Little Astro Boy

Little Astro Boy (ろぼっとアトム, Robotto Atomu, lit. "Robot Atom") is an anime television spin-off series Astro Boy franchise created by Osamu Tezuka. Aimed at preschoolers, the series was produced by Tezuka Productions and Yomiuri TV Enterprises in partnership with Nigerian broadcaster Channels TV.

Little Astro Boy
Japanese DVD cover
ろぼっとアトム
(Robotto Atomu)
GenreAction, Adventure, Comedy, Preschool, Science fiction
Anime television series
Directed byMasayoshi Nishida
Written byToru Nozaki
Mayumi Morita
Music byHayata Akashi
StudioTezuka Productions
Yomiuri TV Enterprises
Channels TV
Original networkChannels TV
Original run March 22, 2014 – April 26, 2014
Episodes8
Related works

Consisting of eight 11-minute episodes, the series ran in English on Channels TV's children's block of programming between March 22, 2014 and April 26, 2014.[1][2] It later received a bilingual DVD release in Japan on November 3, 2015.[3]

Production

At the 2013 Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Tezuka Productions revealed that they were in early negotiations to create local adaptations of Astro Boy with international companies. The furthest along was a partnership with Nigeria's Channels TV, with whom Tezuka were looking to "re-version" the brand with. The international focus, which was made in part as a response to declining birth rates in Japan, was spearheaded by Makoto Tezuka and was hoped to receive funding from the Cool Japan initiative.[4][5]

The following January, Tezuka Productions officially announced the series. Described as "edutainment" aimed at preschool children, Little Astro Boy was greenlit for 8 episodes with the intention to focus on the lead's innocence, rather than might. While primarily produced by Tezuka in Japan, as part of being an international co-production, three Nigerian animators traveled to Japan to animate two sequences.[6][5]

Voice cast
Character Japanese English
Astro Boy (Atom) Rie Murakawa Jennifer Cameron
Pikko Yuka Nakatsukasa Chantal Strand
Reggie Masami Kikuchi Rogger Harris
Tac Mayumi Yamaguchi Ashley Alexander
Kinako Ai Fukada Shannon Chan-Kent
Ken Asami Tano Erin Mathews
Mitchy Chuna Callyn Dorval
Paul Yuka Terasaki Erin Mathews
Hamegg Riki Kitazawa Cole Howard
Dr. Flau Tsuyoshi Aoki Charlie Bostio
Gora Daisuke Egawa Adam Fedyk
Pato Kentaro Tone Campbell McLoed
Speed Joe Katsuyuki Konishi Campbell McLoed

Episodes
No. English title / Translated title Original airdate
01"Astro Becomes a Racer"
Transcription: "Atomu, Rēsā ni Naru!?" (Japanese: アトム、レーサーになる！？)		March 22, 2014 (2014-03-22)
02"Recycling Gone Wild"
Transcription: "Bōsō Risaikuru" (Japanese: 暴走リサイクル)		March 22, 2014 (2014-03-22)
03"Astro Goes to Space"
Transcription: "Atomu, Uchū e Iku" (Japanese: アトム、宇宙へ行く)		March 29, 2014 (2014-03-29)
04"We Love Cleaning"
Transcription: "Osōji Daisuki" (Japanese: おそうじ大好き)		March 29, 2014 (2014-03-29)
05"Fly! Mitchy"
Transcription: "Tobe! Mitchy ―" (Japanese: 飛べ！ミッチ―)		April 12, 2014 (2014-04-12)
06"Heart on Fire"
Transcription: "Hāto ni hi Ga Tsuita" (Japanese: ハートに火がついた)		April 12, 2014 (2014-04-12)
07"I’m Moler, You See?"
Transcription: "O, Oira wa Mōgurāna nda na" (Japanese: オ、オイラはモーグラーなんだな)		April 26, 2014 (2014-04-26)
08"Astro and The 5 Adventures"
Transcription: "Jikan o Nusunda Otoko vs Atomu to 5-ri to Bōken-tai" (Japanese: 時間を盗んだ男vsアトムと5人と冒険隊)		April 26, 2014 (2014-04-26)

References
  1. Schilling, Mark (March 12, 2014). "Japan's Tezuka Respins 'Astro Boy' For Africa". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  2. "Japanese Animation" (PDF). Taiyo Industry. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  3. Komatsu, Mikikazu (May 24, 2015). "Amazon Japan Lists "Robot Atom/Little Astro Boy" DVD". Crunchyroll. Otter Media. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  4. Hopewell, John (June 12, 2013). "Tezuka in Talks for 'Astro Boy' TV Series Re-versions". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  5. "A Joint International Project with Nigeria - Tezuka Productions Takes its Newest Anime Robot Atom to Africa". Tokyo Otaku Mode. January 15, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  6. Loo, Egan (January 11, 2014). "New Astro Boy/Mighty Atom Animation to Air in Nigeria". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
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