Originally posted by Atoman@Dec 16 2004, 09:13 PM
Hi friends,
Last night I watched another Astro Christmas episode. This one was from the 80's and it was called The Light Ray Robot in English, but it's the Denku story. Ok this is a spoiler so please don't read this if you haven't seen it yet.
For the rest of you: This 80's version of Denku is much like the 60's anime and the original manga except for the fact that it takes place on Christmas eve and it's in color.
The story starts out light hearted and has that magic Christmas spirit in it like the 60's robot house episode. The best part is when Denku visits Astro's house and they make friends and Astro decides to take Denku under his wing and show him right from wrong.
Astro takes Denku downtown on Xmas eve and shows him the Xmas spirit and how to help people. It's a very heartwarming scene and it's funny seeing invisible Denku with a hat and trenchcoat, but no pants, sitting on Astro's shoulders so Astro's legs look like his and then seeing Astro's head pop out from under the trenchcoat.
Astro is really high on life at this point. This is one episode before Uran the Tomboy, so this is the first really close robot friend Astro's met and there're like brothers. Astro then invites Denku to come to his Xmas party at his house that night and later he shows up.
You see Astro and his friends Tamo and I think maybe Kenichi and or Shib/Alvin sitting together laughing and smilling, real warm Xmas spirit. Then Astro looks up and notices Denku come in. Astro jumps up and greets him at the door welcomes him and gives him a party hat to wear so they can see him. This is such a happy scene. I loved it.
Then it turned dark. Astro's teacher Daddy Walrus showed up dressed as Santa and spray painted Denku's legs red and that scared him away. He did look funny though, like a pair of red stockings running by themselves.
Denku runs back to Skunk's hideout and Skunk gives him a time bomb, but doesn't tell him it's a bomb. After Astro beats up Skunk and arrests him he goes to try to save Denku, but he's too lateNOOOOO! My heart broke. I had hoped that since it was an Xmas ep. that denku would live, but no.
Astro fell to his knees near Denku's remains and cried. That was the first time I've seen him cry in the 80's series. First his eyes watered and he started trembleing, then he hung his head and weeped.
Aww. Ochanomizu/Elefun comforted him saying something like "There There, don't cry Astro."
Then Astro said "Sniff, I just wanted to talk with him some more. Sniff, He was my friend, Whimper"
I prefer the 2003 version of Denku. Finally they give the poor little guy a break and let him live. YAAAA!
Great post, even though I've just read it now for the first time more than a year later!
I think your summary moved me more than the episode itself. 
