Astro Boy (Vol. 1)

The original b&w Astro Boy has its diehard fans, most of whom are less enthusiastic about the later, color episodes represented on this video. While the five stories here about Dr. Boynton and his miniature robot were written by the revered Osamu Tezuka, author of the original series, what's different--primarily--is that these episodes were animated and directed by a lesser crew than Tezuka's original team, so the action is somewhat ill-timed, and the voiceover dub rather devoid of humor. Still, young kids will take some pleasure from it, and Tezuka's hardcore fan base will want to see the master's later work, despite its problematic presentation. Optional. [Note: Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 are also available at the same price.] Aud: P. (T. Keogh)