Tezuka Productions Anime titles coming to North America Broadcast in June
Astro Boy (1980/52 × 24) - This is the first version of the original Japanese version remastered in HD. It is also the original color series that grew out of a proposal that Mr. Tezuka made to a station to reproduce the series in a way he could not fully accomplish with the original black and white series. Set in a future where machines have advanced to the point of autonomy and have become a point of great controversy in the political and social fields, Astro Boy tells the struggles of a young crime-fighting robot named Atom. Created in the image of the deceased son of his enigmatic inventor, Atom survives difficult beginnings, is rescued and adopted by the benevolent Doctor Ochanomizu. In his quest for justice, Atom finds himself in the midst of numerous clashes with various factions and often faces the harsh realities of the world.
Although it is a new version of the previous work, the content of each episode is organized to fit the present. This work includes nine episodes of "Atom vs. Atlas", a series of clashes between good and evil, in favor of Tezuka Osamu. In other words, his intention was to show us that both good and evil have their weaknesses, through a description of the clash between these two in nine consecutive episodes.
Black jack (Original Video Animation / 1993/12 × 50) - This is the first animated series of Black jack directed by Osamu Dezaki together with Akio Sugino, which is the best known combination for The rose of Versailles e Go for the ace! The last 2 episodes (karte 11 and 12) were scheduled during the last years of Dezaki's life, thus becoming one of his last works.
Equipped with excellent surgical technique, the Black Jack always miraculously saves seriously ill patients and those about to die. But he always asks a scandalous price for his surgery, so his presence is rejected in medical circles. Black Jack lives in silence in a desert clinic with his assistant, Pinoko, whose life he had saved. Patients that other doctors have given up come to see him every day; represents his last hope.
Although inspired by the original manga, each episode is a completely new story. Unlike the television series, this OVA series features a more mature and darker tone than its other anime counterparts, with the focus on the Black Jack character being portrayed in a more mysterious and even edgy way.
Magma Ambassador (1993/13 × 25) - Journalist Murakami Atsushi and his family wake up one morning to discover they have traveled back 200 million years. Looking out the window, they see dinosaurs walking outside their house. This is, in fact, the work of an astronaut named Goa, who sent them back to the past in a demonstration of their power. Proclaiming that it would take control of the land, Goa challenges Murakami to report his plans in the newspaper.
Returning to the present, Mamoru, son of Murakami, is carried by a giant named Magma to the basement of a volcanic island, where he meets the creator of the earth (called "Earth"). To crush Goa's ambitions, Earth creates three "rocket men" named Magma, Mol and Gum. Magma whistles Mamoru which he can use to call him and the other missiles when he's in trouble, and they fight Goa together. But Goa has already begun its land invasion project, sending creatures that can become humanoid, called "Hitomodoki".
This is an original animated video recording footage based on the popular manga of the same title, which aired on television in 1966 as a special effects feature. Then a more contemporary flavor was added to the story setting, which revolves around the conflict between the Magma rocket and the evil King Goa. The video became increasingly popular when Ohira Tohru, who played Goa in the television drama, appeared in the video with the exact same role after 27 years.
A 10.000 year time frame: Prime Rose (1993 / film) - A demon sends two cities, the city of Kujukuri in Chiba prefecture and Dallas in the United States. The United States, with ten thousand years ahead in the future, is forcing them to fight each other and enjoy watching the fight. The devil is called Bazusu. Then Tanbara Gai, a member of the Time Patrol, fights this demon to stop the atrocity. This is also a special animated show produced for television 24 hours a day. This animated TV show is unusual in that it is even closer to Osamu Tezuka's original idea than the original manga.
Super submarine train: Marine Express (1979 / film) - It first aired as a television special together Journey of a million years: Bander's book (1978) and Smokeon (1980), as part of the Nippon TV Network's annual 24-hour charity program, Love Save the Earth. Despite a relatively short running time (24 min.), The show features a true "Who's Who" of Osamu Tezuka's Star System. Each character plays an important role, with many intertwined and overlapping stories. In keeping with the central theme of a charity program, the story highlights the dangers of environmental destruction and the need to work together to overcome them.
The story is divided into two parts and brings together a huge amount of plot in a fairly short time. The first section follows the maiden voyage of a new experimental superfast submarine train crossing the Pacific Ocean. The action follows the passengers, which include the train's creator and financier, and other characters, some of whom are supposed to be on the train, others definitely not. Halfway, after the kidnappings, natural disasters, betrayal, mechanical problems, onboard surgery and shark attacks, the train arrives at Mu Island, where the second part of the story begins with expedition of the remaining crew in time. Five thousand years earlier, the ancient and mysterious civilization of Mu, known today only through scant archaeological remains, is threatened by a three-eyed demon and a vampire, and our heroes must join Mu's supernatural protectors to free the natives.
Journey of a million years: Bander's book (1978 / film) - This was Japan's first two-hour animated film for television. The show received top marks when it aired as part of a 24-hour television program called Ai wa Chikyu wo Sukuu on Nippon Television. After a long gap from his last animated television film, this work fully reflects Osamu Tezuka's desire to achieve theatrical quality with this production.
In addition, this new agreement also includes: Dear brother (1991/39×25), Jungle Emperor - The Brave changes the future (2009 / movie) and Moby Dick - Big Whale in Space (Legend of Moby Dick / 1997) / 26 × 25).
