
Astro's New Version Episodes
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- Kokoro Robot
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 21 years ago
I need help! I think I'm one of the most recent fans of Atom. Anyway, there're too many episodes around and I can't seem to get hold any of it. I was told that the VCDs I bought recently are the 'new version' of AstroBoy...then how can I get hold of the old ones? As the new versions seem to be slightly different from the synopsis of how Atom came alive (from what I read through this website). :huh: Can someone help me?? And oh, I realise that the theme songs posted in this website is not the same as the one in my VCD (which I'm looking for it!
. Cause it's sung in Japanese...do you know where can I get the original soundtrack then?

Here's a quick breakdown of what there is:
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1950s-1970s original Astroboy manga (comic) - entire works translated and released by Dark Horse in 21 volumes. At least two more volumes are due in the coming months. Available online through Dark Horse, Amazon, The Right Stuf, and sometimes second hand on Ebay. Searching for "Astro Boy" and "Astroboy" usually gives different results. Also have a look in any anime or comic book stores in your area. The huge bookstore Kinokuniya also stock them.
1960s B&W anime (cartoons) - 193 episodes made, 104 translated into English, 36 available through The Right Stuf on NTSC VHS.
1980s colour anime - 52 episodes made, 51 translated into English. All available from on PAL VHS in Australia from Siren or in stores such as Myer/Grace Bros. Also available on NTSC VHS in the USA from Manga Entertainment, Amazon, and probably other places. There are also DVDs of the first 26 Japanese episodes with English subtitles (probably bootlegs) available through Ebay or various online anime stores. The DVD picture quality is excellent, but the subtitles are very poor.
1987 colour comics - release by Now Comics. I think there were 20+ issues, but the drawing style is very westernised and I can't really recommend them except for their letters page from other fans. Hard to get, occassionally seen on Ebay.
2003 colour anime - 50(?) episodes, all currently being translated into English. In fact they should have started showing them by now.
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So out of all that, what can I recommend? I'd say start with the 1980s colour series. The original manga and B&W series are more authentic, but unless you've grown up with them the medium can put you off a bit at first.
For all of the Astroboy stuff available, I recommend going through them in order.
The Dark Horse manga translation is all out of order - they've started with the more essential and interesting stories to get you in to it.
There's not much of the B&W series available, so if you're interested in that then it doesn't really matter what order, although it's probably best to buy volume 1 first as it shows Astro's creation.
For the 80s Astroboy series, the PAL and NTSC releases have the episodes in different orders. I recommend getting the first tape, which shows the birth of Astro and him starting school, then the tapes with Atlas on them and the tape with the two-part finale. You can get episode listings and tape listings off the Internet, or I can give you the specific info if you'd like.
The story of Astro's creation varies slightly with each version, and even the original manga has at least two versions within itself. Part of it was because Tezuka didn't start writing with the creation of Astro, he wrote that story retrospectively. Newer technology, artistic styles and mediums have also influenced the different versions throughout the decades. Ultimately, all the animated versions are based on stories from the original manga.
For the Astroboy soundtrack, try CD Japan. Also, if you check the FTP Server forum thread, it will tell you how to connect to Anapan's Astroboy file collection and download some of the various themes in different languages.
And welcome, by the way!
-----------
1950s-1970s original Astroboy manga (comic) - entire works translated and released by Dark Horse in 21 volumes. At least two more volumes are due in the coming months. Available online through Dark Horse, Amazon, The Right Stuf, and sometimes second hand on Ebay. Searching for "Astro Boy" and "Astroboy" usually gives different results. Also have a look in any anime or comic book stores in your area. The huge bookstore Kinokuniya also stock them.
1960s B&W anime (cartoons) - 193 episodes made, 104 translated into English, 36 available through The Right Stuf on NTSC VHS.
1980s colour anime - 52 episodes made, 51 translated into English. All available from on PAL VHS in Australia from Siren or in stores such as Myer/Grace Bros. Also available on NTSC VHS in the USA from Manga Entertainment, Amazon, and probably other places. There are also DVDs of the first 26 Japanese episodes with English subtitles (probably bootlegs) available through Ebay or various online anime stores. The DVD picture quality is excellent, but the subtitles are very poor.
1987 colour comics - release by Now Comics. I think there were 20+ issues, but the drawing style is very westernised and I can't really recommend them except for their letters page from other fans. Hard to get, occassionally seen on Ebay.
2003 colour anime - 50(?) episodes, all currently being translated into English. In fact they should have started showing them by now.
-----------
So out of all that, what can I recommend? I'd say start with the 1980s colour series. The original manga and B&W series are more authentic, but unless you've grown up with them the medium can put you off a bit at first.
For all of the Astroboy stuff available, I recommend going through them in order.
The Dark Horse manga translation is all out of order - they've started with the more essential and interesting stories to get you in to it.
There's not much of the B&W series available, so if you're interested in that then it doesn't really matter what order, although it's probably best to buy volume 1 first as it shows Astro's creation.
For the 80s Astroboy series, the PAL and NTSC releases have the episodes in different orders. I recommend getting the first tape, which shows the birth of Astro and him starting school, then the tapes with Atlas on them and the tape with the two-part finale. You can get episode listings and tape listings off the Internet, or I can give you the specific info if you'd like.
The story of Astro's creation varies slightly with each version, and even the original manga has at least two versions within itself. Part of it was because Tezuka didn't start writing with the creation of Astro, he wrote that story retrospectively. Newer technology, artistic styles and mediums have also influenced the different versions throughout the decades. Ultimately, all the animated versions are based on stories from the original manga.
For the Astroboy soundtrack, try CD Japan. Also, if you check the FTP Server forum thread, it will tell you how to connect to Anapan's Astroboy file collection and download some of the various themes in different languages.
And welcome, by the way!

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- Kokoro Robot
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 21 years ago
Oh thank you so much! But so many different episodes and versions are really confusing ain't it? You see, I've been searching high and low to collect the episodes on VCD or DVD because tapes are already obsolete here. The last I heard, the latest remake versions will be out soon but it's gonna be really slow (which is the one I have now and the one you mentioned - 2003 coloured ones). I guess I won't be able to find it in Malaysia and will have to resort to the net.
Anyway, thank you so much. And thank you even more if you would be kind enough to share with me the episode listing as well? So that I'll know which one to look for in the future!
:wahah:
Anyway, thank you so much. And thank you even more if you would be kind enough to share with me the episode listing as well? So that I'll know which one to look for in the future!
:wahah:
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