Astro Boy
Also known as 鉄腕アトム | Tetsuwan Atom
TVWinter 1963Source MangaG - All Ages
ActionAdventureDramaMechaSci-Fi
6.5/10
Community score
#4265
Rank
14.7K
Members
68
Favorites
Synopsis
In the distant year 2003, Japan is a technological utopia, and robots are everywhere. One such robot, Tobio, was built by the brilliant Dr. Tenma to replace his dead son. But when it soon becomes apparent that Tobio is an imperfect copy of his departed child, Dr. Tenma throws him out. He is rescued from the scrap heap by the benevolent Professor Ochanomizu, a crusader for robot civil rights. Now the little robot, renamed Astro Boy, is given a mission to defend Japan and the world from all manner of sinister threats. Using his seven super-abilities and 100,000 horsepower worth of strength to battle evil, Astro hopes to set an example to the world of the good which all robots are capable of.
Production Notes
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.
Cast Highlights
Atom
Main
Voice: Shimizu, Mari (Japanese)
Dr. Ochanomizu
Main
Voice: Katsuta, Hisashi (Japanese)
Atlas
Supporting
Voice: Mitsueda, Akihiko (Japanese)
Blacka
Supporting
Bow, Bella
Supporting
Brando
Supporting
Voice: Sagami, Tarou (Japanese)
Captain Tsukioka
Supporting
Cavitt
Supporting
Core Staff
Tezuka, Osamu
Director, Episode Director, Script, Original Creator
Dezaki, Osamu
Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation, In-Between Animation
Kinoshita, Renzo
Episode Director, Key Animation
Konno, Shuuji
Episode Director
Nagaki, Fusahiro
Episode Director
Okazaki, Minoru
Episode Director
Theme Songs
Openings
"Tetsuwan Atom (鉄腕アトム)" by Kamitakada Shounen Gasshoudan (上高田少年合唱団)
Endings
No ending theme information available.
If You Liked This
Related Titles
Prequel
Atom: The Beginning
anime
Adaptation
Tetsuwan Atom
manga
Spin-Off
Pluto
anime
Summary
Tetsuwan Atom: Uchuu no Yuusha
anime
Alternative Version
Tetsuwan Atom (1980)
anime
Alternative Version
Tetsuwan Atom: Chikyuu Saigo no Hi
anime
Alternative Version
Astro Boy: Tetsuwan Atom
anime
Alternative Version
Tetsuwan Atom: Atom Tanjou no Himitsu
anime
Quick Facts
FormatTV
Episodes193
Duration26 min per ep
SourceManga
RatingG - All Ages
SeasonWinter 1963
AiredJan 1, 1963 to Dec 31, 1966
StatusFinished Airing
Recommended
Monetizing Content
Ranking And Reach
Popularity#6206
Scored by4.8K
BroadcastSaturdays at 19:00 (JST)
ApprovedYes
Title Variants
English title
Astro Boy
Romaji title
Tetsuwan Atom
Japanese title
鉄腕アトム
Synonyms
Mighty Atom
Production Team
Main studio
Mushi Production
Producers
Meiji Seika
Licensors
Nozomi Entertainment
Japanese title
鉄腕アトム
Themes And Audience
Shounen