Atom: The Beginning (2017)
A compelling anime prequel tracing the origins of Astro Boy through the dreams and rivalries of two young robot scientists in near-future Japan.
Atom: The Beginning - Series Information
- Original Title: アトム ザ・ビギニング
- First Air Year: 2017
- Last Air Year: 2017
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Animation, Drama
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (25 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 12
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: April 15, 2017 (Canada - 18+), April 15, 2017 (Australia - M), April 15, 2017 (Spain - 16)
- Networks: NHK G
- Alternative Titles: 아톰더 비기닝 (KR), 阿童木起源 (CN), Atom - The Beginning (DE)
- Production Companies: OLM, Production I.G, Signal.MD
- Production Countries: Japan
Atom: The Beginning - Plot
Japan in the near future suffers an unexplained major disaster. Five years later, reconstruction is well underway. Two young researchers at a university are pinning all their hopes on robot development. Now their new interpretation of the eternal hero Astro Boy up until his birth is just about to start!
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Atom: The Beginning - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Takuma Terashima as Hiroshi Ochanomizu (voice)
- Yuichi Nakamura as Umataro Tenma (voice)
- Yuki Inoue as A10-6 (voice)
- Mikako Komatsu as Motoko Tsutsumi (voice)
- Yoshino Nanjo as Maria (voice)
- Ayane Sakura as Ran Ochanomizu (voice)
- Kengo Kawanishi as Shunsaku Ban (voice)
- Mitsuki Saiga as Dr. Lolo (voice)
- Nobuo Tobita as Kensaku Ban (voice)
- Takahiro Sakurai as Moriya Tsutsumi (voice)
Writers
- Junichi Fujisaku
- Shigeru Morita
Atom: The Beginning - FAQs
Is Atom: The Beginning a prequel to Astro Boy?
Yes — Atom: The Beginning is an official prequel to Osamu Tezuka's legendary Astro Boy manga. It reimagines the origin story of the iconic robot hero, following the young scientists Hiroshi Ochanomizu and Umataro Tenma as they take their first steps toward creating the android that will one day become Astro Boy.
What is Atom: The Beginning about?
Set in a near-future Japan recovering from a mysterious catastrophe, the series follows two brilliant university researchers — Hiroshi Ochanomizu and Umataro Tenma — as they pour their ambitions into robot development. Their work centers on A106, a prototype android whose creation marks the dawn of a new era in robotics.
Who are the main voice actors in Atom: The Beginning?
The series features a strong cast of Japanese voice talent. Takuma Terashima voices the idealistic Hiroshi Ochanomizu, while Yuichi Nakamura brings the driven Umataro Tenma to life. Yuki Inoue voices the robot A106, with Mikako Komatsu, Yoshino Nanjo, and Ayane Sakura rounding out the principal cast.
Where can you stream Atom: The Beginning?
Streaming availability for Atom: The Beginning varies by region. You can check the most up-to-date viewing options — including subscription streaming, rental, and purchase platforms available in your area — via JustWatch, which aggregates current availability across all major services.
How many episodes does Atom: The Beginning have?
Atom: The Beginning ran for a single season of 12 episodes, each approximately 25 minutes long. The series aired on NHK G in Japan beginning in April 2017 and concluded the same year, telling a self-contained origin story within the broader Astro Boy universe.
Is Atom: The Beginning based on a manga?
The anime adapts a manga of the same name written by Masami Yuuki and Tetsuro Kasahara, itself a prequel reimagining rooted in Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy universe. The manga began serialization in 2014 and blends classic Tezuka themes with a fresh, modern take on robot science and human ambition.
How was Atom: The Beginning received by critics and audiences?
The series earned warm reception from anime fans and critics, praised for its thoughtful character dynamics, retro-futuristic aesthetic, and respectful treatment of the Astro Boy legacy. Viewers appreciated the slower, character-driven pacing that set it apart from action-heavy mecha anime, though some felt the single season left the story unfinished.
What anime series are similar to Atom: The Beginning?
Fans of Atom: The Beginning often enjoy PLUTO (2023), a darker reimagining of the same Astro Boy universe, as well as Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song (2021) and Plastic Memories (2015) for their emotional takes on android consciousness. Gurren Lagann and Eureka Seven offer more action-driven but thematically resonant robot adventures.
More About Atom: The Beginning
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