2003 series DVD

[AstroBlaster1998]

Glad i could help. It was really good.

[F-Man]

The only subtitled releases are from Korea (episodes 1-24 except 20) and Taiwan (episodes 1-12).

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

The only subtitled releases are from Korea (episodes 1-24 except 20) and Taiwan (episodes 1-12).

But are they "authorized", or pirated?

[Fuzzy Pickles!]

Honestly, this is a good reason why I need to get back to learning Japanese. Should I become fluent in Japanese, I will consider trying to find a way to get the uncut version subtitled legally. Do note however, that I make no promise in regards to this and will only do so if a legal and affordable way can be done (which I acknowledge is really unlikely).

[Earthshine]

I know these things now, how to avoid pirated material, but then I didn't and was just happy to be able to get ahold of the uncut series. I'm a little better than most when it comes to tech, but I am not an expert by any means, I'll keep those dimensions in mind next time when I am out buying dvds online.

[F-Man]

[QUOTE=F-Man;212442]The only subtitled releases are from Korea (episodes 1-24 except 20) and Taiwan (episodes 1-12).

But are they "authorized", or pirated?[/QUOTE]

The authorized ones I mean. You've come across one of the unauthorized ones.

If it's not listed on Yes Asia, time to have doubts.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

I'm considering ordering the 2003 English language release on DVD from Amazon (along with Atom Cat, this gets me over the $25 for free shipping). I know about deficiencies in the English dubbed version, but most of what is good about this series is still there. The artwork in this version has some of the most endearing renditions of Astro ever done, and most of the story plots are not destroyed by the edits, even if the artist's original POV has been deflected somewhat. The episode order change is easy to fix (just use the remote control!). There is the pan and scan format vs the original wide screen. That makes no sense as back in 2004 DVD's were being coded for letter box and the few available widescreen TV's starting to become available.

(I wish Sony would go out of business, or just concentrate on what they actually make money on, banking and insurance! Keep their GD hands out of electronics and media!)


The one thing I WOULD like to find is the original version of the episode showing the deleted scenes of Tobio's demise. What Episode number was that in the original Japanese? I've found some of those sub'ed streaming on the net (thankfully, including Eternal Boy).

[Earthshine]

I think Tobio's death was in episode 2 of the Atlas introduction episodes, somewhere during the first ten. In the English version I think this is episode....4? I can't look at my DVDs right now because I am not at home, otherwise I'd have a concrete answer.

The Japanese version actually flat out states that Tobio died in a car crash, and has a tasteful, if heartbreaking scene of Tenma cradling his son's dead body after the impact. I'm very certain that this scene in the Japanese is in the first ten episodes.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

I watched the first atlas episode in the subed version and while there were flash backs to the past it wasn't there. I think it may be in the second atlas story where atom goes back to the old house and sees tobio in a vision.

Edit:
The missing scene was in the second Atlas episode. I now see TWO major differences between the Japanese and English versions. There was actually very little cut in the way of footage in the flashback segments. The actual scene where Tobio's death is reviled is really only a still with the boy lying in the wreckage of his crashed scooter, and Tenma standing over him. Dr. O'shay's dialog is changed to deflect the fact that Tobio was Tenma's son, but it is still heavily implied.
One difference that REALLY bugged me was the soundtrack. In the Japanese version during every scene where Tobio appears in a flashback, in the background is playing the original Astro Boy theme, very slowly, as if from a music box. Removing that destroyed the somber effect of the tender memories that must have been flowing though Astro's mind.

The other plot change is that in the Japanese version it is clear that Atlas is a robot that replaced Tokagowa's son. This fact is still implied in the English dub, but the water's are muddied by Tenma's description of the his creation of Atlas. Still he tells Tokagowa that the two of them are much alike (because they were both bad parents and caused the death of their sons).

It's amazing how the very subtle changes made in the edit and dub changed the mood of this part of the story. I'm sure some of the cuts were purely to fit commercial time in for the networks. Leaving out that original theme, especially the way it was played though was a GD crime.