The first episode is set in future Tokyo, in the year 2030. The Minister of Science, Dr. Tenma, is attempting to create a robot capable of expressing human emotions. After his fourth failed attempt, Tenma is approached by a shady man named Skunk Kusai, who offers him an "Omega Factor" circuit which will humanize a robot if installed. After seeing Skunk thrown out, Tenma's nine-year-old son Tobio tries to console his father by suggesting he make a robot shaped like a child.

Inspired, Tenma sets off to the Ministry of Science to work, forgetting his promise to take Tobio to an amusement park. Upset, Tobio drives an aerocar home but crashes into an oncoming truck and is killed, but just before he dies, Tobio makes his father promise to name his boy robot "Tobio", make it the strongest robot in the world, and love it like a son. Tenma does so, making a 100,000 horsepower (75,000 kW) robot capable of flight, equipped with lasers and machine guns. However, Skunk obtains the blueprints and duplicates them and takes them to Count Walpurgis, who aspires to put the Omega Factor into a super robot and use it for world domination.

Afraid of the potential threat Tenma's robot son could pose to humanity, the Prime Minister of Japan orders the robot dismantled by the next night. Tenma, however, secretly finishes constructing the robot that night, only showing his two assistants that "Tobio" exists, and takes him home to raise him. After various mishaps with raising the robot, Tobio's mind suddenly goes blank and his eyes start blinking red, and he is summoned to wait in the middle of town. Atlas, Walpurgis' new super robot, had been activated and was connecting to Tobio. When the connection process fails, Tobio regains his senses, only to come under attack from a robot disposal tank piloted by Tenma, Honda, and Ushiyama, but something goes wrong and the tank malfunctions and goes berserk. Tobio recovers and saves everyone in the vicinity. Recovering in hospital, Tenma realizes the public will discover that Tobio exists, and decides to take Tobio on an ocean cruise to America.

Tobio struggles to control his strength. After a disastrous meal on the cruise, Tenma disowns Tobio.. Tobio hides on deck and is tricked into signing himself into a contract of slavery to the ringmaster Hamegg, who runs the Robot Circus. Tobio spots Atlas nearby and tries to attack him, but loses most of his energy in the process. Hamegg shuts him in his suitcase. Temna soon resents his actions and begins searching for Tobio. At the circus, Tobio is renamed "Astro Boy" and is cruelly treated by Hamegg, but taught and cared for by a worker named Kathy. Dr. Ochanomizu, a local scientist, discovers Tenma's lost robot at the circus, and with Kathy's help, Astro Boy escapes. Dr. Ochanomizu becomes the new head of the Ministry of Science. From there, Astro Boy learns more about the world and becomes the defender of Tokyo and beyond.

Astro Boy

Astro has a strong sense of morality and is always gentle and kind towards others. Astro is a super powered robot, with seven secret super powers designed to look exactly like Tobio, the son of his creator. Dr. Tenma initially treated Astro like a real boy as a replacement for his son who died in a car accident. However, Astro Boy was clumsy from an inability to control his strength. After being rejected by Dr. Tenma, Astro joins Hamegg's Robot Circus, where he learns to control his powers, and meets Dr. Ochanomizu. He is unsure of his destiny in the beginning, but gains confidence as the story unfolds.

Throughout the series, Atlas attempts to persuade Astro to help Atlas conquer the world. By design, both Astro and Atlas were created from the same blueprints, and so are considered to be brothers. However, Astro refuses to help Atlas in his quest for world domination. He is voiced by Mari Shimizu, Patricia Kugler Whitely (American version) and then-12-year-old Steven Bednarski (Canadian version).

Uran

• Sarah (Canadian dub), Uranie (French dub)

Uran is Astro's naive but determined little sister. She was "born" on New Years Day, built by Dr. Ochanomizu as a gift to Astro. She has half the power of her brother (with 50,000 horsepower) but is quite powerful. Uran is depicted as a cute, tomboyish little girl.

Despite this, Uran is generally a good-hearted girl and is shown to be rather attached to Astro and generally looks up to him. (this is shown after Astro saves her from becoming a slave in episode 14.)

