The Greatest Sci Fi/Fantasy TV Shows: Considering the case for the sci fi and fantasy television shows that should be counted among the greatest of all time.
What Is It?
Astro Boy (known as Tetsuwan Atomu—“Mighty Atom”—in Japan) follows a powerful robot boy named Astro, created by a scientist from the Ministry of Science, Dr. Astor Boynton II, to replace his lost son. However, Boynton grows dissatisfied with the robot child because he cannot age or mature, and he ultimately sells him to a circus where Astro is forced to compete in gladiatorial-style fighting tournaments. He is later freed by Dr. Packidermus J. Elefun, Boynton’s successor at the Ministry of Science, and from that point on, Astro chooses to use his abilities to help others.
Aired: Fuji TV/Syndicaton, 1963-65, 1 Season Totaling 193 Episodes (104 Dubbed in English)
Starring: Billie Lou Watt, Ray Owens
Created By: Osamu Tezuka
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Argument to Count It as One of the Greatest Sci Fi TV Shows:
Astro Boy hit the small screen in the United States in the early 1960s at a time when animation was experiencing an explosion of sorts on television. Appearing in Prime Time (The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Jonny Quest) and taking over Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons (Yogi Bear, Clutch Cargo, Space Angel), there were plenty of offerings that appealed to children and adults alike. Astro Boy joined that lineup as one of the first major imports from Japan, and it basically set the stage for the many anime entries that would follow and become global hits.
Based on the popular manga by Osamu Tezuka, the story is aimed at younger viewers, but it also has appeal to audiences of all ages. It starts out as a sci fi reworking of Pinocchio, and it continues from there, bringing in some mature themes of identity, morality, and what it means to be human, making it more than just the typical kids’ cartoon. It also presents moral dilemmas and deals with bigotry, and at times it delivers some tragic storylines. And while it has plenty of action, adventure, and superhero-style tales that appeal to younger viewers, it goes well beyond that and stands out among the many other cartoons on television, especially at that time.
The original black-and-white Astro Boy may seem rather quaint to modern viewers, especially with its limited animation (which was common for animated shows on television in those days). But it was important as a formative early genre entry, bringing in plenty of sci fi elements along with timeless themes. Many may dismiss this as a silly old cartoon, just like some will dismiss early sci fi space operas such as Space Patrol (more on that one at this link), but its influence was felt (especially in anime), and it certainly should be considered among the all-time sci fi TV greats.
Argument Against:
Astro Boy may have been a notable early anime series, but its influence has long since faded, and the show just does not hold up well. The animation is very limited and choppy, making it difficult to watch the episodes. And the stories are often childish and simple, even if they do introduce some more mature themes at times. Plus, the show can get rather repetitive, revisiting some of the same storylines and gimmicks on a regular basis. It did have an impact on anime, offering an inroad for that genre across the globe, but there are many other entries that would follow that did much more with their sci fi elements and mature storylines, such as Star Blazers (aka Space Battleship Yamato, more on that one at this link). Astro Boy may have been the first anime global hit, but it is mostly a product of its era and does not count among the all-time genre greats.
Johnny Jay’s Take:
When I was a kid, the anime series that I watched the most was 1968’s Speed Racer. That one offered plenty of action and adventure along with a fair amount of sci fi elements, and it sure captured the imagination of younger viewers. I caught some episodes of Astro Boy during those days, but it did not have as much of a presence in syndication in the late ’60s and early ’70s because broadcasters preferred shows that were in color. Years later, I would go back and revisit the show, and I realized it was a much superior anime entry to Speed Racer, with its more mature themes really resonating and giving it somewhat of a timeless feel.
Those who may find the original black-and-white series somewhat crude and difficult to watch should probably check out the 1980 version. That one followed very much in the spirit of the 1960s show, drawing from the Osamu Tezuka manga stories, but it was in color and offered higher-quality animation. And it worked in the moral dilemmas and sometimes even more mature themes, delivering an excellent example of anime at the time it aired. But we can’t forget the importance of the original series that helped anime to get its start, and that certainly counts as a major early genre show that deserves to be counted among the all-time greats.
Where Can You Watch It?
The original series is not streaming on any of the major services, but you can find episodes on YouTube. It was collected on DVD, but that has since gone out of print. The 1980 version is available for streaming with a subscription to Prime Video.
Do you consider Astro Boy to be one of the greatest sci fi TV shows of all time or is it too dated? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments below.
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