《海王子》又名《小飛龍》對許多七〇、八〇後觀眾而言，是帶有極深童年情懷的經典動畫。最初源於手塚治虫在《產經新聞》連載的漫畫《青いトリトン》，後來隨著動畫改編播出而更名為《海のトリトン》，並以這個名字沿用至今。雖然漫畫原本設計的主角並不是東東（トリトン），而是一名因機緣巧合撿到東東的義兄，但手塚治虫在連載過程中發現，以少年東東為核心的冒險題材更具吸引力，便在劇情中途安排義兄失蹤，將舞台完全交給東東，讓他成為正牌的主角。

故事背景設定在五千年前的大西洋文明「亞特蘭提斯」。傳說中的亞特蘭提斯某日突然沉沒，僅存的一名東黎族嬰兒被白海豚露嘉帶走，交給日本一個小漁村的漁夫阿松撫養。這個孩子便是「東東」。十三年後，少年東東漸漸察覺自己不同於常人的身世，並因此遭到波塞冬族（ポセイドン族）的追殺。波塞冬族正是毀滅亞特蘭提斯的元兇，他們與東東的族人有著血海深仇。於是，東東在露嘉與海龜曼頓、人魚琪琪等海洋伙伴的幫助下，踏上復仇與冒險之旅。

動畫版與漫畫版在氛圍與走向上有所差異。漫畫更偏向冒險與科幻，強調東東在陸地上成長、接受教育與武術訓練的過程，也不避諱描繪他與人類間並非單純善意的互動。而動畫則放大奇幻與熱血的氛圍，呈現一場與波塞冬族對抗的壯烈戰爭。經典片頭曲與熱血戰鬥場面，讓當年的孩子們在簡陋的電視機前揮舞著「想像中的飛龍神劍」，為東東吶喊助威。

然而，《海王子》的核心並不僅止於「正義戰勝邪惡」的表層敘事。在劇情推進到最後時，揭露一個令人震驚的真相：東東長久以來所認定的「正義」與「敵人」之間的界線，其實並沒有他想像中那麼簡單。波塞冬族並非單純的侵略者，他們背後還有一段與亞特蘭提斯歷史交纏的殘酷真相。換句話說，這場延續五千年的血腥復仇，其實可能是建立在一個巨大的誤解與陰謀之上。

導演富野喜幸（後來以《機動戰士鋼彈》聲名大噪）在這部動畫中展現他早期就擅長的「少年英雄與戰爭矛盾」主題。這不僅是一部單純的海洋冒險啟蒙作品，更是一部觸及「正義本質」與「復仇代價」的深刻作品。

因此，《海王子／小飛龍》之所以成為經典，不只是因為它的冒險、友情與熱血場面，更因為它讓一代觀眾在追隨主角東東的旅程時，也開始思考：什麼是正義？什麼是真相？而在我們的童年記憶裡，那把飛龍神劍劈開巨魟的銀光，依舊象徵著勇氣與信念的永恆圖騰。

“Prince of the Sea”, also known as “Triton of the Sea” (小飛龍 in Chinese), is a classic anime that carries profound childhood memories for many viewers who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s. It was originally based on Osamu Tezuka’s manga Aoi Triton, serialized in the Sankei Shimbun, and was later renamed Umi no Triton when it was adapted into an anime, a title that has been used ever since. Interestingly, the manga’s original protagonist was not Triton himself, but an adoptive elder brother who found him by chance. However, Tezuka discovered during serialization that an adventure narrative centered on young Triton was far more compelling, so he deliberately wrote the brother out of the story midway, shifting the spotlight fully onto Triton as the rightful hero.

The story is set against the backdrop of the lost Atlantic civilization of Atlantis, which mysteriously sank five thousand years ago. The last surviving infant of the Atlantean tribe, known as the Triton clan, was carried away by the white dolphin Ruka and delivered to a fisherman named Ason in a small Japanese coastal village. This child grew up to be the boy called Triton. At thirteen, Triton gradually discovered his unusual origins and soon became the target of the Poseidon clan (ポセイドン族), the very people responsible for Atlantis’s destruction. With an unyielding grudge between them, Triton embarks on a perilous journey of revenge and adventure, aided by Ruka, the loyal sea turtle Merton, the spirited mermaid Pipi, and other oceanic allies.

There are notable differences between the manga and the anime. The manga leans more toward science fiction and adventure, emphasizing Triton’s growth on land—his education, training in martial arts, and encounters with humans that were not always kind or benevolent. In contrast, the anime amplified the fantasy and passionate energy of the tale, portraying an epic war against the Poseidon clan. Its stirring theme song and heated battle scenes left a powerful impression, inspiring children of that era to brandish their “imaginary Dragon Sword” in front of their modest TV sets, cheering for Triton’s victories.

Yet, the true essence of Prince of the Sea goes beyond the surface narrative of “justice triumphing over evil.” As the plot unfolds, it reveals a shocking truth: the clear boundary between what Triton believed to be “justice” and “the enemy” was not as simple as it seemed. The Poseidon clan were not merely ruthless invaders—behind them lay a tragic history intertwined with that of Atlantis itself. In other words, the bloody vendetta spanning five millennia might in fact have been built upon a profound misunderstanding and a carefully hidden conspiracy.

Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino—who would later gain fame for Mobile Suit Gundam—the anime already demonstrated his early mastery of the theme of “the young hero caught in the contradictions of war.” It is not just an ocean adventure that ignited childhood imaginations, but also a thoughtful work probing the nature of justice and the cost of vengeance.

This is why Prince of the Sea / Triton of the Sea has remained a beloved classic. It was not only about adventure, friendship, and battles, but also about guiding an entire generation of viewers to question: What is justice? What is truth? And within the memories of childhood, the shining arc of Triton’s Dragon Sword cutting through the giant stingray still stands as an eternal symbol of courage and conviction.