In contrast to the 1960s series, Uran occupied a less prominent position in the general storyline, and her appearance was revised to make her softer and rounder, possibly to appeal to female viewers. Many times, she was the star of a few episodes, all of which had a special ending theme with pictures of Uran in costumes. Uran is voiced by Masako Sugaya and Becke Wilenski (American version).

Doctor Tenma

• Doctor Boynton (American dub), Professor Balfus (Canadian dub)

After several robot design failures, Dr. Tenma created Astro Boy from a suggestion from his son, Tobio. Dr. Tenma zealously worked on creating a robot that would be able to act and behave like a real human. In his zealous search to obtain his goal, Dr. Tenma neglected Tobio, forgetting his promise to take Tobio to the amusement park. As a result, Tobio decides to go on his own and crashes the robot car, dying from the accident.

Dr. Tenma continues to work on the boy robot, and when the project finally reaches completion calls the robot Tobio, after his son. However, Tobio's (Astro) inability to control his own strength begins to infuriate Dr. Tenma, and while on a cruise, Dr. Tenma angrily disowns Tobio. Dr. Tenma is last seen mournfully calling out for Tobio, and is not seen through the remainder of the series. He is voiced by Tamio Ōki, and Del Lewis (American version).

Professor Ochanomizu

• Dr. Elefun (American dub), Dr. Cole Green, later Professor Peabody (Canadian Dub), Professor Caudrine (French dub)

Succeeding Dr. Tenma as Minister of Science, Dr. Ochanomizu rescues Astro Boy from Hamegg's Robot Circus. Dr. Ochanomizu is a robot rights advocate and creates the "Robot Bill of Rights", which allows robots to be of equal status of humans. He often acts as a surrogate father for Astro Boy, providing him with advice and information. Early into the series, Dr. Ochanomizu builds Astro a mother, father, and a little sister named Uran. He is voiced by Hisashi Katsuta and Brian Parry (American version).

Atlas

Astro's half-brother and arch enemy, he was created by Walpurgis and Skunk who copied Astro's original design plans. Atlas was designed with a similar childlike look, and was planned to be used in theft, but Atlas turned out to be too naive and unprepared for criminal use. After this, Walpurgis installed an Omega Factor into Atlas, which allowed him to defy the robot laws. After attacking Walpurgis and Skunk for destroying Livian and being heavily damaged himself, he rebuilt his own body and Livian's, along with a horse and an electric sword. The new Atlas believed robots are superior to human beings, and repeatedly asked Astro to join him in taking over the world. Atlas and Astro share many of the same powers and abilities.

The new Atlas and Livian are adult in appearance. Over the course of the series, Atlas gained a floating crystal castle and dealt with Skunk and then Walpurgis who he killed off for good after his creator blackmailed him to use a powerful destructive cannon by planting a bomb in Livian's body which Walpurgis would detonate should Atlas refused to do his job, however Livian escaped from Walpurgis' grasp and Atlas pulverised him alongside his Castle after retrieving Livian. Later, Atlas sacrifices himself and Livian to save Earth from alien invaders. He is voiced by Katsuji Mori and Paul Nelson (American version).

Higeoyaji

• Victor (later Percival) Pompous (American dub, first animated series) Daddy Walrus (American dub, second animated series), Max McNugget (Canadian dub), Monsieur Morse (French dub)

Real name Shunsaku Ban (Albert Duncan in the American dub), Daddy Walrus is Astro's teacher. Throughout the series, Mr. Pompous/Daddy Walrus is portrayed as a judo expert, an efficient private eye, and a keen flower arranger. As a trained martial artist, a recurring joke is Pompous reacting in terror when confronted, but instantly rallying courage and "polishing off" an adversary twice his size. A sharp advocate for Robotic rights, he is one of Astro's strongest supporters, and frequently engages in vitriolic arguments with the formidale Inspector Gumshoe. While loud, brash and comically short-tempered, Pompous/Daddy Walrus regards Astro and Uran with genuine affection and would willingly risk his life on their behalf. He is voiced by Kazuo Kumakura, Gilbert Mack (first animated American dub) and Bob Gonzalez (second animated American dub).

