Astro Boy
Osamu Tezuka first introduced the character Atom in April 1951 as a supporting figure within his comic series Ambassador Atom. The monthly magazine Shōnen published this early version before Tezuka launched a dedicated serialization of Astro Boy in 1952. Kobunsha's Shōnen ran the story until 1968, collecting 112 chapters into 23 volumes later printed by Akita Shoten. Tezuka designed the protagonist to be a twenty-first-century reverse Pinocchio who strove to become more human and emotive. He created the android to serve as an interface between man and machine while reflecting postwar Japanese anxieties about technology. The artist often re-drew older chapters to make them appear more modern for new readers. Some stories included introductory pages where Tezuka himself appeared as the narrator. Color pages from the original run were reprinted in black and white for inexpensive paperback editions.
In the opening scene of the manga, scientist Umataro Tenma creates an android boy named Tobio after losing his real son in a car accident. Tenma built the robot to replace his dead child but soon realized the little android could not fill the void of his lost son. Astro could not grow older or express human aesthetics like flowers or organic shapes. In one set of panels, the character prefers the mechanical shapes of cubes over the organic shapes of flowers. Dr. Tenma eventually rejected Astro and sold him to a cruel circus owner named Hamegg. Professor Ochanomizu later saved the boy from servitude and became his legal guardian. Astro possesses seven powers including 100K horsepower strength and jet flight capabilities. His nuclear reactor symbolizes immense power that is barely manageable yet hopeful for humanity's benefit. The story navigates the tension between the catastrophic reality of nuclear weapons and futuristic optimism for atomic energy.
The first popular Japanese animated television series premiered on Fuji TV on New Year's Day 1963 with 193 total episodes. At the height of its popularity, the show was watched by 40% of the Japanese population who had access to television. Only the first two years of the series were dubbed in English and shown in the United States. A second remake produced by Tezuka Productions aired on NTV starting the 1st of October 1980 with 52 episodes directed by Ishiguro Noboru. A third series of fifty episodes was created to celebrate Astro Boy's birth date and broadcast on the 7th of April 2003 across Animax and Fuji Television. An animated movie adaptation released in October 2009 featured voices from Freddie Highmore and Nicolas Cage. In November 2007, the titular character was named Japan's envoy for overseas safety. A new animated series called Go Astro Boy Go! debuted in 2019 after being developed by Thomas Astruc.
Dark Horse Comics published an English translation of the manga in 2002 with artwork flipped so books could be read from left to right. Frederik L. Schodt translated the version and used original Japanese names wherever possible while keeping the nickname Astro Boy. The editors did not remove content that could be perceived as racially insensitive despite some readers feeling offended or insulted by the depictions. Gold Key published a one-shot comic book in 1965 licensed by NBC Enterprises without consent from Osamu Tezuka. He considered the book unauthorized and denounced the publication as horribly drawn. Editorial Mo.Pa.Sa., an Argentine company, published the comic book series Las Fantásticas Aventuras de Astroboy in the 1970s. NOW Comics issued their own version in Chicago starting in 1987 but cancelled the series mid-1988. The 1980s anime was extremely popular in Australia, Canada, and many parts of Asia with two different English dubs produced separately.
The franchise became one of the first to embrace mass merchandising including action figures, collectible figurines, food products, clothing, stamps and trading cards. By 2004, the franchise had generated tens of millions of dollars in merchandise sales. Astro Boy has sold approximately 100 million copies worldwide making it Tezuka's best-selling manga. Manga artists Katsuhiro Otomo, Go Nagai, Naoki Urasawa, Akira Toriyama and animation directors Hayao Miyazaki and Yoshiyuki Tomino cited the work as influence. Schodt stated that the series had extraordinary longevity and appeal across cultures while noting some stories were sometimes of uneven quality. The character ranked 43rd on Empire magazine's list of The 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters. The 1960s anime was named the 86th best animated series by IGN which called it the first popular anime television series.
In a 2006 experts ranking for the Greatest Manga of All Time held by the Japan Media Arts Festival, Astro Boy ranked sixth overall. The 1963 anime adaptation ranked second in the Greatest Anime of All Time list according to the same festival. A 2009 poll held by Asahi Shimbun placed Astro Boy fifth in the Greatest Shōwa Manga category. On the 7th of April 2003, one day after the premiere of the 2003 anime in Japan, the city of Niiza registered the character as a resident. That same day the JR Yamanote Line platform at JR Takadanobaba Station started using theme music from the TV series to signal train departures. Many lamp posts in the area carry pictures from the TV series and two large murals depicting Tezuka's works stand across the street. Later in 2004, the theme music from the TV series was used to signal departure at JR Niiza Station on the JR Musashino Line.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did Osamu Tezuka first introduce the character Atom?
Osamu Tezuka first introduced the character Atom in April 1951 as a supporting figure within his comic series Ambassador Atom. The monthly magazine Shōnen published this early version before Tezuka launched a dedicated serialization of Astro Boy in 1952.
Who created the android boy named Tobio in the opening scene of the manga?
Scientist Umataro Tenma creates an android boy named Tobio after losing his real son in a car accident. Dr. Tenma eventually rejected Astro and sold him to a cruel circus owner named Hamegg before Professor Ochanomizu saved the boy from servitude and became his legal guardian.
On what date did the first popular Japanese animated television series premiere on Fuji TV?
The first popular Japanese animated television series premiered on Fuji TV on New Year's Day 1963 with 193 total episodes. At the height of its popularity, the show was watched by 40% of the Japanese population who had access to television.
Which city registered Astro Boy as a resident on the 7th of April 2003?
On the 7th of April 2003, one day after the premiere of the 2003 anime in Japan, the city of Niiza registered the character as a resident. That same day the JR Yamanote Line platform at JR Takadanobaba Station started using theme music from the TV series to signal train departures.
How many copies has Astro Boy sold worldwide according to the text?
Astro Boy has sold approximately 100 million copies worldwide making it Tezuka's best-selling manga. By 2004, the franchise had generated tens of millions of dollars in merchandise sales including action figures and trading cards.