A space prince disguised as a suburban kid fights evil in 1965 — anime's secret superhero grandpa!
Season 1 • Episode 1
LatestPrince Planet is the English-language title given to one of the earliest Japanese anime TV series, Planet Boy Papi, when it was transmitted on American television in the United States in the mid-1960s. A 52-episode monochrome anime series, it tells the story of a member of the Universal Peace Corps, originally from the planet Radion, coming to Earth on a mission to determine if this world meets standards for membership in the Galactic Union of Worlds and assist its inhabitants during his stay. While on his mission, Prince Planet adopts the identity of an Earth boy named Bobby and gains comrades who work together alongside him fighting forces of evil, both alien and terrestrial.
Production
One of the first Japanese anime to hit American TV — history, baby!
Practical Effects
Charming limited animation techniques that defined early TV anime.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Prince Planet predates Astro Boy's US syndication and helped pave the way for anime's American invasion — you're looking at a gateway drug, folks.
The original Japanese title 'Planet Boy Papi' got Americanized because distributors thought 'Papi' sounded too foreign — so they made him a PRINCE. Royal upgrade!
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