In this post, we take a closer look at the current status of the series “Tetsuwan Atom (1980)”, also known by the following titles:
- Astro Boy (1980)
- 鉄腕アトム
- Astro Boy
- Astroboy
- Astro Le Petit Robot
Status#
Based on our analysis, the series is NOT FINISHED. ❌
Here’s how we reached that conclusion:
- Some related entries are still listed as ongoing on MyAnimeList
- The series is listed as ended on Trakt
- The original source material has not been fully adapted, according to MangaUpdates
Taken together, these points indicate that Tetsuwan Atom (1980) is still ongoing in some form.
Watch order#
Tetsuwan Atom ↗ ↖
鉄腕アトム
Summary
In the distant year 2003, Japan is a technological utopia, and robots are everywhere. One such robot, Tobio, was built by the brilliant Dr. Tenma to replace his dead son. But when it soon becomes apparent that Tobio is an imperfect copy of his departed child, Dr. Tenma throws him out. He is rescued from the scrap heap by the benevolent Professor Ochanomizu, a crusader for robot civil rights. Now the little robot, renamed Astro Boy, is given a mission to defend Japan and the world from all manner of sinister threats. Using his seven super-abilities and 100,000 horsepower worth of strength to battle evil, Astro hopes to set an example to the world of the good which all robots are capable of.Background
Tetsuwan Atom was published in English as Astro Boy by Dark Horse based on the 23-volume bunkoban reprint from March 27, 2002 to January 28, 2004 and was published in omnibus volumes from September 23, 2015 to April 5, 2017.
Tetsuwan Atom ↗ ↖
鉄腕アトム
Summary
Devastated over losing his only child in a car accident, Dr. Umatarou Tenma, the director of the Ministry of Science, mobilizes the institution's entire staff to create Atom: an ultimate technology robot made in his late son Tobio's exact image. Aside from unmatched power and intelligence, the robot also possesses the innocence and playfulness of a young boy.However, Atom fails to meet Tenma’s expectations when the latter realizes that Tobio’s replacement cannot grow. Unable to recognize Atom for what he is, Tenma wishes to forget the whole affair. Dismissing the feelings of what he considers just a machine, he cruelly sells the android to a robot circus that treats its performers as merely disposable tools. Despite his predicament, Atom shows kindness to his wretched kin and humans alike, sparing no effort in times of crisis to keep everyone safe.
Soon, fortune smiles on the mechanical boy, as Dr. Ochanomizu—a visionary who fights against the abuse of robots—frees him from the circus. Under Ochanomizu’s guidance and with a chance to forge a path in their mixed human-robot society, Atom fights tirelessly to make the world a peaceful place while also discovering its vast complexity.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Background
Tetsuwan Atom was the first television anime series to air in a 30-minute programming slot. It was broadcast by Fuji Television and reached over 40 percent viewership rating by the following year. The February 2004 issue of the Cinefantastique American magazine listed it as one of the 10 Essential Anime. It ranked second in the 100 Select Works of Media Arts survey for the animation category, which was held in 2006 by the Japan Media Arts Festival. The series also won several awards: the Special Award at the second Television Reporters Conference in 1964, The Ministry of Health and Welfare Award in 1965, and the Galaxy Award at the fourth Broadcast Critics' Discussion in 1967. When television producer Fred Ladd helped NBC Enterprises adapt the series for broadcast in the United States in 1963, the title Astro Boy was used instead of the manga's English title Mighty Atom. Only the first 104 episodes were made available in English and aired in an alternative order, with adjustments for the American audience. In North America, Right Stuf International released several VHS tapes of the series between 1989 and 1995; the company returned with all 104 episodes on DVD—as a collection of two 11-disc sets—from March 27, 2006, to August 29, 2006. A subsequent mini collection of two five-disc sets and an independent five-episode DVD Astro Boy: The Beginning also became available on October 6, 2009.
Tetsuwan Atom Bekkan ↗ ↖
Astro Boy Special
Summary
A collection of Tetsuwan Atom short stories.Background
Tetsuwan Atom Bekkan was published in English as volume 22 of Astro Boy by Dark Horse Comics on December 31, 2003. The story "Silver Tower" was published on January 28, 2004 as part of volume 23.
Tetsuwan Atom ↗ ↖
鉄腕アトム
Summary
A new version of Tetsuwan Atom serialized in Shougaku Ninensei, aimed at younger children and following the setting of the 1980 anime adaptation.Background
Tetsuwan Atom was published in English as volume 23 of Astro Boy by Dark Horse Comics on January 28, 2004.
