Taiyou no Ko Esteban
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Episodes (39)
1 / 2- 1EP 1
Esteban, Child of the Sun: An Orphan's Voyage to the New World
May 1, 1982In 1532, Barcelona, Spain, an orphan named Esteban meets navigator Mendoza, who claims to have rescued him as an infant. Mendoza reveals a missing sun amulet piece, suggesting Esteban's father may be alive, and proves they met previously. He stows Esteban aboard the ship Esperanza, where he encounters Zia, a kidnapped Inca girl wearing a nearly identical sun medallion. The narrative follows their journey to the new world, driven by the hope of reuniting with Esteban's lost father and uncovering the truth behind their shared pasts. A mini-documentary on the history of the search for the Lost Cities of Gold is also included.
- 2EP 2
Esteban and Zia face suspicion from the guard captain during the Atlantic crossing.
May 8, 1982While the Esperanza traverses the Atlantic Ocean, Esteban learns that Zia was abducted from her village at a young age. The Spaniards intend to return her to her homeland, hoping she will guide them to the legendary Cities of Gold. Their journey is interrupted when Gaspard, the captain of the guard, discovers them and accuses them of being stowaways. Mendoza steps in to defend the children, creating conflict with Gaspard and his superiors, Captain Perez and Commander Gomez. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary detailing Christopher Columbus's voyage to find a new sea route to India.
- 3EP 3
Mendoza pilots Esperanza through Magellan Straits while overhearing a plot against him.
May 15, 1982Mendoza navigates the Esperanza through the dangerous Straits of Magellan. Esteban overhears Gaspard and Gomez planning to eliminate Mendoza after they exit the straits. Upon reaching the Pacific Ocean, Gaspard challenges Mendoza to a duel. However, a typhoon strikes the ship. Captain Perez begs Mendoza to save the vessel instead of fighting. The episode includes a mini-documentary about the Straits of Magellan.
- 4EP 4
Castaways build a raft after their ship breaks apart in a typhoon.
May 22, 1982A typhoon destroys the Esperanza, forcing Captain Perez and the crew to abandon the vessel. Mendoza, his companions Pedro and Sancho, and the children are left to survive on their own. The group constructs a raft to escape the sinking ship. During their time adrift, Esteban discovers that Zia's father is an Incan high priest who might assist him in locating his own father. The castaways eventually reach the shore of an unknown island. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary segment discussing the dangers of sailing and the phenomenon known as St. Elmo's Fire.
- 5EP 5
Pedro and Sancho encounter a disguised figure while Zia is taken by a native boy named Tao.
May 29, 1982During an island exploration, Pedro and Sancho meet a serpent-headed individual whom Zia claims is the Incan god Viracocha. That night, Esteban discovers the figure is merely a man in disguise and pursues him. The figure abducts Zia in a canoe, prompting Esteban to swim in pursuit. Esteban eventually washes up on a different island, where he discovers a village constructed within the branches of a massive tree. There, he reunites with Zia and meets the mysterious figure, who is revealed to be a native boy named Tao. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary segment focusing on the Galápagos Islands.
- 6EP 6
Esteban and Zia meet Tao, the last Heva, who reveals ancient secrets leading to the Solaris.
Jun 5, 1982Esteban and Zia befriend Tao and his parrot Kokapetl. Tao reveals he is the last Heva, whose advanced civilization sank in the Pacific. Before the disaster, they stored knowledge in the Seven Cities of Gold. When Mendoza and his men arrive, Tao flees with Zia to a hidden temple. Inside, Zia translates a quipu message. This translation triggers events that release the Solaris, a golden sailing vessel. The episode also features a mini-documentary titled The Lost Kingdom of Hiva.
- 7EP 7
Tao explores the Solaris and the crew evades pursuers using a hidden solar-powered mechanism.
Jun 12, 1982Tao utilizes his Heva encyclopedia to understand the Solaris and reveals a mysterious gold jar. The crew discovers a sealed gold cube below deck, prompting Tao and Esteban to investigate. Esteban locates a hidden lever that deploys a metal sail. This sail harnesses solar energy to power automated oars, enabling the Solaris to escape a pursuing Spanish galleon carrying Señor Gomez and Captain Gaspard. The episode includes a mini-documentary covering the Panama Canal, forts in Panama, and Caribbean piracy.
