Two Long-Lost ‘Astro Boy’ Episodes Have Been Restored And Are Airing In Japan

Two episodes of the iconic anime series Astro Boy that were thought to have been lost decades ago have been recovered and restored and are airing now in Japan.

Missing episodes of Astro Boy are a sort of holy grail for fans of classic anime, and the recovery of two long-lost chapters of the show is a monumental occasion.

Episodes 125, “Search for Bacteria,” and 127, “Experimental Robot,” were two of three missing parts from the original show’s 1963-66 run, produced by Mushi Production (later Tezuka Productions). Episode 139, “Atom Stolen,” is still missing, but the recovery of 125 and 127 will surely inspire some hope that one day their long-lost counterpart can be found and similarly restored.

Created by Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy is considered one of the most important manga and anime series of all time. The manga, which was first serialized by publisher Kobunsha in its Shōnen magazine from 1952 to 1968, was later assembled into 32 volumes, which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide.

The comics have spawned several series, films, video games, and a merchandizing empire in the decades since their debut.