Detailed review and evaluation of episode 5 of the 1980 version of Astro Boy

Astro Boy (1980 version) - Hope and Challenge for the Future

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

October 1, 1980 - December 23, 1981

■Broadcasting station

Broadcast: Nippon Television

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 52

■Original Story

・Original story and composition: Osamu Tezuka

■ Director

・Director: Noboru Ishiguro

■ Production

・Producer: Tezuka Productions, Nippon Television Network ・Produced by: Nippon Television Network, Tezuka Productions

■Works

©Tezuka Productions

■ Story

Tokyo, 2030. Dr. Tenma, the Minister of Science, created a robot named Atom to replace his late son Tobio. However, after Dr. Tenma disappears, Atom is raised by Dr. Ochanomizu as a kind-hearted robot. As the conflict between "humans" and "robots" deepens in society, Atom lives in both environments and grows up understanding each other's positions. Though sometimes angry, crying, and grieving, Atom stands up to the conflict and strives to build an ideal world where humans and robots can coexist.

■Explanation

Set in the future, about 30 years after the original "Astro Boy" was released, this work is a remake of the original work, but each episode has been given a modern twist. In particular, the inclusion of nine episodes of the "Astro Boy vs. Atlas" series, which depicts the conflict between good and evil, is a distinctive technique of Tezuka Osamu. Through these episodes, it is made clear that both good and evil have their own weaknesses and worries, providing viewers with deep insight. Furthermore, by dealing with social issues and ethical themes, the work is thought-provoking not only for children but also for adults.

■Cast

・Atom/Mari Shimizu・Dr. Ochanomizu/Hisashi Katsuta・Uranium/Masako Sugaya・Bearded Man/Kazuo Kumakura・Atlas/Michiru Hojo・Libyan/Keiko Yokozawa・Dr. Tenma/Tamio Oki

■ Main staff

・Original story, storyline, main characters: Tezuka Osamu ・Planning: Yoshikawa Bin (Nippon Television Network, Inc.)
Producers: Hidehiko Takei (Nippon Television), Satoshi Yamamoto (Tezuka Productions)
・Literary director: Norifumi Terada ・Director: Noboru Ishiguro ・Chief animation directors: Kozo Masanobu, Keizo Shimizu, Hiroshi Nishimura, Hiromitsu Morita, Akira Iino, Masateru Yoshimura, Kazuhiko Udagawa, Yoshinori Higuchi ・Storyboards: Osamu Tezuka, Noboru Ishiguro, Mitsukazu Yamatani, Masakazu Higuchi, Yuichiro Yokoyama, Norio Yazawa, Bonjin Nagaki, Satoshi Dezaki, Hiromitsu Morita, Hiroshi Yoshida, Hiroshi Nishimura, Ryosuke Takahashi, Morimi Murano, Yoshinori Ano Takashi, Uchida Kaoru, art; Ito Shinji, Abe Koji, Hachimura Hiroya, Yoshihara Kazusuke, original drawings; Tezuka Osamu, Yamaguchi Satoshi, Masanobu Kozo, Shimada Hideaki, Kobayashi Junji, Shimizu Keizo, Handa Teruo, Nishimura Hiroshi, Nakajima Yuko, Nomatoshi, Tamaki Tsuyoshi, Seya Shinji, Kano Kaoru, Yoshimura Masateru, Kagi Yutaka, Kogawa Tomotaka, Tsuchida Koichi, Suzuki Shinichi, Yobuichi Setsuko, San Luc, Taiyo Douga Others・Animation／Yoshihiro Uchida, Tomoko Kawaguchi, Norikazu Kawashima, Fumihito Fukushima, Mayumi Ogura, Hiroshi Ishiodori, Kazuko Shibata, Yoshie Suyama, Yayoi Ikenotani, Toshimitsu Kobayashi, Shinji Goto, Mitsuko Kunugi, Hiromi Matsushita, others・Video check／Masaki Yoshimura, Shigeru Yamazaki, Masae Yoshizawa, Toshikatsu Shinozaki, Yoshihiro Tsuji, Hachiro Uda, Tadashi Takahashi, Koji Yasuda, Kyoko Sugiyama, Yumi Yanada・Set design／Manabu Onaka・Mecha design／Kunio Aoi・Art director／Setsuko Ishizu・Director of photography／Masaaki Fujita・Editing／Kazuo Inoue, Masaki Sakamoto・Sound recording director／Kanji Nakano・Produced by／Nippon Television Network, Tezuka Productions・Music／Nariaki Saegusa・Theme song "Astro Boy"
Lyrics by Shuntaro Tanikawa
・Composer: Tatsuo Takai
Arrangement: Shigeaki Saegusa
・Song: Atoms ・Theme song "Towards the Future"
・Lyrics by Osamu Tezuka
・Composition: Shigeaki Saegusa
・Song: Ankh Theme song "Uranium's Theme"
Lyrics: Toyohisa Araki
・Composition: Shigeaki Saegusa
・Song: Urans

