of Bee Island" / "The Secret Of Bee City"
"MITSUBACHI shima no himitsu" (ミツバチ島の秘密) 		July 15, 1981December 24, 1982
. 
3635 "The Monster of Kuraken" / "The Monster Of Clarken"
"KURAAKEN no kaibutsu" (クラーケンの怪物) 		July 22, 1981December 31, 1982
. 
3736 "Rumy in Pochom-pochom Island" / "Lilly On Peligro Island"
"POCHOMUPOCCHO shima no RUMII" (ポチョムポチョム島のルミー) 		August 5, 1981January 7, 1983
. 
3837 "Atom vs. Atlas 8: Destruction of the Satellite! The Proton Gun" / "The Anti-Proton Gun"
"ATOMU tai ATORASU 8: eisei hakai! PUROTON hou" (アトム対アトラス・8 衛星破壊!プロトン砲) 		August 19, 1981January 14, 1983
. 
3938 "The Stolen Sun" / "The Man-Made Solar Sphere"
"nusumareta taiyō" (盗まれた太陽) 		September 2, 1981January 21, 1983
. 
4039 "Black Looks" / "Blackie Young"
"BURAKKURUKKUSU" (ブラックルックス) 		September 16, 1981January 28, 1983
. 
4140 "The Devil Garon" / "The Genie From Outer Space"
"majin GARON" (魔神ガロン) 		September 23, 1981February 4, 1983
One evening, Astro is watching a story on TV about a boy who finds a bottle that contains a genie, who is released and promptly threatens to eat the boy. The boy instead asks to see if the genie can drink all the water in the sea; the genie grants his wish and drinks so much water that he explodes. As the story ends, a large meteor falls into a mountain valley some distance away. Dr. Elefun, Astro, and a team of scientists head off to investigate the crash. At the impact site, Astro uncovers a large metallic meteor-like object that turns out to be a mass of metal parts. Astro constructs the parts, and finds that they form a giant robot. A message capsule hidden in the mass calls the robot "Garon", which came from an alien planet and apparently has terraforming abilities. That night, a thunderstorm erupts, and Garon is brought to life by a stray bolt of lightning, frightening the scientists. Astro subdues Garon before he can cause damage, trapping him back in the impact site and buried in molten lava. However, one of the scientists, Dr. Adams, later uncovers Garon and secretly smuggles him to a remote island in the South Pacific. There, he requests Garon terraform the island to resemble the planet of his origin. As Garon proceeds to terraform the island, he also alters the atmosphere around the island to that of his planet. The scientists discover that his atmosphere has almost no oxygen content, but all perish before they can escape. The tradewinds begin carrying the poisonous atmosphere across the South Pacific, killing all life in its way. Astro is sent by Elefun to investigate, and he encounters Garon, still busily terraforming the island. Realizing that he can't win by brute force alone, he tricks Garon into also altering the gravity of the island to match that of his planet for at least one minute. Garon falls for his trick, and after altering the gravity of the island, gets shot back out into outer space, creating a vacuum around the island that pulls all of the poisonous gas along with him. 
4241 "Hurry! You Three Second-Rate Knights!" / "The Robots Nobody Wanted"
"susume! GARAKUTA sanjūshi!" (進め!ガラクタ三銃士!) 		October 14, 1981February 11, 1983
. 
4342 "Atom vs. Atlas 9: Atlas Forever" / "Atlas Forever"
"ATOMU tai ATORASU 9: ATORASU yo eien ni" (アトム対アトラス・9 アトラスよ永遠に) 		October 21, 1981February 18, 1983
Alien invaders arrive in the Sol system and begin destroying space stations orbiting several of the planets. The nations of the world believe the attacks are those of Atlas, and unite to form a World Defense Force to stop Atlas. Captain Keeley, one of the squad leaders, is tasked to destroy Atlas, which he desires as revenge for the death of his brother, a scientist on one of the destroyed stations. Astro, however, wishes to reason with Atlas, but Keeley refuses and takes his squadron out to battle. Atlas arrives to battle Keeley's squadron, and when Astro confronts him about the attacks, Atlas claims he never attacked the stations; he had come because he had heard the humans were seeking him out. He instead decides to battle Astro instead, but Livian, who was watching their encounter, begs Astro not to fight Atlas, as the two are actually brothers; Atlas and Astro were born of the same template. Astro is shocked, and Atlas goads him into joining him, knowing the truth, but Astro can't bring himself to do so. Astro has a flashback of all of their previous encounters, and he begs Atlas to make the right choice. Keeley finds Astro, and reveals his key weapon: a laser that can damage Atlas' Omega Factor. Astro rushes to find Atlas to warn him about Keeley, but Atlas refuses to run; Keeley finds Atlas and shoots him with the laser, despite Astro's begging him not to. The invaders reveal themselves, and destroy most of Keeley's squadron. Back on Earth, Dr. Elefun studies the footage of the invaders, deducing that Atlas was telling the truth. Astro tells him that he and Atlas are brothers; Dr. Elefun recalls the theft of Astro's plans and realizes Astro is correct. Meanwhile, the WDF calls an emergency meeting to strategize a plan on stopping the invaders, who are heading