Jetter Mars (ジェッターマルス Jettā Marusu) is an anime series made in 1977, directed by Rintaro, and written by Osamu Tezuka. Originally planned by Tezuka as a full-color remake of the original anime adaptation of his popular manga series Astro Boy, unfavorable circumstances during the pre-production phase of the project led him to abandon it temporarily and create Jetter Mars instead. Although it remains as one of Tezuka's lesser known works, it gained a large following and is fondly remembered.
Plot
In the futuristic year of 2015 A.D., Dr. Yamanoue, the leader of the Ministry of Science, has devoted himself to assembling an Android named Jetter Mars on an artificial island and intends to use it as a war machine. But the robot has a deficiency in his electric brain, and he comes to the conclusion that his friend and rival Dr. Kawashimo's help is essential to correct his defective brain. Dr. Yamanoue is very jingoistic and only thinks of the robot as one of his strategic arms. On the contrary, Dr. Kawashimo is a pacifist and devotes his affection to robots. Dr. Kawashimo hurries to the island on request of Dr. Yamanoue, taking his young daughter Miri with him. Arriving on the island, Dr. Kawashimo sets the electric brain into Jetter Mars. Thus Mars comes into the world. Jetter Mars may not know much about the world, but he will always save the day with his powers!
Recurring characters
Jetter Mars
Conception and design
Jetter Mars was a series originally meant to be a color remake of Astro Boy. It's Thought that for this reason, Mars seems to be a redesign of the main character of that show: Astro Boy.
Personality
Jetter Mars' personality is that of a spoiled child, similar to that of Uran. He's also said to be very dumb, and will often-times do and say very dumb things, and is ignorant of the world around him. He does, however, mature quite a bit throughout the series, especially when his little brother Melchi is introduced.
Miri
Miri (美理 Miri) has a design reminiscent of Uran and is likely to be a replacement for her in the Jetter Mars series, as the show was originally meant to be a color remake of Astro Boy. Though she is much more mature than Uran, Uran's immature and rowdy behavior still exists in the form of Jetter Mars, and Uran ends up having to be the mature one, much like the character Astro Boy.
Melchi
Melchi (メルチ Meruchi) is Mars' baby brother. His design is that of a baby of unknown age. Melchi is playful and careless, though this leads Melchi into causing a lot of trouble, as Melchi is shown to enjoy destroying things! He also often utters a word he made up called Bakaruchi (バカルチ). Melchi's design is reminiscent of the Astro Boy character Chi-tan
Dr. Yamanoue
Doctor Yamanoue (山之上博士 Yamanoue Hakase) is the creator of Jetter Mars. He is a scientist who wants to create robots for warfare and intends to use Mars for warfare purposes. Dr. Yamanoue's design is reminiscent of the character Dr. Tenma.
Dr. Kawashimo
Doctor Kawashimo (川下博士 Kawashimo Hakase) is Mars' co-creator who has created his electronic brain, prior to Mars creation, he also created, Miri who acts as his daughter.
List of episodes
| Episode # | Title | Guest character | Aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mars is Born, Year 2015
2015 nen Marusu tanjō (2015年マルス誕生) |
Faitan | February 3, 1977 |
| 2 | Counterfeiting robot gang
Robotto mitsuyudan (ロボット密輸団) |
February 10, 1977 | |
| 3 | Why is Mars crying?
Marusu naze naku (マルスなぜ泣く) |
Mad Mask | February 17, 1977 |
| 4 | Goodbye, Otokato!
] Sayōnara, otōto! (さようならオトウト!) |
Tack | February 24, 1977 |
| 5 | Talent, the greatest robot in history
Shijō saikō no robotto Tarento (史上最高のロボットタレント) |
HamEgg | March 3, 1977 |
| 6 | The girl that came from the star of dreams
Yume no hoshi kara kita shōjo (夢の星から来た少女) |
Dolly | March 10, 1977 |
| 7 | Missing Miri
Kieta Miri (消えた美理) |
Skunk Kusanagi | March 17, 1977 |
| 8 | Where did dad go?