Tetsuwan Atom (1980) ↗ ↖
鉄腕アトム
Summary
Set in a future where machines have advanced to the point of autonomy and become a point of major contention in the political and social realms, Astro Boy (1980) chronicles the struggles of a crime-fighting young robot named Atom. Created in the image of his enigmatic inventor's deceased son, Atom survives rough beginnings, getting saved and adopted by the benevolent Dr. Ochanomizu. In his pursuit of justice, Atom finds himself in the midst of numerous clashes with various factions, and is often faced with the harsh realities of the world.[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Background
The original Japanese version of the series ran for 52 episodes while the English version ran for a reduced 51 episodes, as the first two episodes were combined into one, resulting in the omission of the entire backstory of the main antagonist. This creates issues when the antagonist appears later in the series, and the anime refers back to the events which were cut. (Source: Astro Boy Wiki and Wikipedia)
Tetsuwan Atom no Koutsuu Anzen ↗ ↖
Summary
A traffic safety film starring the cast of Tetsuwan Atom. Its purpose educate elementary school children that the leading cause of death involving children and automobiles, is that the children are jumping into the road when they're not supposed to be. Meaning that children using crosswalks lawfully or children inside vehicles that crash, are very unlikely to die, and that children themselves must protect themselves over something easily avoidable and obey traffic laws.
Uchuu Senchi Kyuugou SOS: Tetsuwan Atom to Kangaeru Minna no Mirai ↗ ↖
Tetsuwan Atom: Ao Kishi no Kan ↗ ↖
Astro Boy: Volume of the Blue Knight
Summary
The film begins with the Phoenix retelling the tales and hopes of Astro Boy. Many of the visual being directly taken from the 1980s TV series as it recaps some of his adventures.Following this recap, Astro Boy confronts Blue Bon and tries to convince him to change his mind about the humans. But Blue Bon misunderstands, assuming that if Astro Boy does not agree then he is an enemy. Blue Bon hates humans because they broke apart his family (Maria and Tonto). A battle begins between the two after Astro Boy fails to convince Blue Bon that they aren’t each others’ enemy.
(Source: Astro Boy Wiki)
Astro Boy: Tetsuwan Atom ↗ ↖
Summary
A more modern version of Tetsuwan Atom.
Astro Boy: Tetsuwan Atom ↗ ↖
アストロボーイ・鉄腕アトム
Summary
At the Ministry of Science, fervent Professor Ochanomizu alongside his coworkers strive to reactivate Atom—the first robot with a human heart. Atom is the masterpiece of enigmatic Professor Umatarou Tenma, who built the android to replace his deceased son Tobio. However, while Tenma inexplicably shut down his brainchild and disappeared, Ochanomizu refuses to let such a major breakthrough in science go to waste.Despite having the appearance of a nine-year-old, Atom not only possesses incredible strength and intelligence, but he is also endowed with a remarkable conscience and compassion that rivals humans. Sadly, the mechanical boy soon faces rejection and learns that not everyone is as welcoming as Ochanomizu. Although automatons have integrated into society, they are accepted only as tools and even seen as an upcoming threat to mankind’s dominion.
Dreaming of a world where people and robots can prosper together, Atom dedicates his existence to protecting the lives of both and inspiring them to form genuine bonds.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Background
Astro Boy: Tetsuwan Atom was produced to celebrate Atom's birthday—on April 7, 2003—as well as the 40th anniversary of the original series. While it keeps Osamu Tezuka's art style, the remake features modernized animation and various new Western characters. The anime aired on Fuji TV in Japan; overseas, it was broadcasted on Animax and on local televisions such as Kids WB in North America and YTV in Canada. The series won the 2004 Tokyo Anime Award in the Television Category. In Japan, 13 DVD volumes were released between October 3, 2003 and October 1, 2004. In addition, four limited-edition DVD boxes were made available from December 5, 2003 to October 8, 2004. The boxes included: three discs, three postcards, an action figure, and a 16-page booklet. The first box exclusively contained three additional trading cards. In North America, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released a complete series DVD collection in 2005 and five single discs in 2009; Mill Creek Entertainment produced a complete series collection in 2015. Four episodes of the anime were included in the Pop Culture Bento Box DVD set released by Mill Creek Entertainment in 2019. The series was adapted into two video games produced by Sega titled Astro Boy: Omega Factor and Astro Boy. The former became available on August 17, 2004 for the Game Boy Advance while the latter was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2004 in Japan and North America and in 2005 in Europe. Additionally, a clip named ROBOT - Yume no Astro Boy e, which presents actual robot technology with the digital animation of Atom, was screened at different science museums in Japan starting on April 15, 2004.
