In the Beginning: The Bible Stories
Japanese-Italian anime adaptation of Bible stories by Osamu Tezuka.
In the Beginning: Stories from the Bible (Japanese: 手塚治虫の旧約聖書物語, romanized: Tezuka Osamu no Kyūyaku Seisho Monogatari) is an anime television series co-produced by Japan's Nippon TV and Italy's state-owned broadcaster RAI, with animation by Tezuka Productions. The project began in 1984, when the Vatican, through RAI, asked Osamu Tezuka to create an animated version of the Bible. Tezuka spent two years developing a pilot based on Noah’s Ark and other biblical stories, handling the scenario and photography himself, but he died on February 9, 1989, before the series was finished. Director Osamu Dezaki oversaw completion of the pilot and the subsequent 26-episode television series. The series was not broadcast in Japan until April 1, 1997, on the satellite channel Wowow, while it premiered in Italy on November 30, 1992, on Rai 1. It has also aired in the United States on the Catholic-oriented Eternal Word Television Network, as well as in Spain, Germany, and Australia on the Australian Christian Channel.
Episodes cover major biblical narratives, including Creation, Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark, Abraham and Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, and Solomon, with the final episode depicting the Nativity of Jesus. As in the second *Superbook* series, some stories span multiple episodes. Unlike *Superbook* and *The Flying House*, no modern-day characters are inserted into the stories, except for the mascots and viewpoint characters: Roco the fox and Mimi the vixen.
Although Tezuka’s manga often explored religious themes—most notably in his long-running *Buddha*—and he is sometimes assumed to have been a devout Buddhist, he was largely agnostic. The Italian version uses a different ending theme, "He Comes, He Saves You," written by Paolo Zavallone and performed by Cristina Zavallone. The series was produced over several years in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- type
- Anime television series
- country_of_origin
- Japan, Italy
- production_companies
- Tezuka Productions, Nippon TV, RAI
- original_run
- Italy: November 30, 1992; Japan: April 1, 1997
- episodes
- 26
- director
- Osamu Dezaki
- creator
- Osamu Tezuka
Quick Facts
- Ja Romaji
- Tezuka Osamu no Kyūyaku Seisho Monogatari
- Creator
- Osamu Tezuka
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In the Beginning: Stories from the Bible originated from a 1984 request by the Vatican, transmitted through RAI, for Osamu Tezuka to produce an animated version of the Bible. Tezuka spent two years working on a pilot series based on Noah's Ark and other stories, writing the scenario and handling photography, but he died on February 9, 1989 before the series was finished. The remainder of the pilot and the subsequent 26-episode television series were supervised by director Osamu Dezaki.
The series features episodes devoted to major Bible stories including Creation, Cain and Abel, Noah's Ark, Abraham and Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, and Solomon, with the final episode depicting the Nativity of Jesus. Unlike earlier Japanese-animated Bible series such as Superbook and The Flying House, no contemporary characters from modern times were inserted; instead, the mascots and viewpoint characters are Roco the fox and Mimi the vixen. The series was not aired in Japan until April 1, 1997 on Wowow, while it premiered in Italy on November 30, 1992 on Rai 1.
Reader's Guide
In the Beginning: Stories from the Bible holds significance as a major international coproduction between Japanese and Italian broadcasters, animated by Tezuka Productions. It represents one of the last projects Osamu Tezuka worked on before his death, and its completion under Osamu Dezaki ensured the series reached audiences worldwide. The series was broadcast in the United States on the Catholic-oriented Eternal Word Television Network, as well as in Spain, Germany, and Australia on the Australian Christian Channel.
The series is also notable for its approach to biblical storytelling: unlike earlier Japanese-animated Bible series that inserted modern characters, this series used animal mascots as viewpoint characters. The theme music for the English version, 'Rainbow Blue,' was written and performed by Reimy, and is the only ending theme with English lyrics in the Japanese, English, and Spanish versions. The Italian version used a different ending theme, 'He Comes, He Saves You,' written by Paolo Zavallone and performed by Cristina Zavallone. Tezuka's own religious views were agnostic, despite his frequent inclusion of religious themes in his manga, such as his long-running Buddha.
Did You Know?
- The series was requested by the Vatican via RAI in 1984.
- Osamu Tezuka died on February 9, 1989 before the series was finished; director Osamu Dezaki supervised the remainder.
- The series mascots are Roco the fox and Mimi the vixen, with no contemporary human characters inserted.
- The English ending theme 'Rainbow Blue' by Reimy is the only ending theme with English lyrics in the Japanese, English, and Spanish versions.
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