Cyborg 009 #3: A thorough review of the touching story and character depth

Cyborg 009 - The appeal and reviews of the 1968 TV anime series

Overview

Cyborg 009, which aired in 1968, is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Shotaro Ishimori (now Shotaro Ishinomori). It aired on NET TV (now TV Asahi) every Friday from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. and had a total of 26 episodes. Produced by Toei Animation (now Toei Animation), it depicts a group of cyborgs with various abilities fighting to protect peace, centering on the young racer Joe Shimamura.

■ Story

Joe Shimamura, a young racer, undergoes surgery by Dr. Gilmore to become Cyborg 009, with abilities far beyond those of a human. Together with his fellow cyborgs, he faces enemies and incidents that threaten world peace. Each episode is a self-contained story in which the viewer faces a different enemy or problem, and the story never tires of entertaining viewers.

■Explanation

Cyborg 009 began serialization in Shonen King in 1964, and was later serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine and Bokenoh. The 1968 TV anime series features a variety of stories, including those based on episodes from the original work, those that use elements of the original work, those that use Ishimori's works as motifs, and those that are original to the anime. The personality of the main character, 009, has been rearranged from the introspective personality of the original work to one that feels more proactive and heroic. The story is mainly set in Japan, and each episode features 009, 001, 003, 006, 007, and Dr. Gilmore, all of whom live in Japan. Other cyborgs appear depending on the situation. The series is characterized by its use of numerous science fiction ideas and its anti-war drama, which is unusual for a children's program.

■Cast

The voice actors for this series are a star-studded line-up, including Yukiya Tanaka as 009, Fuyumi Shiraishi as 001, Ryo Ishihara as 002, Hiroko Suzuki as 003, Hiroshi Otake and Kenji Utsumi as 004, Hiroshi Masuoka as 005, Ichiro Nagai as 006, Machiko Soga as 007, Keiichi Noda as 008, and Joji Yanami as Dr. Gilmore. Their performances bring out the charm of the characters and leave a deep impression on viewers.

■ Main staff

The original story was written by Shotaro Ishinomori, the planning was done by Yoshifumi Hatano and Shinichi Miyazaki, the production was done by Masaharu Eto, the scripts were written by Masaru Igami, Masaki Tsuji, Hiroshi Ozawa, Junya Sato, Susumu Takaku, etc., the direction was done by Yugo Serigawa, Takeshi Tamiya, Tomoharu Katsumata, Toshio Katsuta, etc., the art was done by Hajime Numai, etc., and the music was done by Taichiro Kosugi. All of these staff members worked together to improve the quality of this work.

■ Main Characters

The main characters of this work are as follows.

• 009 (Joe Shimamura) : A top racer living in Japan. A cyborg with an acceleration device inside his body.
• 001 (Ivan Whisky) : A Russian baby whose brain has been modified to give him ten times the intelligence of an ordinary person.
• 002 (Jet Link) : Jet engines on both feet allow for high-speed flight.
• 003 (Françoise Arnoul) : A former French schoolgirl with hyper-sensitive vision.
• 004 (Albert Heinrich) : From Germany. He has weapons all over his body.
• 005 (Geronimo Jr.) : A giant who boasts the superhuman strength to lift boulders and bend iron. Native American.
• 006 (Zhang Zhang Hu) : Runs the Chinese restaurant Zhang Zhang Hu Restaurant. A Chinese man who can spit heat rays from his mouth.
• 007 (Great Britain) : A waiter at the Chang Chang Lake Restaurant. A boy with the ability to transform into anything.
• 008 (Pyunma) : An African man modified to be able to move freely underwater.
• Dr. Gilmore : A scientist who performed surgery on the Joes to turn them into cyborgs. He is the commander and father figure to the Joes.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: The Terrifying Monster Island
• Episode 2: X's Challenge
• Episode 3: Antarctic showdown
• Episode 4: The Space Devil
• Episode 5: Ah, Neck and Neck
• Episode 6: The Rescue Mission to the King of Galaria
• Episode 7: The Missing School Bus
• Episode 8: The Golden-Eyed Girl
• Episode 9: The Devil Walks at Night
• Episode 10: The Underground Golden Palace
• Episode 11: The Golden Lion
• Episode 12: The Giant Who Climbed
• Episode 13: The Secret of the Devil's Castle
• Episode 14: The Cursed Desert
• Episode 15: The Tragic Beastman
• Episode 16: Ghosts of the Pacific
• Episode 17: The Ghost Alliance
• Episode 18: My Father is the Devil's Apostle
• Episode 19: The Terrifying Nuclear Submarine Sequenake
• Episode 20: Endless Escape
• Episode 21: The Phantom Cavalry Corps
• Episode 22: The Vengeful Demon
• Episode 23: The Vengeful Demon (Part 2)
• Episode 24: The Ruthless Challenger
• Episode 25: Rise Again! Phoenix
• Episode 26: The warrior of peace never dies

