Ganbare! Marine Kid

Aired: 1966

A TV anime co-produced by Television Doga and Seven Arts Productions (USA). Based on the original work by Taku Sugiyama. Broadcast in 13 episodes domestically (with 26 episodes produced in total) on the TBS network from October 6 to December 29, 1966. Marine Kid (voiced by Noriko Ohara), a boy with the special ability to live underwater, and the mermaid girl Neptina (voiced by Yoshiko Matsuo), support the research of Marine Kid's father Dr. Samuelson while battling evil organizations targeting marine resources and undersea monsters in this maritime adventure SF action work. As a Japan-US co-production representing an ambitious project for the time, the English version 'Marine Boy' aired in many countries worldwide, becoming a pioneer of Japanese anime exports. In 1969 the work was re-edited as 'Kaitei Shonen Marine' (Marine Boy) with unaired episodes added and theme song / audio replaced. As a source of maritime adventure anime, it also influenced later works such as Science Ninja Team Gatchaman and Triton of the Sea. (C)Television Doga