The Three-Eyed One
The Three-Eyed One is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 7 July 1974 through 19 March 1978 and was later published into thirteen tankōbon volumes by Kodansha. This story is about Hosuke Sharaku, the heir to the long lost super civilization of the "Three Eyed Ones", and his best friend, Chiyoko Wato, with whom he solves various problems, often of his own doing.
In 1977, The Three-Eyed One tied with another Tezuka manga, Black Jack, for the Kodansha Manga Award. The manga has since spawned a TV special by Shueisha and later an anime whose 48 episodes ran from 18 October 1990 through 26 September 1991. The main character appears in three video games: Mitsume ga Tooru by Natsume on the MSX in 1989, Mitsume ga Tooru/The Three-Eyed One by Tomy on the NES in 1992, by Sega on the Game Boy Advance and Astro Boy by Sega on the PlayStation 2.
Plot
To learn about his roots, Sharaku must investigate the mysterious ruins that a long lost civilization called the Three-Eyed Ones bequeathed to him. In his worldwide search, which takes both he and Chiyoko Wato to locations like Arizona, Easter Island, and Mexico, Sharaku deciphers ancient scriptures and uses gadgets he invents to help solve problems and mysteries.Sharaku is frequently bullied for his childishness, and as such the story is also about how he fights back when the x-shaped bandage that covers his third eye is removed. Behind the bandage is hidden Sharaku's malicious third eye, and the boy's hidden evil genius emerges when it can see. Sharaku's rivalries with teachers or students are occasionally developed into major plot points.
Some of the story's appeal is that Osamu Tezuka, the story's author, has Sharaku investigate actual historic ruins that are shrouded in mystery and offer his own unique ideas.
Episodes
- The Three-Eyed One Is Here! I'm Sharaku.
- Ramen War! An Angry Blow.
- The Cute Little Babies Are Invaders.
- Looking for the Missing UFO.
- Pursue the High-Tech Speeding Car.
- Are the Pretty Girls a Snake's Agents?
- Sharaku is Possessed.
- A Three-Eyed Dog is Born.
- The Secret of the Three-Rock Mountain.
- No Kidding!? Sharaku is a Devil?
- Protect My Treasure!
- Protect the Underground Capital!
- Protect the Third Eye!
- Space Power Explodes!
- Psychic Power vs. Super Magic.
- The Legendary Monster is Discovered!
- School Entrance Examinations and Peace!?
- The Mysterious Bird Called a Moa!!
- The Ancient Devil Awakened.
- Open Your Mind, Ancient Devil.
- 3, 2, 1, Bang.
- Challenge of Ozuma, the Mysterious Thief.
- The Messenger from Ancient Times.
- Secret Under the Bottom of the Lake.
- The Search for the Treasure.
- The Secret Mission.
- Sharaku in Wonderland.
- The Villain Bumpuku Appears.
- Another Sharaku.
- Search for the Ultimate Weapon!
- Activate Gomora!
- The Earth Hijacking Plan.
- Get Back the Soul!
- Bumpuku Reappears.
- The Seven Pillars Appear!
- Moegi, the Mysterious Girl.
- The Shadow Lurking Underground.
- The Land Starts to Move.
- Showdown: Sharaku vs. Bolbocc!
- The Monkey Speaks!
- Landing on Devil Island.
- The Marriage of Pogo and Sharaku?
- Goodbye, Pogo.
- Going After the Moa.
- The Big Battle Over the Mexican Sky.
- The Plan to Assassinate the Moa.
- Super Bolbocc is Revived!
- Farewell, Sharaku Hosuke – a Pledge for Tomorrow.
Main characters
- Hosuke Sharaku The last survivor of the three-eyed tribe have a third eye on his forehead which gives him astronomical intellect and psychic powers. In addition, "Abutoru-Damuraru-Omunisu-Nomunisu Beru Esu Horimaku" is a phrase in three-eyed script to control the weapon Red Condor.His name sounds simply like the Japanese pronunciation of Sherlock Holmes. If his third eye is covered, he becomes a very likeable, nice, clueless little kid.