Otōsan doko okonatta no? (お父さんどこ行ったの?) |
No.1 & No.2 | March 24, 1977 |
| 9 | Lamp, the space trader Uchū no shimatsujin Ranpu (宇宙の始末人ランプ) |
Acetylene Lamp | March 31, 1977 |
| 10 | My lil' brother's name is Melchi
Otōto no na wa Meruchi (弟の名はメルチ) |
Dr. Spice, Mrs. Tabasko | April 7, 1977 |
| 11 | Freshman Mars
Shin'nyūsei Marusu (新入生マルス) |
Mason | April 14, 1977 |
| 12 | Jam Bond, Secret agent
Himitsu chōhōin Jamu Bondo (ヒミツ諜報員ジャムボンド) |
Jam Bond | April 21, 1977 |
| 13 | Honey, robot exchange-student
Robotto Tenkōsei Hanī (ロボット転校生ハニー) |
Honey | April 28, 1977 |
| 14 | The vampire from outer space
Uchū kara no Kyūketsuki (宇宙からの吸血鬼) |
Kuroro | May 5, 1977 |
| 15 | Melchi likes Mouster
Meruchi no sukina Mousutā (メルチのすきなモウスター) |
Mouster | May 12, 1977 |
| 16 | Zaza, the wandering planet
Samayoeru wakusei Zaza (さまよえる惑星ザザ) |
Zazians | May 19, 1977 |
| 17 | The samurai robot from the seventh year of the Tenpō era
Tenpō shichi-nen Samurai robotto (天保七年サムライロボット) |
Yumi, Samurai robot | June 2, 1977 |
| 18 | Resurrect, ancient robot
Yomigaeru kodai robotto (よみがえる古代ロボット) |
Daedalus | June 16, 1977 |
| 19 | Mars' First Love
Marusu no hatsukoi (マルスの初恋) |
Agnes, Marukubi Boon | June 23, 1977 |
| 20 | Mars becomes a young boss
Marusu waka oyabun ni naru (マルス若親分になる) |
Black, Dr. Jin | June 30, 1977 |
| 21 | Mighty Robot Joe
Tetsuwan Robotto Jō (鉄腕ロボット・ジョー) |
Joe Asnaro | July 7, 1977 |
| 22 | Android Lullaby
Andoroido no komoriuta (アンドロイドの子守唄) |
Mayumi | July 21, 1977 |
| 23 | The wandering robot
Sasurai no robotto (さすらいのロボット) |
Adios | July 28, 1977 |
| 24 | Miri, alone again
Mou hitori no Miri (もう一人の美理) |
Saromi | August 18, 1977 |
| 25 | The wolf-boy from space
Uchū no ōkami shōnen (宇宙の狼少年) |
September 1, 1977 | |
| 26 | Adios returns
Kaettekita Adiosu (帰ってきたアディオス) |
Dr. Kuromaru | September 8, 1977 |
| 27 | The flight beyond tomorrow!
Ashita ni mukatte habatake! (明日に向かって羽ばたけ!) |
Sari | September 15, 1977 |
OST
| Track number |
English Name |
Japanese Name | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Mars, Year 2015 | マルス2015年
Marusu 2015 nen |
Japanese
3:02 Italian 2:53 Arabic 1:39 |
|
| 02 | Mars' Dream | マルスの夢
Marusu no yume |
3:07 | |
| 03 | Melchi, Let's Bakaruchi | メルチバカルチガンバルチ
Meruchi Bakaruchi Ganbaruchi |
2:25 | |
| 04 | Goodnight, Mars | おやすみマルス
Oyasumi Marusu |
3:14 | |
| 05 | Fighting Mars | 戦いのマルス
Tatakai no Marusu |
3:00 | |
| 06 | Boy Mars | 少年マルス
Shōnen Marusu |
2:27 | |
| 07 | Hate! Love! | キライ!スキ!
Kirai! Suki! |
2:26 | |
| 08 | Wandering Robot | さすらいのロボット
Sasurai no robotto |
3:36 | |
| 09 | March of Mars | マルスのマーチ
Marusu no Māchi |
2:51 | |
| 10 | Scat of the Universe | 宇宙のスキャット
Uchū no Sukyatto |
4:19 | |
| 11 | Mars, Year 2015 TV size | マルス2015年TVサイズ
Marusu 2015 nen TV saizu |
Japanese
1:12 Italian 1:07 Portuguese 1:10 |
|
| 12 | The Birth of Mars | 年マルス誕生
toshi marusu tanjō |
3:48 | |
| 13 | Dr. Downstream Yamanoue | 山之上博士と川下博士
yamanōe hakase to kawashita hakase |
3:27 |
Trivia
- Jetter Mars made a cameo appearance in the Game Boy Advance game "Astro Boy: Omega Factor" as a minor character that can be found hidden in the Moon Plant Base
- The main character of the show, Jetter Mars, and Astro Boy share the same voice actress, Mari Shimizu.
- Jetter Mars is referenced in the manual of Rightstuf's DVD release of the 1963 show, though is called "Jet Mars" instead of the proper title. This is likely because in other dubs of Jetter Mars the title is "Jet Marte" which translates to Jet Mars.
- The main Character Jetter Mars is commonly miscolored in depictions, promotional art, and merchandise. Usually giving him black boots, or coloring him red and green like Astro Boy, sometimes even coloring the spikes on his head white.
- Jetter Mars appears in "Osamu Tezuka's Strangest Case in the 20th Century" also known as "The Last Mystery of the 20th Century" with a redesigned look, though this is just a cameo appearance and he has no major impact on the plot of the film.
- Jetter Mars is referenced in "Atom: The Beginning" through the character "Mars".
- An artist named "Shigeto Ikehara", who worked on comics for the video game character named Mega Man, worked on illustrations for the Televiland Manga.