Right Stuf International has announced that it will release the Astro Boy Ultra Collector's Edition Set 1, with the first 52 episodes of the b/w 1960s anime series on 11 DVDs, at a $129.99 MSRP and a March 28th street date.  The episodes will be fully restored, and feature never-before-seen footage.  Osamu Tezuka's groundbreaking series is considered the first anime; it has never before been available on DVD in the U.S.

 

The set will include a number of extras, including a subbed version of episode 1; Part 1 of an interview with Fred Ladd, the English producer of Astro Boy; a Tezuka biography; an original character art gallery; a merchandise gallery; and a collector's booklet featuring 'The History of Astro Boy.'

 

The DVDs of the 80s version were released last year (see '1980s Astro Boy Series Out in November').