- 8EP 8
Esteban and friends captured by Pizarro's forces while Zia refuses to translate a golden quipu.
Jun 19, 1982Esteban and his companions reach the mainland but are immediately taken prisoner by Spaniards led by Governor Francisco Pizarro. Zia is taken to the fortress and commanded to translate a golden quipu, yet she declines. Mendoza vows to force her cooperation, leaving Esteban and the others imprisoned alongside Incan captives. Later, Mendoza executes a rescue strategy by igniting the armory, creating a diversion that allows the group to escape. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary covering the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.
- 9EP 9
Tao weaponizes the solar sail against Gomez and Pizarro while Zia negotiates her surrender.
Jun 26, 1982Esteban and the others escape to the Solaris, but Gomez and his galleon appear. Tao learns that the solar sail can be used as a weapon and fires a heat beam at Gomez's ship setting it on fire. Tao uses another beam to drive off Pizarro's soldiers who are attacking a nearby village and then goes ashore to help the wounded. Gomez soon returns and captures the Solaris, but offers to exchange the ship for Zia. Zia surrenders, but once Gomez has her, he orders his cannons to fire upon the village. Tao sneaks back aboard the Solaris and overloads the solar weapon which explodes destroying both the Solaris and Gomez's ship. Mini-Documentary: Andean Mountains, Settlement of the Americas, the Inca road system and the quipu. (Source: Wikipedia)
- 10EP 10
Children navigate a fortress-guarded pass to reach Zia's village, encountering an old priest named Pasha.
Jul 3, 1982The group travels toward Puna, Zia's home village, but their path is obstructed by a pass containing Pizarro's fortress, which stands above an underground temple. They infiltrate the structure and meet Pasha, an elderly priest who assists their journey. However, Pizarro lays a trap for them. Pasha discloses a secret exit involving a puzzle room. Solving the puzzle triggers a pillar of ice to melt, causing the temple and the fortress above it to collapse. In the ensuing chaos, the children lose contact with Mendoza and his men. The episode also features a mini-documentary segment focusing on Incan architecture.
- 11EP 11
Children pursued by panther-clad men find Zia's village abandoned and face Gomez's army ants.
Jul 10, 1982While traveling to Zia's village, the children notice two men in panther skins following them. Upon arrival, they discover the settlement is deserted and encounter Gomez, Gaspard, and their soldiers. Gomez threatens to feed Esteban and Tao to army ants unless Zia reveals the golden quipu's message. She agrees, stating that a City of Gold sits on a mountain peak beyond a forbidden zone. The children are subsequently rescued by the two pursuers, Wayna and Kecha, who state that their chief Kraka wants to meet them. A mini-documentary about Incan-origin village festivals in present-day Peru is included.
- 12EP 12
Wayna leads children to Black Eagle Fort while Mendoza betrays them to Gomez.
Jul 17, 1982Wayna and Kecha escort the children to the Fort of the Black Eagle. Meanwhile, Mendoza, Pedro, and Sancho reach Gomez's camp, where Mendoza offers assistance navigating the forbidden zone. He guides the Spaniards to the fort, and Gomez plans a nightfall attack. Mendoza secretly warns Esteban, prompting Tao to construct a giant flare that illuminates the sky and helps the Incas repel the invaders. The following morning, Wayna brings the children to the City of the High Peak. There, they meet Chief Kraka, who recognizes the medallions worn by the children as keys to the gates of the cities of gold. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary about Machu Picchu.
- 13EP 13
Tao finds a sun symbol marker leading to a seer who recounts a tale of forbidden love and divine punishment.
Jul 24, 1982In the City of the High Peak, Tao locates a marker featuring a sun symbol resembling the medallions of Esteban and Zia. Chief Kraka advises the children to consult Myuca, an elderly seer residing on Machu Picchu, regarding these artifacts. Myuca shares a legend about a white man from across the ocean who wed an Incan priestess. Their union angered the sun god Inti, causing darkness and leading villagers to sacrifice the priestess while banishing the man and child to the sea. Esteban considers whether this story concerns his parents. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary focusing on Andean music and musical instruments.
