Galaxy Boys: A thorough analysis of the appeal and excitement of space adventures

The appeal and evaluation of Galaxy Boys Squad

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

April 7, 1963 - April 1, 1965

■Broadcasting station

NHK

■Frequencies

25 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 92

■Original Story

Osamu Tezuka

■ Production

Takeda Puppet Theatre, Mushi Production

■Works

© Tezuka Osamu, Mushi Production, Takeda Puppet Theatre, NHK

■ Story

The Galaxy Boys were formed to save the Earth. This is the story of a boy named Lop, who is one of the members of the group and plays a major role. In space, the sun is losing energy, causing the Earth to cool down, and if things continue like this, the Earth will be destroyed. So Lop and the Galaxy Boys set off into space to search for a substance that can regenerate the sun...

■Explanation

A puppet show based on the original work by Osamu Tezuka. The story is made up of three parts; the first part saves the Earth from destruction, the second part prevents an alien invasion, and the third part is a space sci-fi action movie about an adventure in space. Although it is a puppet show, scenes that require a sense of speed, such as the spaceship flight scenes, are supplemented with regular animation.

■Cast

Ropp/Tetsu Ando (Part 1), Michiko Shirasaka (Part 2 onwards)
・Milia/Mariko Yasuda ・Armia/Risa Takami ・Poipoi/Fusako Tenchi ・Dar, Tex/Ichiro Nagai ・Dr. Hanajima/Genzo Wakayama ・Gumban/Kikuko Kinoshita ・Death/Junpei Takiguchi

■ Main staff

・Original story and character design: Osamu Tezuka ・Script: Ichiro Wakabayashi ・Direction: Susumu Yasue ・Puppet art: Kinosuke Takeda ・Puppetry: Takeda Puppet Theatre ・Chief animation producers: Sumio Uchino, Nobuo Onuki ・Music: Isao Tomita ・Theme song: "Galaxy Boys' Corps"
Lyrics by Ichiro Wakabayashi, Music by Isao Tomita, Vocals by Kamitakada Boys Choir, Production by NHK and Takeda Ningyo Za, Production by Takeda Ningyo Za and Mushi Production

■ Main Characters

Ropp: The protagonist of this work and a member of the Galaxy Boys' Brigade.

・Armia: A kind and beautiful Venusian.

・Poipoi A fearless and reckless Martian.

・A gluttonous and silly Jovian.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1/ Future City ・Episode 2/ Save the Sun ・Episode 3/ High Speed ​​Rocket ・Episode 4/ (Under development)
・Episode 5 (currently being adjusted)
・Episode 6: Mysterious SOS
Episode 7 / Underground Monster Episode 8 / Child of the Sun Episode 9 / Drunkard Planet Episode 10 / Captive of Free Run Planet Episode 11 / End of Darkness Episode 12 / Starch Man Episode 13 / Man-Eater Dar Episode 14 / Escape Episode 15 / Exile to an Island Episode 16 / Zoa the Dinosaur Episode 17 / Warrior Poipoi Episode 18 / Planet Bonborn Episode 19 / (Under Adjustment) (Queen's Trap)
Episode 20/RebellionEpisode 21/Desert PlanetEpisode 22/Incorporeal ManEpisode 23/Space GraveyardEpisode 24/Space HunterEpisode 25/Emerald PlanetEpisode 26/Space PlagueEpisode 27/Second EarthEpisode 28/New KojikiEpisode 29/The Mysterious Boat in the ValleyEpisode 30/Space Holy NightEpisode 31/Gobos' BaseEpisode 32/Emperor of the UniverseEpisode 33/Space Island DriftingEpisode 34/Death's EndEpisode 35/Gobos' WeaknessEpisode 36/Artificial ManEpisode 37/AmbitionEpisode 38/Hot Spring ResortEpisode 39/The Last Day of the PlanetEpisode 40/No Exit!
・Episode 41/Big collision!
Episode 42: The Return of the Sun Episode 43: The Sun Forever Episode 44: High-Speed ​​Race Episode 45: The Butterfly Tie Clip Episode 46: Mother's Secret Episode 47: The Hill of the Sun Episode 48: The Mystery of the Green Stain Episode 49: The Great Chase Episode 50: Mother and Child Armadillo Episode 51: The Monster of Dodo Island Episode 52: Plan to Destroy the Flying Saucer Episode 53: Evil Plot Episode 54 Episode 55: The Duel at the Quarry; Episode 56: The Big Explosion; Episode 57: The Gun Muzzle in the Bungalow; Episode 58: The Secret Agency; Episode 59: Beyond the Void; Episode 60: The Secret of Digitalia; Episode 61: The Great Underground City; Episode 62: The Robot President; Episode 63: The Director's True Identity; Episode 64: The Underground Tank; Episode 65: The Underground Battle; Episode 66: To the Dark Side of the Moon!
・Episode 67 / Ruins of the Moon・Episode 68 / Nemesis in Space・Episode 69 / Base Attack・Episode 70 / The Disappearance of Millia・Episode 71 / Tex's Betrayal・Episode 72 / Space Air Battle・Episode 73 / Capella 4th Planet・Episode 74 / Earth's Counterattack・Episode 75 / Risky Battle・Episode 76 / Altair 33rd Planet・Episode 77 / Life and Death・Episode 78 / Zuboshi's Showdown・Episode 79 / Shinkiro's Death・Episode 80 / (Currently being adjusted)
Episode 81: The Incident Episode 82: The Mysterious Treasure Episode 83: Back to Space Episode 84: Small Rocket Battle Episode 85: The Monster Appears Episode 86: Time Bomb Episode 87: (Under construction)
Episode 88: Captivated by Specter Episode 89: Showdown in Space Episode 90: Sea of ​​Flames Episode 91: Two Bosses Episode 92: New Frontier

