Astro Boy is one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable characters in fiction. Even those who have not read the manga or watched a single second of the anime can still identify the beloved robot boy. But the recent news that Titan and StoneBot are working to bring Tetsurō Kasahara, Makoto Tezuka, and Masami Yuki's Astro Boy prequel manga ATOM: The Beginning to the West makes now the perfect time to dive into the legendary franchise. So who is Astro Boy, and just how did he become so iconic?
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Osamu Tezuka started publishing a manga titled Mighty Atom in Kobunsha's Shōnen Magazine in 1952. It is the story of Doctor Tenma, a man who created an android boy named Atom (who would be called Astro Boy in most English translations) in the hopes of replacing his dead son. However, he soon realizes that Astro doesn't fill the void in his heart and sends him to the circus. While there, Astro is discovered by Professor Ochanomizu, who adopts the boy and realizes he can use his unique skills to help those in need.
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The manga was a smash hit and ran for 112 chapters, concluding in 1968. Other series and side stories would also be released, with the major ones landing in 1972 and 1980 alongside several semi-linked one-shots and gag manga that ran in various magazines and newspapers. Together, all of this led to Astro Boy becoming even more loved by Japanese audiences.
Astro Boy proved so popular that several international companies would make their own versions of the series without permission or input from Tezuka Osamu. This includes an American version based on the anime dub -- released by Gold Key in 1965 -- and a version made by NOW Comics in 1987, proving how popular the little robot was outside of Japan years before anime was even a word in the American lexicon.
While Astro Boy was an influential manga, its move into anime truly broke new ground upon launching in 1963. Though it was not the first anime series, its 193-episode run is credited with establishing the stereotypical "anime" style that would become the default look people think of whenever the word anime is mentioned. This series was shown in the USA, giving American viewers their first taste of anime and establishing Astro Boy as a global franchise.
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This wasn't the only time Astro Boy moved to the screen either. A color remake of the anime, titled New Mighty Atom, debuted in 1980. Like its predecessor, this series retold the manga's story with a few changes and even got an English dub. However, the latter didn't get a major release within North America.
A third version of the anime, launched in 2003, fleshed out the plot and gave the story a more modern, drama-series styled layout. This version was a hit and got several movie spin-offs, tie-in videogames and a full release outside of Japan. Then in 2009, a feature-length film called Astro Boy was released. Animated by Imagi Animation Studios, this film was CGI animated and got a dubbed release in the US, with Nicolas Cage taking the role of Dr. Tenma.
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On top of this, many other authors have told stories in the Astro Boy universe that put unique twists on the narrative. In 2003, Naoki Urasawa released the manga Pluto, which retold the original manga's "The Greatest Robot on Earth" arc and turned it into a mystery-thriller. Then in 2004, Akira Himekawa would work on Tetsuwan Atom, which adapted the 2003 anime into a manga.
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Finally, Atom: The Beginning launched in 2014. Created by Tetsurō Kasahara, Makoto Tezuka and Masami Yuki, this series is a prequel to the original Astro Boy manga that further explores the franchise's futuristic setting. It proved popular enough to get its own anime adaptation courtesy of OLM, Inc., Production I.G and Signal.MD. This animated series launched in 2016 and is currently available via HIDIVE.
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Astro Boy is a legendary franchise that holds a special place in history. The original manga and anime inspired hundreds of creators and redefined what was possible in both mediums. Despite this, the series and its themes remain relevant in 2022. Humans are still debating how technology and humanity can interact and improve each other. Because of this, it is easy to see why Astro Boy still resonates with fans in Japan and around the world alike -- and the little robot boy isn't going away any time soon.
