Tetsuwan Atom, better known abroad as Astro Boy, celebrates his birthday today, and with him being one of the most beloved of Japan’s animation characters, this is quite a big event. Originally created as a comic book hero in 1951 by legendary cartoonist Tezuka Osamu, the rocket-powered robot boy was the star of Japan’s first TV anime in the 60s. Atom’s official “creation” date was April 7, 2003 which became a kind of Japanese equivalent to Stanley Kubrick’s “2001.” There was a brief revival in the 80s before Tezuka’s death in 1989. Yesterday saw the first of a new 50-episode series on Fuji TV. Compared to the original, the new series has cut out scenes showing tobacco or alcohol as well as cutting down on violence. Tezuka’s central message was always simple and relevant: “Love everything that has life.”