I never quite realized how much of a rip-off Mega Man was until I started watching the 2003 remake of Tezuka Osamu's classic manga-turned-anime, Astro Boy. Similarities abound between the two series, including the setting, the characters and the design of the technology, which actually made it easy for me, as a Mega Man fan, to jump in and appreciate the show for what it is: a silly action series about a robotic boy who lives in a wonderful future world.
The wonder of this series sets in early. A sequence in the first episode involving Astro's first flight acts as an exhilarating moment demonstrating Astro's speed and powers, but it also acts as an introduction to the world of the series. And a wonderful world it is. Astro Boy takes place in a futuristic utopia, the kind of world a child would imagine the future to be like, and it is wonderful, if a little bit silly. The concept of the world may feel familiar to fans of the Mega Man franchise, which borrows liberally from Astro Boy in many ways. But Astro Boy has the benefit of showing the universe at peace instead of constantly being torn apart by rebellious robots. Most of Astro Boy's robots actually work like they are supposed to, and while the occasional malfunction or maliciously designed robot keep Astro busy (and Astro Boy action packed) the rest of the world uses technology that function correctly.
This might seem to be an overly optimistic choice in a genre filled with cautionary tales of technology going wrong, but Astro Boy's optimism is refreshing. The future is awesome, and this show revels in the wonders available, even when acknowledging that there are sometimes dangers in pushing the limits of technology.
Astro Boy in general isn't all sunshine and robotic puppy dogs. While the show obviously is targeting a younger demographic, it is perfectly watchable by older audiences if they can get past some of the sillier aspects of the show. The character design, for example, is downright goofy most of the time, with mustaches that defy anatomy and noses that would make Cyrano stare in disbelief. This isn't a bad thing all the time, since these… unique… character designs lead to a world populated by distinguishable people. Even most of the background characters seem distinct, even if stock characters pop up now and again. The sense of goofy design transfers into the technology of Astro Boy as well, and while some of their choices end up working, like the robotic bees that wash windows, others break the believability of the world, like the police cars made to resemble dogs.
Design decisions aside, the biggest obstacle for people looking to enjoy this series would probably be the voice acting. While the voice actors themselves don't do a bad job (Dorian Harewood provides a deep, mellifluous voice for Astro's Arch-nemesis, Dr. Tenma) the dubbing sometimes falls into the worst anime conventions. Worse, watching the show in Japanese with subtitles isn't an option, as the only languages featured are English, Spanish, and Portugese. Basically, if you aren't a fan of anime, Astro Boy probably isn't going to change your mind.
The Special Feature, "The Remaking of Astro Boy", is a revealing look at the process that was used to redesign the series. Hearing the opinions of an American animation director who is brought on to lend an American perspective was pretty frustrating for me, as most of his comments revolved around how some aspects of the show wouldn't fly with American audiences were criticizing parts of the show that I thought were the strongest. Additionally, this feature includes a short drawing lesson teaching aspiring artists how to draw Astro in a short, easy process.
Overall, Astro Boy is a fun, though somewhat goofy, action anime that provides a refreshingly optimistic view of the future, and is set in a wonderful futuristic world. The show seems made for kids, though an adult can easily appreciate it if they can get past some of the goofiness, and don't mind watching (or listening to) dubbed anime. If you like anime and are not scared away by dubbing or silliness, Astro Boy is well worth your time.
ComicsOnline.com gives Astro Boy 4 out of 5 sentient robotic heroes.
