The TV series that started it all, from the infiltra­tion of Japanese style into Western TV anima­tion to the tradition of cartoon robots still strong in Japanese amine today. The success of Astro Boy in and outside Japan provided the cor­nerstone for the animation industry there and ensured a productive livelihood for Tezuka's independent animation company, Mushi. Incredibly kawatt (cute) to this day-and accord­ing to Tezuka thematically slim when compared to the original manga-Astro Boy remains more innocent than puerile, more charming than cloy­ing more mournful than melodramatic. One of the 193 episodes inspired the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, and a similarly inspired Stanley Kubrick approached Tezuka to do storyboards for 2001.