"Astro Boy" is rocketing back to American television after more than 40 years.
A new superhero cartoon show based on this robot character will premiere on KUWB, Ch. 30, Saturday at 7:30 a.m.
The original Astro Boy cartoons were made in Japan in the late 1950s and aired in the United States during the early 1960s. Japanese TV has created a new 21st century version of the show that began airing there last year.
Some people believe there wouldn't have been two other Japanese exports, "Dragon Ball Z" or "Pokemon" shows, if this landmark series hadn't paved the way decades ago.
A futuristic Pinocchio of sorts, Astro Boy is a robot built as if he were a 9-year-old boy. Even with rocket-powered legs to fly, 100,000 horsepower, lasers and X-ray vision, his greatest powers are his heart and intelligence, which encompass a human-like personality.
He's clever and resourceful, always trying to reason with enemies first.
Other robots in this Earth-of-the-future are bigger and stronger, but Astro Boy is mankind's hope for survival in a world of conflicts with rebellious robots.
Astro Boy is built by a scientist who tries to re-create a dead son. But when the man realizes the robot will forever remain age 9, he shuts him down. Another scientist, Dr. O'Shay, later finds Astro Boy, powers him up and serves as his mentor.
Of the superheroes on TV today, Astro Boy is perhaps the youngest — the equivalent of a third-grader.
"Astro Boy" is the only TV show that I remember fondly from my childhood that has not reappeared — until now. Was it appealing to me 40 years ago just because I was Astro Boy's same age, or was that one a high-quality program, too? "Pokemon" and other Japanese cartoons of today do not appeal to me. Will "Astro Boy" be the exception? Saturday's premiere should answer those questions.
E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com