Watch Astro Boy 1963

TV-Y7
1963
3 Seasons
7.4 (1,027)

Astro Boy is a classic Japanese anime series that originally aired in 1963 and has captivated audiences of all ages since its inception. Considering its historical importance, Astro Boy (1963) is regarded as the world's first full-length anime television series, and it remains popular to this day among enthusiasts of the genre.

The show takes place in the science-fiction-infused world of the future, where advanced technology has become a core part of everyday life. In this world, there exist robots designed to look and function like humans. Our hero, Astro Boy, is the top-notch, cutting-edge invention of Dr. Tenma, a brilliant scientist, and roboticist.

Dr. Tenma creates Astro Boy in the image of his son Tobio, who died tragically in a car accident. This android is equipped with all of the latest technological advancements, including superhuman strength, flight, and laser cannons. Astro Boy is made with advanced AI, is self-powered, and can breathe underwater.

Throughout the series, Astro Boy faces various challenges that test his strength, cunning, and loyalty to his father, his human friends, and other robots. With a heart of gold and a powerful sense of justice, the robot warrior wages battles both with other machines and treacherous humans who seek to harm his fellow beings.

The show is notable for being one of the first anime series with rich storylines that focused on the importance of teamwork, friendship, and its value. The topics tackled in the episodes included environmental conservation, nuclear testing, and misconceptions about robots. Each episode was presented with a lesson or moral, making for a show that was not just entertaining but also educational.

The voice acting in Astro Boy, led by Billie Lou Watt in the main role of Astro Boy, was top-notch for its era, which helped lend a layer of gravitas and realism to the program. The amazing work done on the production has ensured that the series has remained eye-catching and engaging, even over half a century later.

Astro Boy (1963) was also notable for its sense of humor, even in the face of otherwise-serious themes. The show featured various comedic elements that helped make the show more accessible and less heavy-handed. Additionally, the vibrant and imaginative colors used in the animation add a layer of visual appeal that captured the viewer's attention.

One of the most iconic elements of the show is its theme song - a cheerful, upbeat melody that perfectly captures the adventures of the series' titular hero. The visuals accompanying the opening sequence are also memorable, taking the viewer on a journey through the futuristic world that Astro Boy inhabits.

The series ran for two seasons, totaling 193 episodes from 1963 to 1965. The series ended at the peak of its success, as it remains a pop culture icon not just in Japan but around the globe. The impact of Astro Boy (1963) on the anime genre and popular culture is immeasurable. Its risk-taking in portraying mature storylines, innovation in animation techniques, and social commentary serving as an enduring legacy to this day.

In conclusion, Astro Boy (1963) is an anime classic, buoyed by its endearing characters, its thoughtful storyline, its memorable theme song, and its iconic animation style. It remains a landmark in her history, serving as the blueprint from which all other anime series emerged. It might be a classic, but it is modern and entertaining, and is worth exploring anew.

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Seasons

3 2 1

25. The Terrible Time Gun

January 1, 1963

Dr. Tempo, who covets the director's seat at the Science Academy, perfects a time gun that can blow anything back into the past. Dr. Elefun and Astro Boy are sent back to 10th-century England, where they become contestants in a joust. Astro Boy emerges as the winner and favorite of King Canute and his daughter, the Princess Lydia. Soon after, the evil Count Pudding tries to take over the throne.

24. The Mad Beltway

January 1, 1963

Dr. Elefun's public transportation proposal prevails over Tobias Toggle's plan for air cars. Dr. Elefun insists that a well-designed beltway would be much safer and more efficient, and agrees to assume full responsibility for the project. He hires the young but famous Cal E. Brate as his chief engineer. Trouble - spelled with a capital Toggle - dogs the project and cows the young engineer. When sabotage leads to his sister Maria being lost in an accident, Cal resolves to forge ahead with vigor. Maria is actually being held prisoner by the terrible Toggle, who reveals to her his plan to wreck the entire beltway at the opening ceremony. In the end, Astro Boy and Maria save the day, Toggle sees the error of his ways, Dr. Elefun's good name remains intact, and Cal E. Brate is proclaimed a hero.

