Cyborg 009 (1968 TV Series)

Aired: 1968

The first TV anime (monochrome) produced by Toei Doga (now Toei Animation). Based on the manga by Shotaro Ishinomori (then credited as Shotaro Ishimori) serialized in Shonen Gahosha's Weekly Shonen King. Broadcast in 26 episodes on the NET (now TV Asahi) network from April 5 to September 27, 1968. Nine warriors whose bodies have been modified by the secret organization Black Ghost escape its control and fight for world peace in this SF hero action series. The protagonist 009, alias Joe Shimamura (voiced by Yukiya Tanaka, later known as Katsuji Mori), is joined by colorful comrades such as 003 Francoise, 006 Chang Changku, 007 Great Britain, and Dr. Gilmore. Following the 1966 and 1967 theatrical films, the TV adaptation translated the original manga's weighty SF and socially conscious elements for a child audience and laid the foundation for a long-running franchise that continued with the 1979 second series, 2001 third series, and the 2012 theatrical 009 RE:CYBORG. (C)Ishimori Pro / Toei Animation