Mushi Production (founded by Tezuka) - Astro Boy (1963/66) Astro Boy Production Cel, with Painted Background An astonishingly rare find. Unique piece. Very scarce and rare. The emblematic Astro Boy is in this wonderful hand-painted production cel. This world-famous character created by the Godfather of manga, Osamu Tezuka, debuted in Weekly Shonen Magazin under the original title Tetsuwan Atom (Mighty Atom) on April 3, 1952, until its final chapter on March 12, 1968. Astro Boy's adventures were first adapted into anime form by Mushi Production in 1963, by Tezuka Productions in 1980, and in 2003. Original and unique piece, hand drawn by the animators of the production from this famous series. The works belong to the process of creating one of the sequences of one episode of this famous cartoon series. Very Good condition with the signs and normal wear of a drawing used in an animation production. See images, very good condition. *** Astro Boy (1963) Astro Boy (Japanese title: Tetsuwan Atom, meaning “Mighty Atom”) is a pioneering Japanese animated television series created by Osamu Tezuka, often referred to as the “God of Manga.” It is widely recognized as the first serialized Japanese TV anime, setting the foundation for the anime industry as we know it today. The show tells the story of Atom (Astro Boy), a humanoid robot boy created by Dr. Tenma after the tragic death of his son. Possessing advanced artificial intelligence, a kind heart, and superhuman powers, Atom struggles to find acceptance among humans while fighting injustice and protecting the innocent. Production Studio: Mushi Production (founded by Tezuka) Director: Osamu Tezuka (chief director, with others assisting) Producer: Osamu Tezuka and Mushi Production Original Network (Japan): Fuji TV Broadcast Period: January 1, 1963 – December 31, 1966 Number of Episodes: 193 (all in black-and-white) Episode Length: ~25 minutes each Recognized as the first long-running TV anime series in Japan. Astro Boy (1963) remains a cornerstone of anime history—an ambitious, heartfelt series that combined science fiction themes with humanistic philosophy. Its technical limitations (black-and-white, modest animation budget) were overshadowed by its storytelling, emotional depth, and pioneering role.