- Chiyoko Wato Kazu Noboru, A classmate of Sharaku who plays as his best friend, mother figure, and love interest. She is a self-confident, tomboyish and somewhat violent high school girl. She frequently refers to herself with the Japanese male pronoun 'boku'. Her name is a reference to the assistant of Sherlock Holmes, Watson. She often plays a huge role in thwarting Sharaku's plans for world conquest.
- Dr. Kenmochi the adoptive father of Sharaku.
- Police inspector Unmei "Heppoko Inspector" A Star System character based on Ludwig van Beethoven, Unmei is a frequent guest in both manga and anime versions of Mitsume ga Tooru. He is a police chief, and is one of the characters who has seen Sharaku as the Three-Eyed One in action. Not much is known about his past or his personality, but he appears to be very dedicated to his work and cool in a crisis.
- Higeoyagi or "Shunsaku Ban" The owner of a Tokyo ramen shop and a good friend of Kenmochi. Higeoyaji has had to do a fair amount of caring for Sharaku, who can't be left alone when his father is away. Sharaku occasionally helps out in the ramen shop, but his distractable nature and clumsiness usually make more trouble for Higeoyaji. His nickname means 'mustached old man' in English. He is part of Osamu Tezuka's Star System as Shunsaku Ban, a famous detective.
Other characters
- Mother of Sharaku-Immediately after leaving Sharaku to Kenmochi, she dies.
- Onido Saburo The leader of the bad group study at the same school of Sharaku and Wato. For bullying Sharaku in early.
- Osamu Osamu is an anime-only character based on Tezuka Osamu. He is Sharaku's classmate, and is portrayed as a nervous sort who likes to keep himself out of trouble. At times it has been indicated that Osamu may be interested in Wato romantically. He wears thick, round glasses and has a bulbous nose, and when in uniform is usually seen wearing his black student cap.
- Takashi While featuring occasionally in the manga, Takashi is seen far more often in the anime in Sharaku's small circle of friends. He is a little more quick to action, but is meek as well, preventing him from helping Sharaku much when he's being picked on. Takashi has beady black eyes and is fairly tall. He and Osamu are good friends.
- Bankara His real name is Bando To Saburo. Captain of the judo club.- A member of the Judo Club, Bankara is Sharaku's classmate and could be considered a member of Kido's group, but truthfully he likes Sharaku and tries to protect him. He is one of the few people who know about Sharaku's Three-Eyed personality. Bankara is tall and heavyset with short black hair, and wears his student cap frayed.
- Skunk Kusai Claiming to Newkirk university professors, but he is actually a thief. He appears in Astro Boy "famous" as the villain in such Skunk Kusai and in "The Three-eyed One ".
- Bumpuku Fukutaro Man of mystery that haunts Sharaku. He appeared in the episode "Villain Bumpuku appears".
- Noble Keeper of the Lake Biwia. Uses super powers in the fight against goblins in the anime, he died from exhaustion after Sharaku told him that he loves Wato.
- Garon
- Aira, Moegi A three-eyed mysterious girl who knows the clue of the plant Bolbocc.
- Pogo, Bogota, Bokor, Ruby A monkey who can speak human language. She is yearning Sharaku, and help him.
- Ancient Prince Godaru,"Godal" Hen An ancestor of Sharaku. He is the Prince of Lemuria Kingdom, with a cruel outrageous personality. He possesses the body of Wato, but it is two-eyed, which doesn't give him much power and so he wants to possess the body of Sharaku.
- Princess Shiguana The wife of Godaru and ancestor of Wato. Eventually sealed in the pot the soul dissolved the body of Godaru.
- Moa - Originally an egg left under Sharaku's care when its mother, a Giant Moa was killed, little Moa hatched and began living with him. She is quite intelligent and loves Sharaku, though Wato isn't fond of the bird. Moa has the ability to fly; though her species has no wings, she can charge up her backside and fly like a rocket when need be. When she is older, she is capable of carrying people while flying. Very playful and vocal, Moa also has a soft spot for Higeoyaji's gyoza dumplings.