23. Dolphins in Distress

January 1, 1963

Mr. Hall is building an undersea city to boost tourism. Seemingly out of nowhere, crab-shaped robots and vehicles in the shape of porpoises attack the city. A message left behind by one of the porpoise vehicles says that they are descendants of porpoises belonging to the Dolphin tribe, and they want to halt construction of the undersea city as it's endangering their existence. After receiving the message, an angry Mr. Hall captures Prince Pip of the Dolphin tribe.

22. Dunder, Bird of Doom

January 1, 1963

Atomic submarine trains, supersonic passenger planes, and whole communities are destroyed by the monstrous Dunder Bird. Dunder is a gigantic robot bird created by Dr. Akal, a brilliant scientist from Dogol devoted to the mysterious Goddess of Nafsu. After every vicious attack, Dunder demands Astro Boy's surrender, as he hopes to destroy our robot hero. Encounters with this powerful bird almost lead to Astro Boy's destruction, until he takes the fight out of the atmosphere. In outer space, the evil bird cannot create shock waves with its giant wings. Dunder is defeated, and Dr. Akal is made to see the error of his ways.

21. The Robot Olympics

January 1, 1963

At the World Robot Athletic Meet, President Yabure uses all sorts of schemes to ensure his robot Demon 1's victory over Astro Boy, the likely winner. However, Astro Boy is saved by Luna, a female robot and one of the contestants. In the final event he is pitted against Demon 1 in an even match. The contestants are required to bring water from Lake Mashu in Hokkaido. But on the way back, Astro Boy spots a forest fire.

20. The Dream Machine

January 1, 1963

Mr. Pompous and Astro Boy are invited by Dr. Blinken to visit the Bullaly Research Laboratory, where Astro Boy experiences first-hand the effects of a machine that allows robots to have dreams. Like human dreams, Astro Boy's dreams are filled with acquaintances in different settings. For example, Dr. Blinken's daughter Winkie becomes three different girls - Faith, Hope, and Charity - in three different settings but in all she is the distressed heroine whom Astro Boy saves from the villain Ali Baddream. In real life, Ali Baddream is Mr. Nightmaroo, a villain trying to steal the Dream Machine. Of course, his evil plans are foiled as Astro Boy carries his dream action into live action.

19. A Mighty Minute

January 1, 1963

Professor Jingo uses cross-breeding to develop a remarkably humanized little animal named Minute. While Minute is able to speak, his greatest gift is a prophetic sixth sense that allows him to know of things that will happen before they transpire. As a result, he predicts several disasters that come to pass. The greatest disaster he foresees is a huge explosion that will destroy an entire city. Subsequent events, including a check with the Space Bureau, verify the likelihood of such a catastrophe. Thanks to Minute's prediction, Astro Boy is sent to avert the event.

18. Super Brain

January 1, 1963

After performing an operation on gang member Kanekura, Professor Ibaru is killed in order to ensure his silence, in a murder staged as an auto accident. Several days later, a strange car-shaped robot named Friday appears before Kanekura and follows him around. Friday is soon caught by the gang's electromagnetic device and rendered powerless. The robot takes a little box from his chest and buries it in the ground. When Astro Boy arrives, he hears a voice calling from the spot where Friday's box is buried.

17. Funnel to the Future

January 1, 1963

An earthquake raises a pair of mysterious twin mountain peaks, and Dr. Elefun, Astro Boy, and Astro Girl get whisked 60,000 years into the future. Once there they meet Mr. Meek, a robot who inherited the earth after human beings eliminated themselves 50,000 years earlier. Now, new creatures are gaining control. The Lokis, huge and vicious members of the animal kingdom, were ruling over the Oreads, weak-willed creatures of the vegetable kingdom. Astro Boy's bravery and insistence on justice inspires the Oreads to stand up and fight for their rights. Our heroes return to the present, the twin mountains disappear, and we are left to wonder if what they have witnessed will be, or only might be.