■Subtitle

・Episode 1 / Birth of Atom・Episode 2 / Atom vs. Atlas・Episode 3 / Robot Circus・Episode 4 / Save the Classmate・Episode 5 / Atom vs. Atlas・2 Atlas's Resurrection・Episode 6 / Robot Land・Episode 7 / Frankenstein・Episode 8 / Red Cat・Episode 9 / Atom vs. Atlas・3 Desert Crystal・Episode 10 / White Planet・Episode 11 / Robot President・Episode 12 / Dum-Dum's Head・Episode 13 / Lightning Man・Episode 14 / Uran is a Tomboy・Episode 15 / Robio and Robietto・Episode 16 / Captain Mars・Episode 17 / Space Shuttle SOS
・Episode 18/Atom vs. Atlas・4 The Terrifying Comet・Episode 19/The Devil's Balloon・Episode 20/Pook of the Island of Crosses・Episode 21/Ivan's Fool・Episode 22/The Lying Robot・Episode 23/The Girl from Alsoa・Episode 24/The Greatest Robot on Earth - Part 1・Episode 25/The Greatest Robot on Earth - Part 2・Episode 26/Atom vs. Atlas・5 The Gadem Biker Gang・Episode 27/Black Jack's Big Plan・Episode 28/Chibi Robot Sam's Great Adventure・Episode 29/Atom vs. Atlas・6 The Emperor in the Ice・Episode 30/Uran-chan and Uran-chan・Episode 31/Run Through the Storm!
・Episode 32/The Mystery of Cleopatra・Episode 33/Atom vs. Atlas・7The Great Subway Rampage・Episode 34/Baby Elephant Pura・Episode 35/The Secret of Bee Island・Episode 36/The Kraken Monster・Episode 37/Lumi of Potem-Poem Island・Episode 38/Atom vs. Atlas・8Satellite Destruction! Proton Cannon・Episode 39/The Stolen Sun・Episode 40/Black Looks・Episode 41/Genie Garon・Episode 42/Go! The Three Junk Musketeers・Episode 43/Atom vs. Atlas・9Atlas Forever・Episode 44/Space Leopard・Episode 45/Uran-chan's God・Episode 46/Space Airport R-45
・Episode 47/Airship in Danger!
・Episode 48 / Human Face Rock ・Episode 49 / Uranium Loves Hitmen ・Episode 50 / Odin's Great Demon Realm ・Episode 51 / The Sphinx's Wrath ・Episode 52 / Atom's First Love

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

The 1980 version of "Astro Boy" is a remake based on the original work by Osamu Tezuka, but is highly regarded as a work with its own unique charm and depth. Below, we will provide a detailed review and recommendation of this work.

Story and Themes

The story is set in Tokyo in 2030, and follows Atom, a robot created by Dr. Tenma to replace his late son Tobio. He grows up under the tutelage of Dr. Ochanomizu and tries to overcome the conflict between humans and robots. By depicting the future about 30 years after the original work, it reflects more contemporary concerns. In particular, the theme of the coexistence of humans and robots remains very timely even today, providing viewers with deep insight.

The "Astro Boy vs. Atlas" series also poses ethical questions to viewers by depicting the conflict between good and evil. Through the character of Atlas, the existence of evil is portrayed as something that is not simple, but has weaknesses and worries, evoking deep empathy in viewers. These episodes are thought-provoking for adults as well as children, and strongly reflect Osamu Tezuka's philosophy.

character

Atom is portrayed as a kind-hearted robot who acts as a bridge between humans and robots. Mari Shimizu's voice acting perfectly expresses Atom's purity and strength, deeply moving viewers. Characters such as Dr. Ochanomizu, Uran, and Higeoyaji are also unique and enrich the story. Uran, in particular, plays the role of Atom's younger sister and is popular as a character who combines humor and courage.

Atlas is a character who is the polar opposite of Atom, and Michiru Hojo's voice acting realistically portrays Atlas's anguish and strength. Through his conflict with Atlas, Atom's growth and humanity are deeply portrayed, leaving a strong impression on the viewer.

Production and direction

The director of this film, Noboru Ishiguro, faithfully reproduces the original work by Osamu Tezuka, but develops the story from his own perspective. The animation director and storyboard staff also inherited Osamu Tezuka's style, but added modern arrangements. In particular, the art and mecha design realistically depict the future world and have the power to draw the viewer in.

The music also plays an important role, and Shigeaki Saegusa's music enhances the atmosphere of the story and stirs the emotions of the audience. The theme songs "Astro Boy," "Towards the Future," and "Uranium's Theme" are also masterpieces that are deeply etched in the hearts of viewers.

Recommendation

The 1980 version of "Astro Boy" is a remake based on the original work by Osamu Tezuka, but it has its own unique charm and depth. The theme of the coexistence of humans and robots is still very timely today and gives viewers deep insight. The "Astro Boy vs. Atlas" series also poses ethical questions to viewers by depicting the conflict between good and evil. The characters such as Astro Boy and Atlas are also unique and enrich the story. The production and direction are also excellent, and have the power to draw viewers in. Music also plays an important role, stirring the emotions of the viewer. For these reasons, the 1980 version of "Astro Boy" is a work that can be strongly recommended not only to children but also to adults.