straight for Earth. Keeley's squadron rush back to Earth, and Astro rushes to the rescue of many civilians until he collapses from energy exhaustion. He is found and brought to an emergency shelter with Elefun. Keeley contacts him and tells him that an invader squadron is coming from Saturn, and he confesses he was wrong about Atlas. Astro swears that he will protect all those that he knows and loves, and rushes to find Atlas to reason with him again. He gets ambushed by invaders, but Atlas finds him. Astro begs Atlas to help the humans fight the invaders, but Atlas stubbornly refuses, claiming he hopes all of the humans die. Astro rebuffs him by saying that not all humans are bad, and that many are good and kind, and see past Astro being a robot. Livian reasons with Atlas, saying that Astro fights out of love and not out of hatred, but Atlas thinks he is foolish. He tells Astro to tell the humans "Perish!", but Livian shows Atlas the battle between Keeley's squadron and the invaders. Keeley sacrifices himself to destroy several invaders, and Atlas joins the fray, destroying many more invaders. They find the invader's base, and Atlas warns Astro not to join, and tells him that they are truly brothers after all. Livian stays with Atlas, out of love, and the two give their lives to pull the entire base and the invader squadron out into deep space. Astro is heartbroken by his brother's sacrifice. 
4443 "Space Leopard" / "The Snow Leopard"
"uchū HYOU" (宇宙ヒョウ) 		October 28, 1981February 25, 1983
A strange snow begins to fall. The snow drains energy from everything it touches. Astro battles a leopard, which is controlled by a strange doctor, who wants control of all the energy in the city. 
4544 "Uran's God" / "Uran's Quest"
"URAN-chan no kamisama" (ウランちゃんの神様) 		November 4, 1981March 4, 1983
. 
4645 "Space Airport R45" / "Outer Spaceport R-45"
"uchū kūkō R-45" (宇宙空港R-45) 		November 11, 1981March 11, 1983
. 
4746 "Spaceship in Imminent Danger!" / "The Hijacked Airship"
"hikōsen kikīppatsu!" (飛行船 危機一髪!) 		November 18, 1981March 18, 1983
. 
4847 "Jinmen Iwa" / "The Human-Faced Rock"
"jinmen'iwa" (人面岩) 		November 25, 1981March 25, 1983
. 
4948 "Uran Loves Hit Men" / "Uran Falls In Love"
"URAN wa koroshiya ga suki" (ウランは殺し屋が好き) 		December 2, 1981April 1, 1983
. 
5049 "The Devil's Place in Ordin" / "The World Of Odin"
"OUDEIN no daimakyō" (オーディンの大魔境) 		December 9, 1981April 8, 1983
Astro, Dr Elefun and some modern-day vikings search for the lost tomb of Odin, but don't quite find what they are expecting. 
5150 "Rage of the Sphinx" / "The Secret Of The Mayas"
"SUFUINKUSU no ikari" (スフインクスの怒り) 		December 16, 1981April 15, 1983
. 
5251 "Atom's First Love" / "Astro's First Love"
"ATOMU no hatsukoi" (アトムの初恋) 		December 23, 1981April 22, 1983
In a prologue, Astro Boy's creator Osamu Tezuka reveals a little secret about the robot boy: That his legs are actually those of a robot girl. The backstory behind this fact, the plot of this episode, is that Astro Boy is tasked to retrieve one of his own blueprint templates from a military fortress of the Grota Republic. He meets and bonds with Nuka (Nikki in the American dub), a sentient robot girl built from his very template, which unfortunately incorporates a neutron bomb, and in order to stop the bomb, the two robot children have to make a costly sacrifice: she must be completely dismantled in order to stop the bomb. Astro, having fallen in love with Nikki, stays with her till the very end. All that is left of her are her legs, which Astro takes to Dr. Elefun and asks him to switch his legs with hers, so that she could be a part of him forever. Elefun fulfills his request, and Astro happily takes off on more adventures. 

The "lost" episode

The first two episodes of the series were edited into one episode, completely removing the subplot of Atlas's origin. The two episodes are available in their complete state, in Japanese-with-subtitles only, on the Madman Entertainment DVD release. The two individual episodes (along with the other 50) can also be legally seen online in most countries with crowd-sourced subtitles on Viki.

References

  1. ↑ "Astro Boy: The Complete Box Set (DVD 1983)". DVD Empire. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Astro Boy Collection Box Set : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video". Dvdtalk.com. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  3. ↑ Astro Boy: The Greatest Robot in the World - Part 1
  4. ↑ "Meet Rebecca Ortese". rebeccaortese.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ Astro Boy: The Birth of Astro Boy
  6. ↑ "Astroboy - The Complete Box Set Review". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ TV Guide Vol. 34 No. 37/ September 13, 1986/ Issue # 1746 (Philadelphia Edition) Pages A-22, A-86, A-114, A-137, A-159, A-180 Triangle Publications, Inc. (1986) ISSN 0039-8543
  8. ↑ "ANIMATIONWorld Magazine | Animation World Network". Mag.awn.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2015.

External links


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