rom 1963 to 1966, a TV show named Tetsuwan Atom aired in Japan. Starting as a manga comic by the legendary Osamu Tezuka, this series is often considered the first anime TV show. Its popularity in Japan prompted the spread of the series into English-speaking countries, where it is now called Astro Boy.
The details differ among the various incarnations, but the English version of the series was about a robot boy created by research scientist Professor Boynton (called Dr. Tenma in Japan), who modeled the robot after his deceased son. But the robot boy could never replace his son, so Boynton shut Astro down. Astro was later discovered and reactivated by Dr. O'Shay, who treated the robot as a real boy. Astro was soon called upon to save Metro City with his jet power and laser weaponry. He became a reluctant superhero who, most of all, just wanted to be a real boy.
There have been various versions of Astro Boy, from manga comics in the 1950s to a TV series in Japan to an English version in the 1960s to a new Japanese version in 1980 and now a new American version in 2003. Astro Boy is a fixture for science-fiction fans, cartoon fans and anime fans alike.
The new series prompted Bandai to create a new line of Astro Boy toys, including 5-inch figures, playsets with 2.5-inch figures, an 8-inch build-your-own figure and the deluxe 11-inch electronic Interactive Astro.
Interactive Astro is a large figure, solidly built and quite sturdy. He comes packaged in a large window box with various features displayed on the back.
These features include searchlight eyes, energy source, arm cannon, rocket-powered feet, interior circuitry and a card reader that activates lights and sound. The modeling of the figure accurately portrays the anime features of the robotic boy, including his signature hair cones and large red boots.
Astro also comes with five collector cards that describe his various powers.
Astro takes 2 AA batteries, which are included.
Big features, small package
This electronic Interactive Astro fits a number of features into a small package.
Astro's articulation is good from the waist down, but less so above the belt, mostly due to his electronic features. His hips have ball joints, his knees bend well, and his ankles rotate through 360 degrees. He has no bendable elbows, but his shoulders rotate up and down 180 degrees. His head rotates, but only to one side and only by about 30 degrees.
Rotating his head activates an electronic sound, and his laser-beam eyes light up with green lights. His head is a shell that rotates over two sets of eyes, one normal and one that lights up when the eye sockets line up.
His left arm has a trigger in the bicep that activates his arm cannon. His forearm splits into two sections, which open up like a clamshell to reveal a clear blue infrastructure that then sends his fist flying on a spring-loaded mechanism accompanied by red lights and a launching sound.
Astro's right fingers are hinged in two pairs, and the wrist bends back on an oversized hinge to reveal a gray card reader. Pulling the reader forward clicks it into place, where it can be used to slide the collector cards through to activate more sound effects. The card isn't actually read; it simply depresses a small button inside the reader. Any thin card will do the trick. The key is timing. Holding down the button for various lengths of time activates a "hearing sensor" sound, a "finger laser" sound or a "walking" sound, though walking sounds more like dripping water.
Astro's boots have two front panels that open to reveal chromed circuitry. There is no active feature here. Pushing two buttons on the back of his boots, however, activates plastic "flames" that stick out of the bottoms of his feet to mimic the jet burn as Astro flies through the air.
Two buttons on his belt activate more features. The one on his right triggers a flying sound. Holding this button down sustains the sound for as long as you wish to have him fly. Pushing the left button all the way in pops open his chest plate. This is his best-looking feature, as it is the home of his power source and is meant to look like an electronic heart. When the chest plate flips open, it reveals an orange plastic heart that beats with a glowing orange light and an electronic heartbeat sound. The inner surface of the plate is etched with a heart shape, and, if you push the left belt button lightly, you can trigger the heart without opening the plate, and the orange glow pulses to outline a heart shape on his chest—a very nice touch indeed.
Lastly, if you can manage it, holding down both belt buttons and turning the head at the same time activates Astro's startup sound.
A large hefty toy, Interactive Astro is not without its faults. His inability to be posed very well makes him a little less fun to play with, but this Astro seems made more to fly. Flying him around the room is rather fun, and activating the corresponding sounds adds to the experience. The flames that jut out from the soles of his boots would be enhanced if they also lit up, but sadly they do not. The huge hinge on his wrist that hides the card reader makes him look a little awkward, but otherwise Astro is a great toy for kids and collectors of Astro Boy merchandise.
