AstroBoy Online Forums

Boomerang is a perfect channel for Astro Boy. I like Jonny Quest, Thundarr, Space Ghost and the Smurfs, but even so why is reruns of these programs better than Astroboy's episodes not watched in years? Thanks:

I thought the same thing. I think Boomerang would be a better place for the 60s Astro Boy than Adult Swim. They could run the 80s one as well

It could be a content issue. What was considered innocent back in the day is considered too colorful for the wee-uns now. The racist characatures, the physical punishment on children, adults smoking and drinking, subjugation of female chracters, the butt charging...it's on adult swim at 330 for a reason.
Example:I have a children's book by one Heinrich Hoffman from the 1840's, it's called Der Struwelpeter(Shock-Headed Peter), and it was an international hit until the early 20th century. It has been recently reprinted, but it's tagged for adults only.
Seems cautionary tales about children getting horribly maimed or killed for misbehaving doesn't fly with parents today.

Der Struwwelpeter? Oh, this little bugger! I had an illustration book called The Child with some stuff on him, and he terrified me when I was five.

But like what Munquibyte said, it's probably about the content.
And, some people may get a bad first impression from Astro Boy and be squeamish or skeptical about watching the show.

That makes sense

Some people felt the same way about the Dick Tracy cartoons, too, thanks.

Dick Tracy was pretty rough in it's day. Wasn't it the first strip to show blood?
McCay showed limb amputation once in the Rarebit Feind, but it was all stylized and goreless. I'll have to dig it up because I think it inspired the Black Knight scene in the Holy Grail.

Anyhoo, 'the shock value' of Astro is more retroactive, it wasn't intended to be colorful, the shifting moral zeitgeist of society made it that way.

Thanks, despite the flaws Astro Boy has, i love the series and the character Astroboy.

"tonigirl1000" wrote:Thanks, despite the flaws Astro Boy has, i love the series and the character Astroboy.

I love it forthe 'flaws'.
I believe in most of the present moral zeitgeist, but I'm really fed up with this spoon fed PC hypersensitivity nowadays. I mean, I like the 2003 series, but nobody got killed, not one human, robot, or critter. Even under American censors Ladd let the occasional tragedy slip through.
I like old outdated stuff like this, it's a form of lashing out.

Thanks, i agree Munquibyte.