Astro voice actor here

[jayrath]

We never, ever saw the footage of the closing credits. I mean, not a second of it. We had no idea what they would be like. We only saw the opening credit footage when we recorded the song. All we got was each single story, from the first scene on.

[Astro Forever]

Good news and bad news. Very little of the original audio and video elements are left. I am getting them all and will be dubbing them to digital. Yes, I am told that the never-seen pilot is part of this, but I need to see it to verify that it actually is what we did.

That's too bad, but don't be sorry, it's not really anybody's fault and it's a very good effort!

Hummm! Does anyone else think it's inappropriate to see Urane strapped on a table like that? Oh nuts, and then we next see her naked? I do not remember any of that, and it is wrong, and it should be deleted.

This is a pretty scarey show.

Ick. It is awful. There is so much horrible, horrible sexual subtext. Astro splitting the middle of a giant, uh, pussycat? And at the end Uran complains that her legs go in opposite directions, and Elefun says it will be okay "so long as you are ladylike"?

I'm fighting to recover all the lost footage -- but this show should be deleted, forgotten. A garbage episode. No child must ever see this show. It is a nightmare to me, and it will be a nightmare to children tonight. This is Astroporn.

Hey, I love that episode! I find it funny. I never tried to find another level to the dialogues. I watched it two days ago and still loved it.

Of course, maybe it's not the same watching it for the first (or second) time as an adult but to me it's just fine. Daddy Walrus and Astro make it clear that violence is not acceptable (even though Walrus has a sligth and hilarious lapse ). Uran pays for going against it, so IMO it's acceptable. I remember watching it as a child, I was 7 or 8. The part I remembered after all these years was the scene where Uran completely splits in two in the park. I didn't remember anything about the violence***, and trust me, I was never into violent shows.

As for Uran naked, I can assure you that there's much less to see than there was on any of my Barbies.

"What's a steam locomotive?"
"It's a train that ran by steam."

Ah yes, that one! Bah, it's not that bad in the context. To me it's more like they are ignorant children, and it makes steam locomotive, and therefore the world we live in, seems so outdated in comparison to their universe that I find it cute.

I still enjoy your comments. I'll also be printing them and reading as I watch the show.

*** I had to edit this post. I involuntarly said something really stupid. Of course I couldn't remember that much violence since there wasn't as much in what I saw as a child (the first two minutes are making it very obvious). Oh, an no final "ladylike" comment in that version either!

Still, even after watching the full version, I never thought the violence was so bad.

[jayrath]

"The Return of Queen Cleopatra"

Well, there's a snappy title! Anyone else would have made it "Cleopatra's Return." Again -- bad translation. The scripts we got were literal. No one checked, no one edited. The cast and crew rewrote on the spot.

I am the priest with the big beard and glasses. Cleopatra is Debbie Holmes. Paul is the big-nosed man who gets cut down.

This is a little bigoted. Who says Egypt needs to be "rebuilt"? They are a fine, strong country.

Caesar is Rich Ganoung; excellent work from him here. As Astro's dad or Alvin he seldom got to show off.

And you will note the odd mixing again that the writers always made of historical figures. We now have Roman and Egyptian in the same modern era.

Not our best show. Sorry!

"The Runaway Subway Train"

Ha! It's Atlas' crystal wiener again! Can't Livian ever put on a dress? Or even pants? Atlas must keep his ship hot. Livian, put on a sweater!

I am the robot who responds to Atlas on his video screen.

Any show you see with Urane is from mid-series -- second year or so.

Subway dispatcher is Greg.

"The Baby Elephant Pook"

Hey, it's Pookie! Yay, yay, yay!

Hunters are Paul and Dave -- Dave is the one with the huge chin. I am the robot ranger.

Tower robot is Bob.

I am Huntley. Wow, I get so many big guest parts. I don't remember it that way at all.

Announcer is our director, Del Lewis.

Brian is so good. I'm proud we have so many scenes together here. Dave is a good pal now and here, but Brian is the finest actor I have ever known.

[Strange Wings]

As for Uran naked, I can assure you that there's much less to see than there was on any of my Barbies.

Touché! An excellent point!

[jayrath]

"The Secret of the Bee City"

I have zero recollection of this show. It's odd that some episodes I remember perfectly, but then one like this pops up . . .

Announcer is Paul. Debbie is the kid with the odd buttons, McGowan's son, Christopher.

HA! What kind of destination spot is this island, that everyone has to dress in protective suits?

Second announcer is Dave.

I am the robot, RP3. This must have been a fun part, because I didn't have to worry about matching lip movements. It's too bad I had to be mechanical though. We all looked forward to true voice-over shots, so we could freely act.

Bee city commander is Greg.

Bee queen Mary is Kahlei.

Sort of a fun show. I like episodes when we get absurd. MAN-EATING BEES!

"The Monster of Clarken"

Ship guest who looks up is Bob.
Pepi must be Becky. Kahlei is the dolphin.

I am Mandrake. What a fun voice to do!

[Astro Forever]

I am Mandrake. What a fun voice to do!