- 14EP 14
Esteban's Medallion
Jul 31, 1982Tao discovers that the marker leads to the first city of gold, but Esteban first requires the sun symbol part of his medallion, which is held by Mendoza. Outside the Fort of the Black Eagle, Gomez reinforces his men with a cannon capable of destroying the fort, yet Mendoza steals it and offers it to the Inca as a peace gesture. This plan backfires, resulting in Mendoza, Pedro, and Sancho being sentenced to execution. Esteban arrives at the last second and asks the Inca to spare Mendoza, explaining that Mendoza came to return the sun symbol. Mendoza reluctantly hands it over, allowing Esteban to complete his medallion. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary about Incan graves, buried treasures, and their symbolism.
- 15EP 15
Inca defenders use improvised weapons to escape a besieged fort and evade pursuing soldiers.
Aug 7, 1982Gomez's forces assault the Fort of the Black Eagle, prompting Mendoza to deploy a stolen cannon despite limited ammunition. Recognizing this constraint, Gomez intensifies the attack. Tao creates makeshift grenades from clay pots and leftover gunpowder, buying time for an escape plan. The Incas are eventually forced to abandon the fort, allowing the children to sneak out via a secret cave. Gaspard's soldiers spot the fugitives and give chase, but the children evade capture by swimming through an underwater cave. The episode includes a mini-documentary covering Incan religion and New World crops.
- 16EP 16
Children encounter giant Urubus tribe and seek Lake Titicaca village after rescue mission.
Aug 14, 1982The group reunites with Mendoza to locate the first City of Gold but faces an attack from the giant Urubus tribe. Following their escape, they discover an injured girl named Lana who leads them to her village on Lake Titicaca. The Urubus assault the settlement to sacrifice Lana to Pachamama. Tao constructs a submarine from reed canoes to launch a surprise counterattack against the enemy rafts. Although the Urubus retreat, their chief Koruka is captured. He agrees to cease hostilities in exchange for his release and offers a clue regarding the City of Gold, guarded by Pachamama. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary exploring Lake Titicaca’s agricultural significance and associated mythology.
- 17EP 17
The adventurers face Koruka's warning and find a golden condor in Pachamama's valley.
Aug 21, 1982Traveling toward Pachamama's mountain, the group enters a desert and meets Koruka, who reveals he was exiled for failing to capture the village and warns of his tribe's revenge. He directs them to hide in the Valley of the Dead, a forbidden area. After being pursued by the Urubus, they flee into the valley, navigating dangerous volcanic vents. As the sun sets, its light reveals a statue of Pachamama. Placing Esteban and Zia's medallions on the statue's breasts opens a wall, exposing what appears to be the first City of Gold. However, the gold is merely an illusion caused by sunlight on ordinary stone. Inside a great temple, the children discover a massive golden condor. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary about the condor.
- 18EP 18
The Golden Condor Activates as Volcano Threatens the City
Aug 28, 1982The group inspects the golden condor, where Kokapetl discovers a quipu in its beak. Zia translates the message, revealing that ancestors fled to the Mayas due to a city threat. Following earthquakes, Mendoza deduces the city sits on an active volcano. Tao identifies the condor as a Hiva-built vehicle similar to the Solaris. When the volcano erupts, the machine launches into the sky. With seconds remaining before impact, Esteban uses a sun disk from the temple to activate the controls, enabling powered flight. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary covering the physical geography and ancient monuments of South America.
- 19EP 19
The Condor Lands on Nazca Plateau Drawings Amidst Spanish Capture
Sep 4, 1982A mechanical condor descends onto the Nazca plateau, landing within a massive geoglyph as Spanish soldiers alert Governor Pizarro. The following day, children inspect the lines while Pedro and Sancho find a cobra-shaped control stick inside the machine. Pizarro arrives and arrests the group, forcing Esteban to demonstrate the bird or sacrifice his companions. Mendoza advises Esteban to comply with the demand, planning to use the demonstration as a cover for a mass escape. The segment concludes with a brief informational feature regarding the historical Nazca Lines.