Livian

• Selene (Canadian dub), Vivian (French dub)

Livian was formerly Walpurgis's robot maid, who befriended the young Atlas and took care of him. She was destroyed for accidentally breaking a decorative gargoyle, and as a result, Atlas went hysterical and attacked Walpurgis. Atlas rebuilt Livian and himself as adult robots, making Livian look like a princess. She is the only person to show compassion to Atlas, and in turn, he never harms her. Livian once leaves his crystal castle to warn Astro about Atlas's plans, and later tells Astro that he and Atlas are brothers. She is voiced by Keiko Yokozawa and Becky Wilenski (American version).

Jump

• Blip (Canadian dub), Plume (French dub)

Jump is a yellow dog with brown patches, and the pet dog of Tobio. Jump was loyal to his master and rushed to the scene after Tobio crashed the car and died. When Astro was first introduced to Jump, Jump was afraid and didn't like him. It is unknown how Dr. Ochanomizu found him, but when Astro visits his new home and parents for the first time, Jump is also with them. Jump grows to like Astro and his family, though Uran does not have the same amount of respect for Jump that Astro has.

Skunk Kusai

• Slippery (Canadian dub), Sirius (French dub)

An enigmatic thief and mob leader in Tokyo, known for his blue skin and bloodhound eyes. In the beginning of the series, he is working with Walpurgis in order to copy Astro's design blueprints. Skunk was assigned to teach Atlas, but after becoming frustrated with him, the majority of the teaching was done by Livian. After Skunk set up Astro and Atlas's first battle, Walpurgis destroyed Livian, and Skunk just barely got away from Atlas's hysterical backlash.

Skunk went to Tokyo and started up a gang, whom briefly used the adult Atlas to commit several robberies when Atlas returned. Throughout the rest of the series, Skunk utilizes various robots for his own doings, most famously in the episode "The Light Ray Robot". He develops a strong hate for Astro because of the boy's constant interference with Skunk's work. At times, the latter tries to destroy or taunt him. He is voiced by Seizō Katō and Jay Rath (American version).

Tobio Tenma

• Toby Boynton (American dub)

An 9 year old boy who is the son of Doctor Tenma who was fatally wounded in a car accident; after being neglected by his father he goes in his car alone and crashes into an oncoming truck. Whilst on his deathbed at the Tokyo hospital he tells his father to create a robot who looks liked him. After his final words spoken to his father he dies in his father's arms. He is voiced by Mari Shimizu, Patricia Kugler Whitely (American version) and Steven Bednarski (Canadian version). And he appears in episode 1 and 2

Others

• Astro's Papa - Voiced by Takeshi Kuwabara
• Astro's Mama - Voiced by Misako Hibino
• Detective Tawashi - Voiced by Ichirō Nagai
• Detective Nakamura - Voiced by Yūsaku Yara
• Kenichi - One of Astro's classmates. Voiced by Kumiko Takizawa
• Shibugaki - One of Astro's classmates. Voiced by Kazuya Tatekabe
• Tamao - One of Astro's classmates. Voiced by Yōko Matsuoka
• Midori - One of Astro's classmates. Voiced by Saeko Shimazu
• Sultan - Voiced by Shōzō Iizuka
• Ham Egg - Voiced by Ichirō Nagai
• Black Jack - Voiced by Nachi Nozawa
• Pinoco - Voiced by Junko Hori
• Rock - Voiced by Yū Mizushima

There are two different English language dubs. The first was coordinated by Tezuka Productions and NTV and dubbed in the USA in 1982, which aired in Australia beginning in 1983. It had a very limited release in the U.S., where broadcasts were limited to syndication in a few markets, such as the Philadelphia-Wilmington area where it aired at 10:30am weekdays in 1986 on what was then WTGI—channel 61. This is the version that was later released on DVD in both Australia and the United States (see third paragraph).

The second English dub was heavily-edited and redubbed in Canada in 1985, solely for broadcast there. In the Canadian version, most of the characters had different names from their American counterparts. Due to laws which required a specific amount of Canadian content, the Canadian version also featured a pre-title sequence which recapped Astro's origin, and an epilogue where Astro would give a brief report about each episode's adventure to a computer named Geronimo. Astro's report would always contain a minor error about the story, and a narrator would encourage the viewers to find Astro's mistake, and compare answers with their friends.

