Astro Boy, Vol. 1 Movie Review 1963

Grief-stricken after the loss of his son, a brilliant scientist creates a robot boy. For years things are wonderful, but then the scientist becomes distressed that his "son" can't grow like normal boys. He gives Astro Boy to a circus where a cruel ringmaster tries to force him to fight with other robots. "The Birth of Astro Boy," is a strangely troubled beginning for the sunny-natured robot seen later in the series. But this beginning lends a believability to Astro Boy's character and shows his first heroic impulses. Next in "The Monster Machine" a scientist gets plans for a strange device via a transmission from outer space. Astro Boy and his kindly guardian Dr. Elefun have misgivings, but no one will listen to them until the alien machine starts absorbing all the other machines. A good action-packed episode with lots of humor. The first volume of a 12-volume series. Some people will fondly remember this series from its run on North American TV during their youths. The animation is a little better than might be expected for TV fare from the 60s.

Distribution

Tapeworm Video Distributors, 27833 Hopkins Ave., Unit 6, Valencia, CA 91355, Phone: (661)257-4904, Fax: (661)257-4820, Email: sales@tapeworm.com, URL: http://www.tapeworm.com

Available on VHS
Running time 50 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Animation & Cartoons, Vintage Television

Director

Osamu Tezuka

Producer

Mushi Productions