The TMS YouTube channel is digging into something really classic as they’ve added the first episode of Big X streaming to it as part of its 60th anniversary YouTube campaign. The series began in 1954 and ran for 59 episodes – though it’s been said that a lot of episodes have been lost over the years.
The series was directed by Mitsuro Okamoto and Osamu Dezaki based on Osamu Tezuka’s original work. Seizeo Hamamoto served as the animation director with TMS handling the animation production.
The Japanese cast includes:
- Akira Shimada as Big X
- Yoshiko Ohta as Akira Asagumo
- Fuyumi Shiraishi as Nina Belton
- Ichirō Nagai as Dr. Hanamaru
- Tomoko Watanabe as Akira’s Mother
Plot Concept: A metal card inscribed with the formula for “Big X” developed by Nazi Germany is found implanted in Dr. Asagumo, who was being transported by ambulance. The evil Nazi Alliance attacks during the surgery, and the doctor and his wife and child are kidnapped and taken to the Alliance’s hideout. The Alliance completes Big X based on the blueprints, but their experimental rat becomes huge and starts rampaging. Dr. Asagumo injects his son Akira with Big X to escape the situation!
