Osamu Tezuka Anime Essentials
Anime
Osamu Tezuka was a Japanese manga artist, cartoonist, animator, and film producer. His prolific output, pioneering techniques, and innovative redefinitions of genres earned him such titles as "the father of manga," "the godfather of manga" and "the god of manga." Additionally, he is often considered the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney, who served as a major inspiration during Tezuka's formative years.
Tezuka began what was known as the manga revolution in Japan with his New Treasure Island published in 1947. His legendary output would spawn some of the most influential, successful, and well-received manga series including Tetsuwan Atom, Jungle Taitei, Black Jack, and Hi no Tori, all of which won several awards.
This list includes Must Watch Anime Adaptations of God of Manga Osamu Tezuka's Works
Tezuka began what was known as the manga revolution in Japan with his New Treasure Island published in 1947. His legendary output would spawn some of the most influential, successful, and well-received manga series including Tetsuwan Atom, Jungle Taitei, Black Jack, and Hi no Tori, all of which won several awards.
This list includes Must Watch Anime Adaptations of God of Manga Osamu Tezuka's Works
TV, 1980,
52 eps
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Author:9
A color remake of the 1963 anime, both series are adapted from the manga series by Osamu Tezuka. This series has a darker tone than previous incarnations of the series. It faithfully adapts stories from the manga, while also adding its own anime original "Astro vs Atlas" ongoing plotline for 9 inconsecutive episodes. It is also the last Astro Boy work that Tezuka himself wrote and directed.
TV Special, 1978,
1 ep
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Author:7
A series of anime TV specials based on Osamu Tezuka's works that were feature on "24 Hour Television' from 1978 to 1989.
Osamu Tezuka's 24 Hour TV Specials 1/9
Osamu Tezuka's 24 Hour TV Specials 1/9
Special, 1979,
1 ep
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Author:7
Osamu Tezuka's 24 Hour TV Specials 2/9
TV Special, 1981,
1 ep
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Author:8
Osamu Tezuka's 24 Hour TV Specials 4/9
TV Special, 1983,
1 ep
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Author:7
Osamu Tezuka's 24 Hour TV Specials 5/9
TV Special, 1984,
1 ep
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Author:8
Osamu Tezuka's 24 Hour TV Specials 6/9
TV Special, 1985,
1 ep
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This TV special is specifically based on Osamu Tezuka's manga "The Three-Eyed One".
Osamu Tezuka's 24 Hour TV Specials 7/9
Osamu Tezuka's 24 Hour TV Specials 7/9
TV Special, 1986,
1 ep
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Author:8
Osamu Tezuka's 24 Hour TV Specials 8/9
TV Special, 1989,
1 ep
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Osamu Tezuka's 24 Hour TV Specials 9/9
TV Special, 2003,
4 eps
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Author:8
A four-part special released in 2003 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the series. It adapts four different stories from the manga into full-length episodes. It serves as a pilot to the following TV Series.
TV, 2004,
61 eps
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Author:8
The TV series is an faithful adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's original manga. The episodes are based on chapters from the Black Jack manga, and also slightly modified to lighten stories' serious issues and overtones and the promotion of Largo from a one-shot character to one who appears in nearly every episode.
Special, 2006,
2 eps
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Author:7
Episode 3 of the TV Series was postponed from airing due to a major earthquake that occurred shortly before the intended release. It was later aired alongside a extra episode as part of a special.
Episode 3: "Thieving Dog"
Extra Episode: "Kamaitachi In The Woodlands"
Episode 3: "Thieving Dog"
Extra Episode: "Kamaitachi In The Woodlands"
Movie, 2005,
1 ep
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Author:8
A theatrical film based on the 2004 TV Series.
Watch after Episode 51
Watch after Episode 51
TV, 2006,
17 eps
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Author:9
Continuation of Black Jack TV Series. The episodes are adapted from standalone manga chapters, Black Jack 21 features an all-new overarching story line involving Jack's father and a powerful mysterious organization who try to assassinate Jack.
Movie, 1980,
1 ep
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A theatrical anime film based on Osamu Tezuka's masterpiece manga 'Phoenix'. It loosely adapts elements from various Phoenix volumes and other Tezuka works into a complete whole cloth scenario. This is the only "Phoenix" anime made by Tezuka himself.
Movie, 1986,
1 ep
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3-episode OVA Series based on Osamu Tezuka's manga. This OVA series adapts Karma, Yamato & Space arcs from the manga.
Hi no Tori OVA Series 1/3
Hi no Tori OVA Series 1/3
TV, 2004,
13 eps
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Anime TV series based on the manga of the same name by Osamu Tezuka. It was directed by Ryōsuke Takahashi. It adapts "Dawn", "Resurrection", "Strange Beings", "Sun", "Future" arcs from the manga. The content has consistently been significantly shortened and reorganized. Furthermore, the experimental expressions of the original manga are almost completely eliminated.
TV, 1967,
52 eps
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The TV series is based on the manga series of the same name by Osamu Tezuka. The story has been significantly altered for its TV anime adaptation, and unlike the original manga, which is a continuous series, most episodes of the anime are standalone (except for episodes 22-25, 26-29, 36-37, and 51-52, which are completed in consecutive episodes).
TV, 1969,
26 eps
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Author:8
Anime TV series based on the manga of the same name by Osamu Tezuka. The series was produced in black and white coloring due to budget cuts, but made the demons look more weird and menacing. Because the original manga series was cancelled there were not enough stories for the required number of episodes, so episodes 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 23, and 25 were original stories developed specifically for the television series.