16. The Hooligan Whodunnit

January 1, 1963

Dr. Elefun is surprised to receive a package from his old friend, Dr. Gamma in Tacittown, filled with disconnected robot parts. The broken voice box keeps repeating an intriguing message about "Horace" and "Mr. Aurora". Astro Boy and Mr. Pompous decide it must be referring to Horace Hooligan, leader of a gang known for terrorizing robots all over the world. So they set out for the South Pole where Mr. Aurora is located to see what they can find out. Indeed, the Hooligan Gang does attack the robot-controlled whale farm there, but Astro Boy saves the day and all the robots. This incites Horace to new and daring acts of violence against robots, and a plot to capture our hero. When the villain is finally unmasked, he turns out to be a youth who mistakenly thought robots had taken his mother away. In truth, his mother was a robot - a wonderful robot that found Horace as a foundling and raised him! In the end they are reunited and all is well.

15. The Monster Machine

January 1, 1963

Dr. Mores develops a parabola antenna to carry out scientific exchanges with other planets. He manages to establish contact with the planet Paranoia, and uses the plans they send him to create a machine. But it is a monster machine that grows bigger by eating all other machines and robots, and before long it's preparing an attack on the city.

14. Inca Gold Fever

January 1, 1963

Astro Boy goes with Dr. Elefun and Dr. Tonderu, an archaeologist, to investigate Incan ruins. There they meet up with Kapack, an old man who wants to restore the Inca Empire. Kapack has used telepathy to amass the secret treasure needed for his goal. Greedy for wealth, Dr. Tonderu creates a device for increasing telepathic powers and pretends to be aiding Kapack.

13. Mission to the Middle of the World

January 1, 1963

The Valyx, a rather unique earth-digging vehicle developed by Professor Prober, suddenly appears: ten years and half a world away from its initial plunge. But strange markings have appeared on its surface. Astro Boy, his sister Astro Girl, and a stowaway reporter, Reed Daley, take the Valyx back into the earth to investigate. Many miles down they discover a tribe of Deros, people who originally came from the lost continent of Atlantis. Using their destructive Rock Smog Machines, they intend to wage war on the surface people. Reed Daley turns traitor to help King Duba, but their ambitions are foiled by Astro Boy along with a fortuitous earthquake. The good robots return to the surface, wiser, but fearful that no one will believe their story. Of course, we know it's true!

12. Big Titan

January 1, 1963

Dr. Pood kidnaps Astro Girl because she looks just like his daughter, who was accidentally hit by space aliens' attack missile. Now, Dr. Pood is seeking revenge on the aliens who took his daughter's life. Astro Boy receives a message from Astro Girl to come to Dr. Pood's house, but Titan, the light energy robot, has already been launched as Dr. Pood's revenge attack. Will Astro Boy be able to prevent Titan from exploding?

11. Shipwreck in Space

January 1, 1963

In the middle of a chase, Astro Boy mistakenly enters the rocket of the Ponkotsu Gang and is launched into space. They are unable to return to earth after the rocket is broken in space, and head for an emergency space station in search of food. Here they discover a group known as the "Universal Alliance of Food Gluttons," that travels the universe in search of the most delicious foods.

10. Attack From Space

January 1, 1963

Bem, a robot from the planet Nikolo, has brought a bomb disguised as a refrigerator to earth. Hot on Nikolo's trail are the three scientists who created him, and they want to test the strength of Bem's bomb by attempting to blow up the sun. Astro Boy discovers what's been going on and tries to save Bem. The three scientists from Nikolo grow angry, and threaten to cause a collision between Earth and Mars that would destroy all life.

9. The Flower Monster

January 1, 1963

The Galaxia is a rare and beautiful flower, discovered on a tropical island and brought to a botanical laboratory where Dr. Ubank hopes to study it. Dr. Ubank's assistant Dr. Pollen - whose job is to develop new plants using radiation - discovers that the Galaxia can not only move and talk, but delights in devouring radioactive isotopes. The more it gets, the more it wants and the larger it becomes, evolving into a greater and greater threat. It is Astro Boy's assignment to endure a series of suspenseful and nerve-shattering experiences and get rid of the Galaxia once and for all.

8. The Clock Tower Mystery

January 1, 1963

Astro Girl discovers a woman and suspicious-looking man in a clock tower where no one is supposed to be living. She sneaks into the clock tower, but is captured by the suspicious man and loses all of her energy. A ninja-like villain named Blackman begins stealing machine after machine from the Science Institute. Astro Girl's captor turns out to be Dr. Tempu, who has dreamed up an evil master plan which calls for killing all of the scientists assembled at a conference.