- 20EP 20
Children destroy Gomez's bridge and discover a secret city entrance guarded by a waterfall.
Sep 11, 1982The group returns to the City of the High Peak to consult Chief Kraka regarding the Mayas. During the flight, they observe Gomez's army transporting a cannon across a wooden bridge. Esteban utilizes the flying ship's wings to sever the structure twice, causing the cannon to fall into the river. Gomez's troops reach a waterfall concealing a hidden city entrance and use gunpowder to blast it open. The resulting explosion collapses the waterfall, sweeping away the remaining soldiers. Upon landing, the children meet the seer Myuca, who directs them to locate the Papacamayo of Puna, a priest who traveled to the Mayan lands seeking a magical fountain. Zia recognizes this priest as her father. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary about gold fever in present-day Brazil.
- 21EP 21
Condor crashes in Amazon jungle where warriors demand sacrifice for rain god
Sep 18, 1982A condor loses power during a storm and crashes into the Amazon jungle. Adventurers are captured by a tribe of warrior women and brought before priestess Amoro. She demands they be sacrificed to appease the rain god. Mendoza claims Esteban can summon the sun to spare their lives. Esteban attempts to command the sun, but the storm worsens. Just before execution, the clouds part and sunlight returns as requested. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary about the Amazon mainstem and Francisco de Orellana, sourced from Wikipedia.
- 22EP 22
Esteban uses the Moon Mirror to repel hostile natives after Tao exposes Amoro's deception.
Sep 25, 1982The Amazon Queen thanks Esteban for restoring the sun, yet Amoro insists on sacrificing a servant girl named Morka. The children discover that Amoro’s sacred rain mask is actually a barometer utilizing Hiva knowledge. Tao sabotages the device, leading Amoro to falsely predict a massive storm. When the weather remains calm, Amoro flees in shame and returns with a hostile river tribe seeking revenge. Esteban devises a plan to use the Queen's Mirror of the Moon to reflect sunlight onto a condor, empowering the bird to frighten the attackers away. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary exploring the lives of Amazonian Indian tribes.
- 23EP 23
Tao discovers a jade mask and ancient furnace lore in a hidden Mayan ruin after a crash landing.
Oct 2, 1982The group’s aircraft suffers a malfunction and crashes into a deep pit, revealing a hidden stairway to an abandoned ancient city. Inside the ruins, Tao locates a statue of a winged serpent and deciphers hieroglyphs describing a Mayan god who constructed a great furnace. Mendoza speculates that the furnace was used for melting gold. While Tao studies the inscriptions, Pedro and Sancho attempt to steal a jade mask, inadvertently triggering a trap of falling crushing blocks. The group barely escapes the collapsing structure. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary comparing Mayan architectural styles to those of the Inca civilization.
- 24EP 24
Tao discovers a serpent god manuscript fragment in a jade mask hidden within a secret burial chamber.
Oct 9, 1982The children return to the hieroglyph room, where Tao finds writing inside a jade mask eyes leading to a secret burial chamber. Inside the sarcophagus, they discover only a torn manuscript fragment written by the serpent god. Upon returning to the city, they learn Mendoza, Pedro, and Sancho are imprisoned by Spanish explorer Dr. Fernando la Guerra and his assistant Marinche. Marinche takes Tao's gold jar and the other half of the manuscript. With Kokapetl's help, Tao retrieves his jar, allowing the group to escape, though they become separated from Mendoza once more. The episode concludes with a mini-documentary about modern Mayans in Guatemala, sourced from Wikipedia.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many episodes does Taiyou no Ko Esteban have?
- Taiyou no Ko Esteban has 39 episodes.
- When did Taiyou no Ko Esteban come out?
- Taiyou no Ko Esteban came out in 1982.
- Which studio made Taiyou no Ko Esteban?
- Taiyou no Ko Esteban was produced by Studio Pierrot.
- Who directed Taiyou no Ko Esteban?
- Taiyou no Ko Esteban was directed by Mitsuki Nakamura.
- Is Taiyou no Ko Esteban finished?
- Current status of Taiyou no Ko Esteban: Finished.