TV, 1972,
27 eps
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Based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka. This anime marks the directorial debut of Yoshiyuki Tomino (best known as the creator of Gundam). The anime altered plot points, characters, including the ending that differed significantly from the original manga.
OVA, 1979,
1 ep
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Author:7
In 1979, the same year the manga ended, Unico made his animated debut in Black Cloud, White Feather, an ecologically-themed pilot film (for a proposed anime television series) which was later released directly to video.
Movie, 1981,
1 ep
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Author:8
Although the TV series was not picked up, Unico was adapted into two feature-length anime films, the first film adapts 'The Cat on the Broomstick' & 'Unico and Solitude' chapters from the manga into a whole new theatrical experience.
Movie, 1983,
1 ep
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Author:7
Unlike the first film this movie doesn't adapt any stories from the manga but features an original storyline specifically created for the film.
TV, 1982,
8 eps
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Based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka. It was immediately cancelled after 4 episodes with the remaining unaired 4 episodes released on DVDs.
OVA, 1989,
1 ep
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Author:6
Based on Osamu Tezuka's manga "Lion Books". Although it is called "Lion Books", only episodes 1 & 5 are taken from the manga version of Lion Books out of 6 stories. The remaining episodes are based on Osamu Tezuka's "Tiger Books" manga.
Lion Books OVA Series 1/6
Lion Books OVA Series 1/6
TV, 1977,
27 eps
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Author:-
Anime TV series directed by Rintaro and written by Osamu Tezuka. Originally planned by Tezuka as a full-color remake of the original anime adaptation of his popular manga series Astro Boy.
TV, 1989,
39 eps
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Anime TV series created by Osamu Tezuka. The anime is based from Pyotr Pavlovich Yershov's The Little Humpbacked Horse. This was Tezuka's last anime series. Osamu Tezuka died while this series was in production. The studio completed the production according to his plans.
TV, 1989,
52 eps
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A remake of the original 1965 series. Compared to its 1965 predecessor, this interation of Kimba is much more dramatic, with significantly less 'cartoony' elements and comic relief. It is also more serialized, with episodes having a clear sequence.
Movie, 1997,
1 ep
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Anime film adaption of the last half of the Jungle Emperor manga. However, the movie follows events based on the Jungle Emperor manga with some deviations.
TV, 1990,
48 eps
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A continuous anime TV series produced by Tezuka Productions based on Osamu Tezuka's original manga. This is the first Tezuka anime produced after his death. The cruel depictions and erotic service shots from the original work have been avoided as much as possible, and is aimed at a younger audience.
OVA, 1993,
13 eps
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Based on Osamu Tezuka's original manga and live action tokusatsu series.
TV, 1997,
26 eps
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Anime TV series based on The Bible's Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) created by Osamu Tezuka. Tezuka spent two years working on a pilot film but Tezuka died in 1989 before it was finished. The remainder of the production for the pilot film and the subsequent 26-episode television series was supervised by director Osamu Dezaki.
TV, 2000,
25 eps
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Based on Osamu Tezuka's original manga. This series is also unusual among Tezuka's works in which Tezuka Productions was not involved in the production at all. Due to broadcast constraints, the main characters of the manga, such as Heisuke, do not appear, and several chapters have been significantly omitted or cut.
Movie, 2011,
1 ep
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Adapted from Osamu Tezuka's Buddha manga. The two-film series goes up to around 2/3 of the original manga. Originally, a series of three films was planned. However, the production of the third film was stopped for financial reasons.
Buddha film series 1/2
Buddha film series 1/2
TV Special, 2000,
1 ep
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A year end television special, it includes characters from Osamu Tezuka's works such as "Astro Boy", "Black Jack", "Princess Knight", "The Three-Eyed One" & "Phoenix" into a new story.
OVA, 1993,
12 eps
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Author:9
Loosely based on Osamu Tezuka's original manga. The OVA series is directed by Osamu Dezaki. It's very different from the manga and is aimed at mature audiences. OVAs 11-12 were released in 2011 and were referred to as Black Jack Final where Osamu Dezaki was posthumously credited as honorary director.
Movie, 1996,
1 ep
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Author:8
This movie follows the flow of the OVA series, and was produced as an original story for theaters that is not in the original manga. Osamu Dezaki also served as the director for this film.
Watch after Episode 6
Watch after Episode 6
Movie, 2001,
1 ep
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Author:8
Anime film directed by Rintaro loosely based upon Osamu Tezuka's 1949 manga "Metropolis". The original manga has some parallels to 1927 film of the same name. The 2001 anime film borrowed from 1927 film more directly and incorporated plot elements from it.
TV, 2003,
50 eps
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Author:7
A reimagining of Osamu Tezuka's original manga. It kept the same classic art style as the original manga and anime, but was renewed and modernized with more lush, high-quality, near-theatrical animation and visuals, combining the playfulness of the early anime with the darker, more serious and dramatic science fiction themes of the manga and the 1980 series.
TV, 2019,
24 eps
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Anime TV series produced by MAPPA and Tezuka Productions based on the manga of the same name by Osamu Tezuka, and is the second anime adaptation after the 1969 series. The adaptation departs from the source material in several ways, but follows the basic premise of the manga.
ONA, 2023,
8 eps
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Based on a manga series written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa. The series is based on Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy, specifically "The Greatest Robot on Earth" story arc, and named after the arc's chief villain. Urasawa reinterprets the story as a suspenseful murder mystery.