■ Related works

Cyborg 009 has been developed in various media, including movies, TV series, and event shorts. The movies Cyborg 009: War of the Monsters and Cyborg 009: Super Galaxy Legend were produced. The TV series consisted of the first in 1968, the second in 1979-1980, and Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier in 2001-2002. In 2010, a 3D animation of 009 was screened at the Panasonic booth at CEATEC JAPAN 2010 at Chiba Messe.

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Cyborg 009," with lyrics by Masahisa Urushibara, music by Taichiro Kosugi, and performance by Meistersinger. The ending theme is "The Battle is Over," with lyrics by Shotaro Ishimori, music by Taichiro Kosugi, and performance by Vocal Shop. These songs resonate with the hearts of viewers, further deepening the worldview of this work.

■ Evaluation and appeal

Cyborg 009 has been loved by many viewers since it was first broadcast in 1968, and its appeal remains unchanged to this day. The appeal and evaluation of the show are explained in detail below.

1. Diverse story development

The series is written in a one-episode format, with each episode telling a different story about facing a different enemy or problem. This allows viewers to experience new surprises and excitement every time. There are also a variety of stories, some based on episodes from the original manga and some that are original to the anime, so you can enjoy it without getting bored.

2. The appeal of the characters

Each character in this film has their own unique abilities and background, which leaves a deep impression on the viewer. In particular, the main character, 009, has been transformed from his original introspective personality into a proactive hero, and viewers can empathize with his growth and fighting spirit. The bond between him and his friends, including Dr. Gilmore, is also depicted in depth, warming the hearts of viewers.

3. A wealth of science fiction ideas

This work makes full use of many science fiction ideas, and has the appeal to draw viewers in. Various settings such as space demons, an underground golden palace, and a mysterious cavalry army appear, stimulating the imagination of the viewer. These ideas gave dreams and hope to the children of the time, and remain as unforgettable memories even for adults.

4. The strength of the anti-war message

The show has been praised for its dramatic portrayal of an anti-war message, which is unusual for a children's program. In particular, the final episode, "Warriors of Peace Never Die," depicts cyborgs fighting for peace, deeply moving viewers. This message still resonates with many people today, making the show a reminder of the importance of peace.

5. The appeal of music

The opening theme "Cyborg 009" and the ending theme "The Battle is Over" have melodies and lyrics that resonate with viewers, further deepening the worldview of this work. The opening theme in particular has a melody that evokes courage and hope, and serves to draw viewers into the world of the story. The ending theme, on the other hand, has a melody that evokes the feeling of tranquility and peace after a battle, soothing the viewer's heart. These songs further enhance the appeal of this work.

■Reasons for recommendation

"Cyborg 009" is a work with many appealing features, including a diverse storyline, fascinating characters, a wealth of science fiction ideas, a strong anti-war message, and heartfelt music. The combination of these elements deeply moves and sympathizes with viewers, leaving them with unforgettable memories. In particular, its message of the importance of peace is still resonating with many people today and is being reevaluated. In addition, it has been distributed in various media since it was first broadcast in 1968, proving its universal appeal. Please watch it and experience its appeal for yourself.

■ Additional information

This work is closely related to other works by Shotaro Ishimori, and in particular has many similarities with works themed around cyborgs and robots, such as "Kamen Rider" and "Android Kikaider." By watching these works together, you can gain a deeper understanding of Shotaro Ishimori's worldview. There are also many works that have been influenced by this work, one of which is "Ghost in the Shell." "Ghost in the Shell" is a work that delves deeply into the existence of cyborgs and their ethical issues, and continues the theme of "Cyborg 009." By watching these works together, you can feel the diversity and depth of the theme of cyborgs.

Conclusion

"Cyborg 009" has been loved by many viewers since it was first broadcast in 1968. Its diverse story development, fascinating characters, abundant science fiction ideas, strong anti-war message, and touching music are just some of the many attractions of this work, so please watch it at least once and experience its charms for yourself. You can also feel the diversity and depth of the theme of cyborgs by watching other works by Shotaro Ishimori and works influenced by this work. "Cyborg 009" is a work that deeply moves and sympathizes with viewers, and will remain as an unforgettable memory.