The first foreign animation film introduced by China was "Astro Boy" (also translated as Atomic Donkey Kong).
Astro Boy is a representative work of manga artist Osamu Tezuka. In 1951, Osamu Tezuka serialized a manga called Astro Boy Ambassador (Ambassador Donkey Kong Jr.). The manga features a teenager from another earth in the universe, and Astro Boy makes his first appearance as a supporting role in the game. In the story of "Astro Boy Ambassador", the background of Astro Boy's life is also mentioned.
Ambassador Adogi Manga
In 1952, the new science adventure manga under the name of "Astro Boy" began serialization in the "Shonen" manga magazine. Since then, Astro Boy has officially appeared on the stage as the protagonist of the manga.
Astro Boy comics are newly serialized
In 1961, Osamu Tezuka founded Bug Productions Co., Ltd. and began to adapt Astro Boy into an anime. The anime continued to be broadcast on Fuji Television in Japan on New Year's Day 1963 and achieved unprecedented ratings.
Since then, Astro Boy has been adapted into new animations and movies many times, and has a wide influence around the world.
Osamu Tezuka holds Astro Boy
As for the "Astro Boy Manga" created by Osamu Tezuka, it has now become a more complex series. At present, Osamu Tezuka's astro boy manga works mainly include "Astro Boy with Iron Arm", "Astro Boy Present and Past Story", "Astro Boy Scroll", "Astro Boy Birth" and many other contents.
Because Osamu Tezuka often repainted single-line books at that time, the contents of the magazine serials and the different one-line books were not the same. Due to the excessive number of versions and fewer domestic manga resources, it is actually a little difficult to comprehensively review Astro Boy's original manga.
Moreover, some of the settings about Astro Boy are gradually completed by Osamu Tezuka in the process of painting, and it is inevitable that there will be inconsistencies.
Hand-osamu manuscript
Therefore, we mainly review the contents of the "Astro Boy" series created and integrated by Osamu Tezuka from 1951 to 1968, and the content of "Astro Boy Birth" painted by Osamu Tezuka in his later period.
Before the official serialization of "Astro Boy", Osamu Tezuka had a lot of imagination about the future. He integrated these thoughts on the future, technology, and robots into his works, portraying a big era background for the birth of Astro Boy.
Osamu Tezuka's description in the manga
Future humans choose to make robots to do human work. Humans once made puppeteers who could be manipulated, and when computers and mechanical technology developed, humans made manipulative robots.
Scientists have also developed artificial skin that gives robots human-like bodies. Robots are getting closer and closer to humans, capable of any human job.
It was also at that time that countries began to hide their advanced robotics technology, and the robots they made were no longer sold to foreign countries.
For example, in Tokyo, the Ministry of Science produces 5,000 robots a year. This mass production behavior has led to a sharp increase in the total number of robot mouths in the future.
By the 21st century (the comic was created in the 1950s), robots have been fully integrated into human society and participate in all social activities of human beings. This includes attending schools like ordinary people, working socially, and being bound by the law.
The number of robots has skyrocketed
The above is the background of the story before the birth of Astro Boy.
It was not until 2003 that The only son of Dr. Tenma, the Minister of Science, Died In a car accident while driving.
Dr. Pegasus and Fei Xiong
Dr. Tenma, who has lost his beloved son, decides to make a robot exactly like his son Feixiong in order to achieve the purpose of getting his son back to his side.
So Dr. Tenma launched the Science Department to use the most cutting-edge technology to complete this unique robot.
Manufacture of the robot Feixiong
Finally, this robot with cutting-edge technology is completed.
Under the care of Dr. Pegasus, the robot Fei xiong learned the life of a human being. Its appearance is just like ordinary people, and Dr. Pegasus has also created various expression lines for it that can express emotions.
But over time, Dr. Pegasus discovered an unavoidable truth: even though the robot is extremely similar to Feixiong, it will never grow up. After all, a robot is just a machine.
After recognizing the reality that his son could not be revived, Dr. Tenma began to be angry with the robot, and he sold the robot in a fit of rage.
Dr. Pegasus sold the robot
The sold robot Fei xiong, after many turns, eventually became a member of the circus. During a performance, he was spotted by "Dr. Tea", director of the Tea Research Institute. Dr. Cha Shui thinks that this young robot is extraordinary, so he redeems him and decides to cultivate him.
Since then, this juvenile robot has officially started his life as a legal identity of "Astro Boy".
Astro Boy and Dr. Tea
If Dr. Pegasus gave Astro Boy the strongest technical blessing, then Dr. Tea gave Astro Boy the most humane care.
Astro Boy's body has the most advanced level of technology. And the reason why he is called "Astro Boy" is to describe his strength.
Astro Boy's abilities
Astro Boy's soles are equipped with jet engines and rocket engines that allow him to soar through the universe. Astro Boy's hearing is more than 1,000 times greater than that of a normal human being, and his eyes are brighter than searchlights. In addition, Astro Boy is also proficient in more than 60 Chinese words, can distinguish between right and wrong, has a machine gun mounted on his butt, and has an output of 100,000 horsepower (strengthened to 1 million horsepower later in the comic).
That's the astro boy we're familiar with.
Since Astro Boy's debut in 1951, Astro Boy's image has undergone many adaptations and designs.
Debuting astro boy, in addition to his signature hairstyle and large eyes, his hands and feet are relatively slender and he does not wear pants.
In the later period, with the emergence of a large number of stories about Astro Boy, there were a variety of astro boy adaptations. For example, Astro Boy transformed form, Astro Boy II and other forms.
And in order to establish his tall and tall hero image, Astro Boy's height and leg length were stretched. However, such a look has not been welcomed by the market.
As a result, Osamu Tezuka restored the image of Astro Boy to its original cute child appearance, which regained the recognition of the audience.
In various related animation adaptations in the later stage, the shape and setting of Astro Boy have been constantly changing with the current trend. For example, in some animations, Astro Boy has increased powerful firepower such as finger lasers and arm atomic cannons.
Arm atomic cannon in the movie
For example, the "energy source" of Astro Boy has always changed with the cognition of the times. From the early days of "atomic energy," then to "controlled nuclear fusion," to the "Blue Core" clean energy that appeared in the 2009 movie Astro Boy. This shift is also largely due to people's fear of the "double-edged sword" of nuclear energy.
Astro Boy structure in the film
The first introduction of the astro boy animation was said to have been given away for free by Casio. Because Astro Boy is Casio's image spokesperson, the condition for giving away the animation is that Casio's electronic watch advertisement must be bundled. Astro Boy did not disappoint Casio either, replicating its success in Japan and gaining a lot of fame in China.
For As boy with an iron arm, the most valuable part of its story is the discussion and reflection on the relationship between robots and humans. Perhaps in the future, Astro Boy will also take on the symbol of cultural popularity and make more changes as the times change.