Television Review: Astro Boy (1960s)
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this classic 1960s anime series
(which inspired the 2009 movie) follows the exploits of a
highly advanced robot with amazing powers but a childish
perspective on the world. The action is pretty standard for a
superhero series aimed at kids, with Astro Boy easily defeating
a wide variety of giant robots, aliens, monsters, and more.
Expect plenty of fighting and explosions, but there's no blood
or injuries. The show’s view of family is more complex;
Astro Boy’s creator built the childlike robot to replace
his own son who was killed in a car crash, and the young hero
needs a father figure to figure out his place in the world.
After his young son is killed in a car accident, a grieving genius scientist decides to create ASTRO BOY as a robotic replacement. The childlike robot (voiced by Billie Lou Watt) is incredibly powerful, with super strength, laser blasters in his fingers, and rockets in his feet that enable him to fly. While he quickly learns to defeat monsters, aliens, futuristic battle-bots, and other foes, Astro Boy finds it more difficult to understand modern society, and the kindly Dr. Elefun (Ray Owens) takes on a paternal role to help Astro Boy find his place in the world.
Osamu Tezuka's classic animated series debuted in Japan in 1963 and is considered one of the very first examples of anime. Watching it today, it’s easy to see elements of the story and aesthetic that are still common today, ranging from the characters' exaggerated eyes, the blend of serious images and sudden whimsy, and the wide use of futuristic, anthropomorphic robots.
The episodes' basic stories aren't complicated, much like many American cartoons from the same era; typically, some powerful foe appears, and Astro Boy handily defeats it. The interpersonal dynamics are more complex -- Astro Boy was explicitly created to replace a dead child, and despite his immense power, he needs a father figure to guide him. That makes the show a bit deeper than other series from the period, as well as a fun way to examine an important part of animation history.
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