Astroboy (1980)

Alternate titles: Tetsuwan Atom

TV (52 eps) | 1980 - 1981 | Mushi Pro

Dr. Tenma is obsessed with creating a robot with a soul, so much that he forgot to care for his own son Toby; and when Toby is killed in a car crash, Dr. Tenma is overcome with grief and models his next robot, who has a soul, after his dead son. Things quickly take a turn for the worse as Toby is not accepted into society; and Dr. Tenma, angry with the fact that Toby is a robot who can't replace his son, drives Toby into the clutches of the evil owner of a robot circus, the place where he earns the name Astroboy. Astroboy is rescued by Dr. Elefun, Dr. Tenma’s successor, after his disappearance. From then on Astroboy has to struggle to be accepted into a society that views robots as inferior to humans, while fighting to protect them in turn. With the help of Dr. Elefun, Astroboy has to find his place on Earth and gain confidence in his own powers – all to become the greatest hero ever.