AstroBoy Online Forums

Ok, I was hoping somebody here would know this. In the 1980s astroboy boxset, released by manga entertainment, I know that the first 2 episodes have been edited into one episode. But, besides this, are all the other episodes uncut and unedited, or do they have the any of the cuts or edits that were made when the show first aired in the U.S, even if you watch it subtitled? According to this wikipedia article, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astro_Boy_(1980_TV_series) it says the australian had more deleted scenes, but I know sometimes wikipedia gets things wrong. Is this a mistake, or does the manga leave some scenes out, besides the ones omitted from the first 2 episodes? I would really appreciate it if someone could clear this up for me. Thank you!

Yeah, the Australian collector's boxset contains more deleted scenes. It's mostly small bits and pieces. Generally for violence, but they also cut every scene with Japanese writing in it.

In The Robot Circus, they cut the last few seconds of Tornado's burning body falling to the ground.
In Blackie Young, they cut out the scene where Blackie shoots the robot factory owner.
In The Transformation Robot, they cut out a scene where prison guards are gunning down escaping prisoners.
In The Return of Queen Cleopatra, they cut out most of Cleopatra getting killed by Barbary.
etc

The Manga Entertainment release actually has most of these scenes edited back into the episodes, so they're not included as DVD extras.

My memory is failling as I haven't watched Madman's version (the Australian boxset) in a long long time, and Manga's version in some time (and I usually watch the episodes, not the extras). I leave only the first two full Japanese episodes from the Australian version near the DVD player and for the rest, I like Manga's better, despite the few missing scenes.

I'm pretty sure that none of these two versions are totally complete though - there is a least one little bit of scene (like what, 5-7 seconds?) that somebody posted here as an animated gif that didn't make it in either. I don't know if there are more but I suppose there might be. They is probably very little that we haven't seen in between both sets but I don't know for sure since I haven't seen the Japanese version.

Please anybody correct me if I'm not right because I'm not 100% on this (although I'm pretty sure), but while it's true that there are a few more deleted scenes in the Australian boxset, there are also a few scenes on the American boxset that aren't in the Australian one, such a special closing credits featuring Uran. DrFrag's right, many little parts here and there made it back into the episodes on Manga's version. For example, we can see a little more of the Vikings destruction, not as an extra but right in the episode.

"DrFrag" wrote:The Manga Entertainment release actually has most of these scenes edited back into the episodes, so they're not included as DVD extras.

But there are extras on Manga's version too, IIRC? I think there might even be some that haven't made it on Madman's. For example, I recall having seen a scene between Torch and Zeus in which Torch is reading a newspaper. I don't think it was on Madman's.

Hugh... it's really more than time for me to watch Astroboy again!

It's really a shame that Manga didn't include the first two Japanese episodes, because otherwise I would like it more than Madman's. However, as it is, as a huge fan, I'm glad I own both!

OK, thanks for the help everyone, but I`m still not quite clear on this. From what you say, it sounds like on the manga version, some scenes were included as deleted scenes in the extras, while some were just put right back into the episode. So, are all of the scenes included then? Or are there still some that are not on the manga boxset at all? Thanks for helping clear this up, and sorry about the confusion

"SailorMoon" wrote:OK, thanks for the help everyone, but I`m still not quite clear on this. From what you say, it sounds like on the manga version, some scenes were included as deleted scenes in the extras, while some were just put right back into the episode.

Yes. I was hoping somebody else could correct me, but it just occured to me that I'm one of the very few here who owns both boxsets.

So, I've just watched Manga's deleted scenes in the extras. Here they are. They are also available on Madman's boxset unless I said they weren't.

Uran the Tomboy:
- Astro wishing happy new year in a kimono (not on Madman's);
- Daddy Walrus mad at Astro for not bringing her sister to his appartment.

Uran's Twin: both twins arguing about who's going to fight and who's going to class and then singing together.

Lilly on Peligro Island: the queen watches Astro as he wants to leave the island, and then look at her sabre saying something. I don't think it was on Madman's.

There is a scene, however, that is among Madman's extras: the queen beheads Astro before he leaves, which is a more important scene, yet if I'm not mistaken, it did not make it back in the episode on Manga's version, so that would be one missing scene.

The Anti-Proton Gun: there is a flashback to the first (Japanese) episode as Walpur Giss tells Livian about Atlas and Astro being brothers. I don't think it's on Madman in this particular episode, but of course the whole scene is available since the original Japanese episode is included.

The Human-Faced Rock: the inhabitants panicking at night after the first earthquake, and debating whether to leave or stay. This wasn't on Madman's.

Uran Falls in Love: Torch is mad at Zeus because he missed Astro. Not on Madman's.

Astro's First Love: Tezuka himself speaks at the beginning of the episode.

"SailorMoon" wrote:So, are all of the scenes included then? Or are there still some that are not on the manga boxset at all? Thanks for helping clear this up, and sorry about the confusion

There are some that aren't on the Manga boxset at all. I don't remember everything. I might watch Madman's extras again later today. However I obviously can't watch Manga's 51 episodes to remember correctly what has been put back. Usually, they are very little parts, but there are also a few special closing credits.

It looked to me as though Manga only inserted deleted scenes that contained no speaking.

I won't have time to check Madman's extras today, but if you are interested, if I'm not too tired, it might be a good thing to watch before falling asleep later this week.

"DrFrag" wrote:It looked to me as though Manga only inserted deleted scenes that contained no speaking.

Yes, I think that's it, or very little (we mean in the episodes, not in the extras). It usually lasts just a few seconds, like, the hijacker getting shot, or the Vikings attacking the dog - on the mixed English/Japanese dub, the music switches abruptly from whatever it was in the Japanese version to "In the Hall of the mountain King", but the Vikings weren't very vocal! I suppose they thought it would distrack the viewer too much if they put everyting back in the episodes. They did include a few ones, I believe, that had been cut because there were Japanese words visible.

Oh yes, one thing missing from both boxsets are the trailers.

All in all, if you are wondering which set to get, I'd say go with Manga's, and find the two missing episodes on the Internet... It's cheaper and the Japanese dub is fun. Often I'll choose the English track with the subtitles so I can appreciate both versions at the same time, and pick up the small differences.