``Fantastic Voyage'' Influential works from Tezuka's manga to sitcoms (Part 2)

Influence theory of “Cute Witch Ginny”

However, in the United States, there is a completely different theory. There is a theory that the 9th episode of the first season of the sitcom `` Cute Witch Genie '', ``Genie Goes to Hollywood'', which aired on November 13, 1965, is the source of ``Fantastic Voyage''.

The series setting of ``Cute Witch Genie'' is ``Tony (Larry Hagman), a NASA astronaut, picks up a mysterious pot on a southern island where he crash-landed.The witch Genie was sealed inside. By releasing (Barbara Eden), she follows him to Florida, where he lives, and causes trouble every day.''

"Cute Witch Ginny"

``Genie Goes to Hollywood'' is about Tony being invited to a Hollywood studio as a technical consultant for a new movie. The movie is about ``reducing a NASA astronaut to the size of a needle tip, injecting it into the carotid artery of a Soviet astronaut, infiltrating the brain, and stealing information about national defense.'' (*2) was. Since it involves the Cold War, it can be said that the idea is closer to the ``Fantastic Voyage.''

By the way, according to L.B. Abbott , who was the special effects supervisor for "Fantastic Voyage", the scenario was given to him by producer Saul David for " Dengeki Flint Go! Go Operation " (January 1966). It seems that it was right after the completion of ``Genie Goes to Hollywood'' (released in the US on the 16th), and there is no contradiction with the broadcast timing of ``Genie Goes to Hollywood''.

What's interesting, however, is that both `` Astro Boy '' and ``Cute Witch Genie'' were broadcast by NBC. Therefore, the following hypothesis can be considered. ``During the pre-production stage of ``Fantastic Voyage'', ``Cute Witch Genie'' was discovered while researching whether there was a precedent for a similar idea. 20th Century Fox contacted NBC to obtain permission. Then, Jim Dodd, who had already seen the ``Bacteria Unit Volume,'' noticed the similarities and contacted Tezuka.'' I can't confirm the fact, but I think it's quite possible.

*2 However, such footage does not specifically appear in the play, and the producer only talks about the setting while standing in front of an image board. In the second half of the drama, Ginny, who has been accompanying the film as a secretary, takes a screen test in hopes of becoming a movie star, but the focus shifts to the commotion about her not being able to appear on film because she is a spirit, and the talk about shrinking humans goes somewhere.

Third influence theory