And to hear as well! It really stands out!

I assume you have an easier time remembering the episodes featuring Skunk?

[jayrath]

"Lily on Peligro Island"

The blonde on the beach is Debbie. Love that log hat!

Paul is the villain in sunglasses. The old man is Greg.

"The Anti-Proton Gun"

I'm pretty glad there is no pro-proton gun. Wow that would be almost as bad as Sarah Palin as vice president.

Bob Gonzalez is opening announcer. Greg is the scientist. Rich is the secretary general.

Hey, Atlas' big weiner ship! And do you note what the scene next cuts to?

Walpurgis is me or Dave. It's hard to tell -- sometimes I am so sure it's me. Wow. I am sure I was not him in the pilot. But if I am not him, then I have no other part in this show, and that would be a first.

"The Man-Made Solar Sphere"

Holmes is Greg.

Ewww, I hate when they do that skin thing.

Paul and I are the crooks at the door. Bob is the radio announcer.

Evil pianist scientist is Dave. I am his robot. I am his head henchman. Control panel announcer is Rich. Paul is the white-bearded henchman. Winston is Paul.

What a strange show! Astro with other arms and legs!

If Holmes wants to be such a great detective, maybe he should take off his sunglasses once in awhile, so he can see.

"Blackie Young"

Dave is the delivery guy. Kahlei is the robot. I am the guard robot, Rich is the gangster robot, Blackie. Debbie is the stewardess. Del Lewis is the airport announcer. Paul is the bearded driver. I am the southern ranch owner. Walrus' felllow prisoner is Dave. The nurse robot is Paul.

Uh . . . how big could those nurse boobs be?

Blackie's mom is Kahlei. Ha! Kahlei Blackie!

A very fine piece of work from Rich. He gets to do it all in this show.

"The Genie From Outer Space"

Intro announcer is Bob, Genie is Paul, I am the kid. News announcer is Dave. Prof. Adams is Greg.

Elefun says, "Looks like a robot." Yeah, what was the first clue? Maybe the huge mechanical head and body?

I am the "lava" announcer -- the scientist with the big glasses who later pops up.

I don't know who voiced Galon. Maybe Rich?

Ha! The cruise ship Carolina! That's two shows for it.

H-bomb soldier is Dave.

Ah! Galon is Paul. Very clearly. He always got to be the big robots.

I am the long-haired, moustached scientist at the end.

[jayrath]

[QUOTE=jayrath;84311]I am Mandrake. What a fun voice to do!

And to hear as well! It really stands out!

I assume you have an easier time remembering the episodes featuring Skunk?[/QUOTE]

To be honest, what surprises me is how few shows Skunk is in. I was Billie, the goofy-toothed classmate, much more often. That is not how I remember it at all. It appears that I am not in one episode altogether; that is another surprise. But I am also pleased I got so many of the big guest parts.

[jayrath]

"The Robots Nobody Wanted"

Yay! Pointy Livian! I am the first laughing dinner guest. The screamer is Debbie.

Paul is the fat man in the big robot head. Duke is Kahlei. Becky is -- ha! Becky! The round headed sick woman in the wheelchair is Debbie. The welder character is Rich. I am the guy on the street with the moustache; Dave is the other.

Chieftan is Brian.

Why does the nurse wear -- what she does? Or rather, does not? She goes around in a hospital like that?

I am the odd tongue robot. Debbie is the accusing native.

Announcer is Bob.

Space station speaker with the helmet is Greg. I am the "Don't know if we're gonna make it" man. "Why, that's Duke" speaker is me, too.

"Atlas Forever"

Greg is first robot, I am second. Rich is the "Uranus" speaker. I'm the one with the blue color. Dave is the angry, fat secretary general.

Dave is Capt. Keely.

Announcer is Greg.

Why does Atlas have a horse? And is it a robot horse? And does it have a name?

Yay! Pointy Livian!

Lots of bathos here, as the last show.

I am the announcer.

Next announcer is Kahlei, then Debbie.

"Missing Episode"

There is at least one entire show missing out of the DVD collection. It's about a little girl robot with whom Astro trades legs. If I recall correctly, this is the epsiode in which Tezuka himself appears.

Well. I guess that's it. It's been fun looking back and doing this commentary for you. I wish I could do it all on DVD for you for real. And (ahem) if anyone can bring any pressure to bear on the producers of the new movie, I would be very pleased to do voices there.

I apologize, but _I_ am Skunk! Anyone else is a pretender!

[Strange Wings]

There is at least one entire show missing out of the DVD collection. It's about a little girl robot with whom Astro trades legs. If I recall correctly, this is the epsiode in which Tezuka himself appears.

That would be 'Astro's First Love', it's on both the Madman and Manga DVD releases. The missing introduction of Tezuka pointing out Astro's 'female' legs has been included on Madman's extra DVD which features sequences omitted from the english dub.

Thank you so much for your commentaries, it's such a joy reading them. You and the whole cast did an awesome job; it's a dubbing you can listen to over and over again, it never loses its appeal of love.