MissSimonetta
Though Hayao Miyazaki's work at Studio Ghibli is known the world over, few outside of Japan seem to know or care about the work he did before that in the 70s and early 80s. It's a real shame, because works such as Future Boy Conan (1978) still hold up well today despite the choppy television animation.The plot is chock full of iconic Miyazaki themes and archetypes which look forward to his later films and manga. The post-apocalyptic setting, motif of flight, morally ambiguous characters, and environmentalist theme should all be familiar to hardcore Miyazaki fans. In fact, the whole thing feels like a dress rehearsal for the later Castle in the Sky (1986): the relationship between Lana and Conan mirrors the later bond between Pazu and Sheeta, the villain Lepka resembles Muska, and Captain Dyce and his crew bring to mind the Dola pirates.Despite the similarities, though, Future Boy Conan stands well on its own. I would even go as far as to say it equals (or in some cases, even betters) Castle in the Sky. Being a 26-episode TV series, it has more time to let its characters develop and grow. One major difference between FBC and later Miyazaki is it's broad comedy. There's lots of goofy slapstick and silly moments that you don't see the like of in post-Nausicaa Miyazaki. Still, it's good comedy that never feels out of place.I know most anime fans won't watch anything preceding Dragonball, but Ghibli fans and Miyazaki diehards will enjoy this series without a doubt. It helps show you where all those ideas, characters, and themes of his later films were first allowed to be fully expressed.
Jose Cruz
Highly dramatic and engaging, this TV series was near perfect and shows Miyazaki's talents for the first time he directed something. Interestingly, Miyazaki's characters that he developed in this TV series served as prototypes for the films he made. Indeed, this TV series is actually one 26 episode long film with many subplots that constitute each of the episodes.Also, it is impressively dramatic considering it was a TV series marketed for children. The Japanese animated TV series were always much more dramatic and complex than American animated TV series, but in the 1970's anime it was still in its early stages and wasn't as well developed as it became in the 1980's, when it's range expanded to all demographic groups.An excellent TV series, indeed, one of the most powerful ever made. Yes, I said powerful for an animated TV series from the 1970's, because it is.
Chai Mason
There's only one thing to say about this series - get it now! Of course you've probably seen it if you're even reading this but if not then sort it out.I'm not going to write a review, there are plenty available, this is the internet. I've said all that's important already. Only thing is there aren't enough stars to rate Miyazaki's work on IMDb.Incidentally you may want to read the English short sci fi novel called "The Incredible Tide" by Alexander Key upon which this series is based.This animation series appears to be a prototype for Miyazaki's film Laputa: Castle in the Sky - at least its chief characters Pazu and Shita are based on Conan and Lana of this series.Also check out Sherlock Hound, all of Masterpiece Theatre series and the amazing 1968 collaboration featurelength animation 'Horus Prince of the Sun' by Miyazaki and Takahata.
ne12abaa3-1
i saw that series may be 10 times, it was my favorite and still is, to my knowledge they still run the series in Baghdad TV.the story, the drawing, the coloring, the robots, the castle, and the flying wing, all these were smashing great.i wish they turn it to a movie, it was one hell of work, and every kid and adult favorite in Iraq back in the 1980. the show was a welcome change to Iraqi channel and a new introduction to sci fie to Iraqis , people started to like sci fie as a choice to see . the show talked about dictatorship and people control ( something every Iraq back in 80's know it), so the show hit more than one spot.