Astro Boy

This article is about the manga series. For the title character, see Astro Boy (character). For other uses, see Astro Boy (disambiguation).

Astro Boy
Eighth tankōbon volume cover (Osamu Tezuka Manga Complete Works edition), featuring Atom
鉄腕アトム
(Tetsuwan Atomu)
GenreAdventure, science fiction, superhero[1][2]
Manga
Written byOsamu Tezuka
Published byKobunsha
English publisher
MagazineShōnen
DemographicShōnen
Original runApril 3, 1952 – March 12, 1968
Volumes23 (List of volumes)
Adaptations
Spin-off

Astro Boy, known in Japan as Mighty Atom (Japanese: 鉄腕アトム, Hepburn: Tetsuwan Atomu, lit. 'Iron-Armed Atom'), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka.[4] It was serialized in Kobunsha's Shōnen from 1952 to 1968.[5] The 112 chapters were collected into 23 tankōbon volumes by Akita Shoten.[6][7] Dark Horse Comics published an English translation in 2002. The story follows Astro Boy, an android young boy with human emotions who is created by Umataro Tenma after the recent death of his son Tobio. Eventually, Astro is sold to a robot circus run by Hamegg, but is saved from his servitude by Professor Ochanomizu. Astro becomes a surrogate son to Ochanomizu who creates a robotic family for Astro and helps him to live a normal life like an average human boy, while accompanying him on his adventures.[8]

Astro Boy has been adapted into three anime series produced respectively by the first incarnation of Mushi Production and its direct successor Tezuka Productions, with a fourth in development. The manga was originally produced for TV as Astro Boy, the first popular animated Japanese television series that embodied the aesthetic that later became familiar worldwide as anime.[9] After enjoying success abroad, Astro Boy was remade in the 1980s as New Mighty Atom, known as Astroboy in other countries, and again in 2003. In November 2007, he was named Japan's envoy for overseas safety.[10] An American animated film based on the original manga series by Tezuka was released on October 23, 2009. In March 2015, a trailer was released announcing a new animated series. The success of the manga and anime series led it to becoming a major media franchise consisting of films including a major motion picture, a number of soundtracks and a library of video games. The series was also among the first to embrace mass merchandise including action figures, collectible figurines, food products, clothing, stamps and trading cards. By 2004, the franchise had generated $3 billion in merchandise sales.[11]

Astro Boy is one of the most successful manga and anime franchises in the world and has become Tezuka's most famous creation. The combined 23 tankōbon volumes have sold over 100 million copies worldwide, making it Tezuka's best-selling manga and one of the best-selling manga series of all time. The 1963 anime series became a hit on television in Japan and the United States. Astro Boy has been praised for its importance in developing the anime and manga industry. It has been featured on numerous greatest anime of all time lists and has inspired many other influential authors in the creation of manga.

  1. ^ "Astro Boy Omnibus Volume 1 TPB". Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  2. ^ "Kristen Bell, Matt Lucas Join All-Star Cast of Imagi's "Astro Boy"". Anime News Network. October 8, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "Mighty Atom: Best Selection [Astro Boy, Tetsuwan Atomu; Jippi English Comics]: Powered By Atomic Energy, he Fights Evil in the 21st Century as a Hero to All". Abebooks. Retrieved November 15, 2019. , 英語コミックス 鉄腕アトム [ベストセレクション]. Jippi English Comics. December 26, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  4. ^ "Profile: Tezuka Osamu". Anime Academy. Archived from the original on November 6, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2007.
  5. ^ "ASTRO BOY ["Shonen" version]". tezukaosamu.net. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  6. ^ 鉄腕アトム 第1巻 (in Japanese). Akita Shoten. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  7. ^ 鉄腕アトム 別巻 第2巻 (in Japanese). Akita Shoten. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  8. ^ Solomon, Charles (October 23, 2009). "Astro Boy was role model who revolutionized manga". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 11, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  9. ^ Lambert, David (July 1, 2006). "Astroboy – Press Release for Astro Boy (1963) – Ultra Collector's Edition Set 1 DVDs!". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  10. ^ McCurry, Justin (March 20, 2008). "Japan enlists cartoon cat as ambassador". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
  11. ^ "Sega Propels Astro Boy to U.S. on Playstation 2 & GBA; Partners with Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Tezuka Productions; Yuji Naka to Supervise PS2 Development at Sonic Team". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. January 27, 2004. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2017.