Marine Boy
Marine Boy is one of the first color anime to be shown in a dubbed form in the U.S., and later in Australia and the United Kingdom. It was originally produced in 1965 in Japan as Undersea Boy Marine by Minoru Adachi and animation company Japan Tele-Cartoons. It was sold outside Japan via K. Fujita Associates Inc., with Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Television handling worldwide distribution of the English-language version. The series was distributed in syndication in the United States starting in 1966.
Series
The series follows a gifted boy serving with the Ocean Patrol, an underwater policing agency protecting Earth’s oceans. Set in a future where humanity has fully explored the seas, they host undersea ranches, mineral operations, research centres, and underwater communities.The Ocean Patrol is a global maritime agency defending all life beneath the waves. It combats criminal and military threats, using submarines, surface warships, and aircraft. Its scientific division, led by Dr Mariner and Professor Fumble, develops advanced weapons, vehicles, and technologies, while its cvil divisions manage undersea farming, research, and industry.
The series centres on the patrol craft P-1, a compact submarine capable of brief flight via retractable wings. P-1 is heavily armed with “rocket torpedoes” and can mount heat beams, missiles, smoke screens, circular saws, sonic cannon, steel nets, power claws, drills, and lasers.
Marine Boy, aged 13–15, is skilled in martial arts, who can communicate with a white dolphin, Splasher, summoned via a whistle in his ring. His wetsuit, designed by Dr Mariner and Professor Fumble, allows hazardous missions, resisting penetration and extreme temperatures. His boots contain propeller packs, retractable flippers, and his helmet has a radio. He breathes using “oxy-gum,” and his main weapon is a folding alloy boomerang capable of cutting metal and deflecting bullets.
History
Terebi Dōga, also known as Japan Tele-Cartoons, produced a three-episode black-and-white pilot titled Dolphin Prince, which was broadcast on Fuji TV from 4 April to 18 April 1965. The pilot was developed into a colour series, Hang On! Marine Kid, which aired on TBS from 6 October to 29 December 1966, running for thirteen episodes before being cancelled.Undersea Boy Marine aired on Fuji TV from 13 January to 22 September 1969, initially broadcasting thirty-six episodes. The complete seventy-eight-episode series was later shown in 1971 on Nippon TV.
The international version, titled Marine Boy, was dubbed into English and syndicated in the United States by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Television from late 1967, reorganising the episodes for the English-speaking market.
Main characters
Marine Boy
The teenage protagonist, an exceptionally skilled swimmer, diver and martial artist who serves in the Ocean Patrol. His equipment, developed by his father, includes a red wetsuit with retractable flippers, jet boots and a radio headpiece, enabling underwater travel, rescue and combat.Dr Mariner
Marine Boy’s father and the Ocean Patrol’s chief scientist. He designs the specialised equipment Marine Boy uses, provides mission briefings and serves as the organisation’s principal technical authority.The Commander
The strict but fair head of the Ocean Patrol. He enforces discipline and procedure, yet occasionally reveals warmth and pride in Marine Boy’s courage and resourcefulness.Neptina (Neptuna)
A young mermaid ally who assists Marine Boy using her magic pearl and by communicating with sea creatures.Splasher
Marine Boy’s loyal white dolphin companion, central to many rescue sequences and missions.Professor Fumble
An eccentric inventor whose devices alternately aid and complicate Ocean Patrol operations.Bulton (Bolton) and Piper
Crew of the P-1 patrol boat, providing operational support, local knowledge and occasional comic relief.Clicli (Cli-Cli)
A boy from an ancient underwater kingdom, cheerful and inquisitive he assists Marine Boy in several episodes.Villains
Villains generally only appeared in one episode before being defeated. These adversaries include undersea pirates, rogue scientists, monstrous sea creatures, and power-hungry warlords, each posing a threat to Ocean Patrol. Unlike recurring villains in later animated series, most foes are eliminated or neutralised by the episode’s conclusion, seldom returning or being mentioned again. This format created self-contained adventures in which good consistently triumphed, maintaining the show’s moral tone and action-driven narrative.English characterization
The voice of Marine Boy, Neptina and Clicli was that of Corinne Orr, who was also the voice of Trixie and Spritle in Speed Racer. Jack Grimes, who also worked on Speed Racer, was the voice of Professor Fumble and Splasher. Peter Fernandez was the voice of Piper and Dr. Mariner. His other work includes The Space Giants, Ultraman, Star Blazers, many of the Godzilla films, as well as both Speed and Racer X from Speed Racer. Jack Curtis was the voice of Bullton, as well as the series' narrator.Episodes
Warner Bros.' 2009 syndication order| # | Title |