@AprilSeven: But should we expect English-speaking kids growing up today to watch/listen to Mighty Atom?
Absolutely!!
Atom is part of the history and "heritage" of anime/cartoons. To brush him (and Tezuka) aside simply because new content isn't being created today is being short-sighted.
I watched the 2003 dub series and DEFINITELY got the message out of it - actually I was impressed with what I saw and how they had developed Tenma's character.
If anything, the civil rights issues that have been an important focus of the past 50 years make Astro an even more compelling character today. The '03 version put that front and center, even if they did downplay some of the emotional aspects of the characters.
I still haven't been able to see/read the "original" 2003 - and it may very well be FAR superior to the English dub, but I feel it would be selling the dub short to suggest it isn't worth watching - and just because it's less "perfect" than the original, then we should all "ignore" it.
When I was a young person (between 9-12 years old) we would watch the "new" cartoons, which included the Hanna Barbera series, like Yogi Bear, the Jetsons, etc.; Warner Bros. Looney Tunes, Marvel comics cartoons, and series like Astro Boy, Kimba, Speed Racer and Gigantor. But we ALSO watched the "old" cartoons - from the 30's and 40's - like Betty Boop, Felix the Cat, Popeye, older versions of Bugs Bunny, and some I can barely remember - there were even some that had music - but no "voiceovers" - just "balloons" with dialogue.
My brother and I enjoyed those older ones as much as any, (and they were - of course - in black and white, as the original Astro Boy was). We liked the idea of seeing something from when our parents were young - and looking at how life was represented - cars with cranks in the front; actual "ice boxes" instead of refrigerators; and original telephones. It was fascinating and funny. Plus the slapstick humor was very silly and still as enjoyable as ever.
Just because time passes doesn't mean something that is 20, 30, or 50 years old is not worth exploring. I hope someday there is a place - maybe online? - where we can go to watch literally ANYTHING from ANY TIME!
It's very similar to classical music. I just came from a concert where about 60 singers ages 11-18 worked with a famous choral composer/conductor from the UK. These kids did an amazing job, and they were "normal" - not oddball people. However, they are looking BEYOND what is easiest to latch onto, and their lives and experiences are richer for it.
I hear some people groan "classical music is dead." NO IT'S NOT!! and it's a great deal of fun (every bit as much as rock) - one person at a time . .. tell them about
and
- don't hide them away! Just because the dopey TV channels don't make it easy, doesn't mean it's not important! It IS!!
Sorry! My well-intentioned "rant-with-
!"