The aforementioned first dub of the 1980 series has since been released on DVD by Madman Entertainment and Manga Entertainment, although there are differences between the Madman and Manga Entertainment sets. Madman's set contains more deleted scenes, as well as the first two episodes, unedited (in Japanese with English subtitles). The Manga Entertainment set has a newly-edited Japanese language track to go with the U.S. version of the first episode. As of March 2012, the Manga set is now out of print.

Though there is a rough story progression throughout the series, it need not necessarily be watched in order, something reflected by the fact that the English broadcast order was significantly different from the original Japanese broadcast order. Some scenes were also cut for the English version, usually because of violence. The final episode of the original Japanese broadcast, "Astro's First Love", featured an introduction by Osamu Tezuka himself.

The "lost" episode

The first two episodes of the series were edited into one episode, completely removing the subplot of Atlas's origin. The two episodes are available in their complete state, in Japanese-with-subtitles only, on the Madman Entertainment DVD release. The two individual episodes (along with the other 50) can also be legally seen online in most countries with crowd-sourced subtitles on Viki [1] (although not all episodes have been subtitled at this time), and on an Viki's official YouTube channel (although not all episodes have been uploaded yet).

List of episodes

Ep #	Dub #	Episode title
1	1	The Birth Of Astroboy
2	0	Astro Boy vs. Atlas
3	2	Robot Circus
4	3	Save The Classmate
5	4	Atlas Lives Again
6	5	Robot Land
7	6	Frankenstein
8	7	The Red Cat
9	8	The Crystal Of The Desert
10	9	The White Planet
11	10	A Robot President
12	11	Goliath's Head
13	12	The Light Ray Robot
14	13	Uran The Tomboy
15	14	Robio And Robiette
16	15	Astro Fights Aliens
17	16	Save The Carolina 3 January 28, 1981 August 20, 1982
18	17	The Rainbow Comet February 4, 1981 August 27, 1982
19	18	The Death Balloon February 11, 1981 September 3, 1982
20	19	The Transformation Robot February 18, 1981 September 10, 1982
21	20	The Wreck Of The Titan February 25, 1981 September 17, 1982
22	21	The Liar Robot March 4, 1981 September 24, 1982
23	22	The Girl From Alsoar March 11, 1981 October 1, 1982
24	23	The Greatest Robot In The World (Part 1) March 18, 1981 October 8, 1982
25	24	The Greatest Robot In The World (Part 2) March 25, 1981 October 15, 1982
26	25	The Robot Vikings April 1, 1981 October 22, 1982
27	26	The Time Machine April 8, 1981 October 29, 1982
28	27	The Robot Stuntman April 29, 1981 November 5, 1982
29	28	The Great Meltdown May 6, 1981 November 12, 1982
30	29	Uran's Twin May 13, 1981 November 19, 1982
31	30	Speeding Through The Storm June 3, 1981 November 26, 1982
32	31	The Return Of Queen Cleopatra June 17, 1981 December 3, 1982
33	32	The Runaway Subway Train July 1, 1981 December 10, 1982
34	33	The Baby Elephant Pook July 8, 1981 December 17, 1982
35	34	The Secret Of Bee City July 15, 1981 December 24, 1982
36	35	The Monster Of Clarken July 22, 1981 December 31, 1982
37	36	Lilly On Peligro Island August 5, 1981 January 7, 1983
38	37	The Anti-Proton Gun August 19, 1981 January 14, 1983
39	38	The Man-Made Solar Sphere September 2, 1981 January 21, 1983
40	39	Blackie Young September 16, 1981 January 28, 1983
41	40	The Genie From Outer Space September 23, 1981 February 4, 1983
42	41	The Robots Nobody Wanted October 14, 1981 February 11, 1983
43	42	Atlas Forever October 21, 1981 February 18, 1983
44	43	The Snow Leopard October 28, 1981 February 25, 1983
45	44	Uran's Quest November 4, 1981 March 4, 1983
46	45	Outer Spaceport R-45 November 11, 1981 March 11, 1983
47	46	The Hijacked Airship November 18, 1981 March 18, 1983
48	47	The Human-Faced Rock November 25, 1981 March 25, 1983
49	48	Uran Falls In Love December 2, 1981 April 1, 1983
50	49	The World Of Odin December 9, 1981 April 8, 1983
51	50	The Secret Of The Mayas December 16, 1981 April 15, 1983
52	51	Astro's First Love December 23, 1981 April 22, 1983