The appeal and evaluation of Galaxy Boys Squad

Tezuka Osamu's masterpiece "Galaxy Boys" is a puppet show that was broadcast on NHK from 1963 to 1965, and captivated many viewers as an innovative space opera at the time. This work depicts the exploits of the Galaxy Boys, who were formed to save the Earth from a crisis, and the heroic actions of the main character, Lop, are central to the story.

The appeal of this work lies in the grandeur of its story and Tezuka Osamu's unique worldview. The story is made up of three parts, with the first part being an adventure to prevent the destruction of the Earth, the second part being a fight to stop an invasion from space, and the third part being a new adventure into space. Although each part has a different theme, it provides the viewer with a consistent sense of tension and excitement. The grandeur of the story can be felt especially from the titles of each episode, such as "Save the Sun" in Part 1 and "Emperor of the Universe" in Part 2.

Also, while the film employs a puppet show format, it makes a strong visual impact by using regular animation in the spaceship flight and battle scenes. This was an effort to overcome the technical limitations of the time, and it gave viewers a fresh surprise. In particular, the music by Isao Tomita plays an important role in heightening the tension of the story and evoking the emotions of the viewers.

The characters are also one of the charms of this show. The main character, Lop, is a brave boy with a strong sense of justice, and viewers are drawn into the story as he grows. In addition, unique characters such as Amia, Poipoi, and Da add color to the story, providing viewers with laughter and emotion. In particular, Poipoi's recklessness and Da's goofy personality make them easy to relate to.

The cast is also impressive, with many popular voice actors from the time participating, such as Tetsu Ando and Michiko Shirasaka as Lop, and Mariko Yasuda as Milia. The performances of these voice actors breathe life into the characters and make the story feel more real. In addition, the skillful storytelling of screenwriter Ichiro Wakabayashi is also an important element in drawing the audience into the story.

Like Tezuka Osamu's other works, "Galaxy Boys" is enjoyable for both children and adults. In particular, the themes of the Earth's crisis and space adventure reflect the social situation at the time and convey deep messages to the audience. It also depicts the progress of science and technology and the potential of human beings, making it a work that gives the audience dreams and hope.

The series has been highly praised, and has gained many fans since it was first broadcast, and its popularity has not waned even today. It is a must-see for fans of Tezuka Osamu and enthusiasts of science fiction anime, and has been rebroadcast and released on DVD. It has also been highly praised overseas, helping to spread the name of Tezuka Osamu around the world.

Recommendation

To enjoy "Galaxy Boys' Team," it's a good idea to pay attention to the following points.

1. Story Development

The story is made up of three parts, each with a different theme, yet provides a consistent sense of tension and excitement. Paying special attention to the climaxes of each part, such as the threat of Earth's destruction in part 1, the invasion from space in part 2, and the new adventure into space in part 3, will give you a deeper sense of the appeal of the story.

2. Character Development

The depth of the story can be felt by paying attention to the growth of the characters, including the main character Lop. In particular, the individuality of each character, such as Lop's brave actions, Armia's kindness, Poipoi's recklessness, and Dar's goofy personality, enrich the story.

3. Music and video

If you pay attention to the music by Isao Tomita and the visuals of the spaceship flight and battle scenes, you can feel a strong visual and auditory impact. These elements increase the tension of the story and heighten the emotions of the viewer.

4. Social Message

Through themes of earth crisis and space adventure, the story depicts the social situation at the time, the progress of science and technology, and human potential. By paying attention to these messages, you can feel the deeper meaning of the story.

5. Cast performances

If you pay attention to the performances of popular voice actors at the time, such as Tetsu Ando and Michiko Shirasaka as Lop, and Mariko Yasuda as Milia, you can breathe life into the characters and make the story feel more real. These performances enhance the appeal of the story.

As mentioned above, "Galaxy Boys" combines many elements, such as the grandeur of its story, the charm of its characters, the impact of its music and visuals, its social message, and the performances of its cast, to provide viewers with deep emotion and excitement. It is a must-see for fans of Tezuka Osamu and enthusiasts of science fiction anime, so please give it a watch at least once.