Tetsuwan Atom: Atom Tanjou no Himitsu ↗ ↖
Astro Boy: The Secret of Atoms Birth
Summary
Doctor Tenma, chief of the Ministry of Science, brought a digital brain genome from an aircraft. Doctor Tenma begins a trip to Mars, then combines the genome with a robot. Doctor Tenma's son, Tobio, who had died in a traffic accident, has been revived.(Source: AstroBoy Online)
Pluto ↗ ↖
Summary
Famous for his military service in the 39th Asian War, the legendary Swiss robot Montblanc is violently murdered. Humans and robots around the world mourn for the beloved celebrity. Montblanc's popularity only grew in the years following the war, thanks to his dedication to nature conservation and his loving personality.Fellow war veteran and robotic Europol detective Gesicht is sent to investigate Montblanc’s tragic demise. In his pursuit, Gesicht uncovers evidence of a mysterious entity known only as “Pluto.” He also learns of a conspiratorial plot to dismantle the eight specialized robots from around the world who participated in the war. Racing against time to save those who still remain, Gesicht grapples with his memory, morality, and a world full of hate, desperately attempting to defend the fragile coexistence of man and machine.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Background
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Osamu Tezuka's acclaimed Tetsuwan Atom, seinen mangaka Naoki Urasawa collaborated with Tezuka Productions to create a dark adaptation of The Greatest Robot on Earth story arc. The adaptation shifts the focus from Tezuka's protagonist, Atom, to his supporting character Gesicht in order to better ground the story in realism. Pluto won the ninth Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and the Excellence Prize in the Manga Division at the seventh Japan Media Arts Festival in 2005. It also won the 41st Seiun Award for Best Comic in 2010. The series was published in English as Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka by VIZ Media under the VIZ Signature imprint from February 17, 2009, to April 6, 2010.
Aokishi: Tetsuwan Atom Aokishi yori ↗ ↖
Atom: The Beginning ↗ ↖
Summary
The prequel to one of the most influential mangas of all time: Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka!A sci-fi manga about the turbulent lives of two robotics engineering students and their latest revolutionary project: the unassuming yet insanely strong A106, or “Six.”
Atom: The Beginning blazes its own trail, as well as speaking to fans of the iconic Astro Boy and Osamu Tezuka. It’s story full of hear and humor for fans of action-packed science fiction, robots, and manga.
(Source: Titan Comics)
Background
Atom: The Beginning has been published in English by Titan Comics under the Titan Manga imprint since October 11, 2022. The series has been published in Spanish by Milky Way Ediciones since April 27, 2017.
Robot Atom ↗ ↖
ろぼっとアトム
Summary
Astro Boy appears to be a normal, playful kid, yet he is a robot capable of both flying and incredible strength. Living with his parents in a small town where humans and robots coexist, he has many friends thanks to his cheerful nature. Eager to learn and try new things, Astro and his companions often embark on exciting adventures. But their explorations are met with unexpected troubles when the wicked criminal Hamegg—joined by his accomplices Gora, a pink gorilla robot, and Professor Flau—interferes with their endeavors.As the little robot boy and his group bravely face challenges, their efforts become part of a journey to discover the world’s values and wonders.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Background
Robot Atom, also known as Little Astro Boy, is an Astro Boy franchise anime television spin-off series produced by Tezuka Productions and Yomiuri TV Enterprises in partnership with the Nigerian broadcaster Channels TV. As an international co-production, three Nigerian animators traveled to Japan to animate two sequences. Makoto Tezuka spearheaded the international focus, which was partly made as a response to declining birth rates in Japan and in hopes of receiving an endorsement from the Cool Japan initiative. Described as "edutainment," Robot Atom ran in English on Channels TV's children's block of programming between March 22, 2014 and April 26, 2014. A bilingual DVD was later released in Japan on November 3, 2015. While the show was not aired anywhere else, it received positive feedback in Nigeria.
Atom: The Beginning ↗ ↖
Summary
Japan in the near future suffers an unexplained major disaster. Five years later, reconstruction is well underway. Two young researchers at a university are pinning all their hopes on robot development. Now their new interpretation of the eternal hero Astro Boy up until his birth is just about to start!(Source: Showgate)
Go! Go! Atom ↗ ↖
GO!GO!アトム
Summary
The eco-systems of planet Earth are endangered. Lucky for us, a super-powered robot boy is flying to rescue! astro in on a mission to help anyone anywhere in the world with a problem involving natural phenomena. Go little Astro Boy! GO!(Source: Planet Nemo)