Astro Boy – “The Mysterious Cat”

Astro Boy Set One DVD

Also Known As: The Red Cat
Original Air Date: September 24, 1963

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: The American incarnation of Tetsuwan Atomu or Mighty Atom, based on the popular manga created by Osamu Tezuka.  In this episode, Astro Boy has to try to stop a scientist whose passion for saving some local woods from being destroyed for development leads him to instruct all the animals to attack mankind.

Cartoon Cat: This mysterious red cat from the title is named Mimi and belongs to Professor Greenthumb, a genius in biology and a friend of Dr. Elefun who created Astro Boy.

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat Mimi with Professor Greenthumb

It’s Pompous who first encounters the cat when he follows a bunch of boys who ask him for directions to a mysterious house.  The cat leaps down then runs out the door right before Pompous discovers a skeleton on the floor, presumed to be the late Professor Greenthumb.

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat Mimi about to jump on Pompous

Elefun recalls that Professor Greenthumb and Mimi were incredibly close (to be honest they act more like a couple than a man and his cat.)

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat Mimi sitting on Professor Greenthumb's lap

Pompous returns to the house to try to find out what has happened to Greenthumb when he sees Mimi on top of a lamppost.

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat Mimi on top of lamppost

Mimi speaks, telling Pompous to stop the destruction of the woods or the animals will revolt.

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat Mimi giving Pompous a warning

No explanation is given for Mimi’s ability to speak, nor for the odd moment when she jumps down off the lamppost and takes the form of a sexy human female for a moment.

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat Mimi briefly takes the form of a woman

Later Astro Boy confronts a strange man wearing a cat mask that also looks like Mimi.

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat man in cat mask

The man turns out to be Professor Greenthumb and when Astro Boy tries to stop the Professor Mimi jumps at him.

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat Mimi leaps down at Astro Boy

Astro Boy spins Mimi and knocks her out, much to Professor Greenthumb’s distress.

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat Professor Greenthumb holds limp Mimi

In the end the Professor and his cat are in the hospital but everything is forgiven and the woods are saved.  Mimi crawls in bed with the Professor.  Yeah.

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat Mimi with Professor Greenthumb in bed

Finally a cat (not sure if this is meant to be Mimi or not) approaches Pompous in the woods and cuddles next to him, looking for pets.  Pompous then freaks out and runs away.

Astro Boy - The Mysterious Cat Pompous with cat in woods

Final Mewsings: The story of an aparent furry and his sexy female cat.


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