7. Dinosaur Dilemma

January 1, 1963

Professor Al Kemmy succeeds in producing living cells, and works to reproduce ever more complex life forms. His crowning achievement is the creation of real dinosaurs, but he loses control when they run rampant. At a nearby amusement park, teacher Miss Ann Thorpe has enlisted the help of Astro Boy to help handle the children on a class outing. One of the children - a very "hip" youngster by the name of Disco Teck - is snatched up by a pterodactyl and taken to the dinosaurs. Their leader, Tyrannosaurus Rex, decides to hold the child for ransom, and demands desperately needed food. It's up to Disco's father, Miss Thorpe, and Astro Boy to rescue Disco Teck and destroy the dinosaurs.

6. The Devil Doll

January 1, 1963

After toy-maker Happy Klaus finds out nobody is buying his old-fashioned toys, he angrily decides to make a new kind of toy. The result is the Devil Doll: Sporting a super-duper electronic brain, it flies away to gather riches for its creator. Meanwhile, Astro Boy and Astro Girl are playing hide-and-seek at the department store's Annual Toy Show. When Astro Boy finally catches her, the store is closed and they decide to spend the night in the store. Astro Girl rushes back to the toy department, and brings all the toys to life. However, her fun is cut short when she is taken hostage by the mannequin in a mink coat. Astro Boy is captured and knocked out while the mannequins rob the store. Astro Boy recovers with the help of some brave toys, and confronts the Devil Doll in the boiler room. A fierce battle ensues and Astro Boy beats the Devil!

5. Vikings

January 1, 1963

Vikings from outer space have been capturing spaceships traveling between planets. Astro Boy is made a special member of the Space Patrol, and goes off in pursuit of the Vikings with Lieutenant Piko. Stopping at the little planet Magna, a traffic marker in space, the two adventurers meet up with the engineer Neck and his son, Taro. Neck was once friends with the Vikings, but times have changed...

4. The Terrible Tidal Wave

January 1, 1963

Porgy and Bess and their son Piko move in next to Astro Boy. He invites the three new neighbors over to his house but grows puzzled by their strange behavior. Things get even stranger when a group of men who look like gang members come searching for them. Meanwhile, a volcanic explosion in the South Pacific has caused a tidal wave heading straight for Japan. Astro Boy takes off carrying an agent that can freeze sea water.

3. Vampire Vale

January 1, 1963

During a trip, Tick and Tock get lost and stumble upon a strange village. All of the houses in the village have crucifixes and garlands of garlic on their doors. No one appears, even when they call out. The two finally manage to get into an old castle to spend the night, but then Tick disappears. Astro Boy and Bearded Grandpa come to the rescue.

2. The Man-Made Iceberg

January 1, 1963

On his way home from the World Robot Congress, Astro Boy is startled by an iceberg moving quickly across the water. After some investigating, it turns out to be the disguised secret laboratory of Dr. Harold Hart, a scientist from Icelandia developing artificial sunlight to grow vegetables for the starving people of his frozen homeland. Unfortunately, Willy and Nilly - henchmen for the evil Doc Cheddar - discover Hart's success and report it to the big cheese. Being extra sharp, Doc Cheddar takes credit for developing the artificial sun and demands the hand of the King's daughter, Rosanna. Poor old King Feebo agrees, but Rosanna will have nothing to do with such a scheme, as she has promised her heart to the missing Dr. Hart. Intrigue, action, reaction, buffs, and rebuffs follow in quick succession. But Astro Boy saves the day, the good Dr. Hart, the artificial sunlight machine, and the people of Icelandia!

1. Dogma Palace

January 1, 1963

A robot from the supernatural Genghis Khan Empire comes to Astro Boy in search of help. He says that the people of the empire are suffering under an oppressive emperor. Astro Boy sets off for the empire, but is captured by the emperor's guard robots and rendered powerless. Soon after, Astro Boy discovers that the emperor is using poisonous bees in order to keep the people under his control.

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