Ludwig B
Plot. The story begins in Vienna with the birth of Franz Kreuzstein, a young man who avows to hate anyone named "Ludwig" since the screech of a peacock of the same name caused the death of his mother. In 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven is born in Bonn, Germany. Young Beethoven is relentlessly pushed by his father to practice the piano in order to secure a rich aristocrat to serve as the family's benefactor. Six-year-old Beethoven receives renown while his father spirals into alcoholism. While in Bonn, young Ludwig and Franz Kreuzstein cross paths, resulting in  Franz flying into a rage and striking Ludwig in the ear, causing the boy's deafness. Undaunted, Ludwig strives to continue excelling in his musical studies, leading him to a short tutelage under an older Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart before returning home. Ludwig presses on in honing his talents regardless of the many setbacks around him, including his father's alcoholism, a fling with a beautiful aristocratic lady, and the French Revolutionary Wars. After securing a mentorship under famous composer Joseph Haydn, Ludwig strives on toward musical greatness. Production. With the success of the ten-year project "Buddha", Tezuka became inspired  to write an epic biographical work based on Beethoven. After the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent him to a conference in Nancy, France, Tezuka took the opportunity to visit other parts of Europe. During his trip, he visited Vienna and went to many memorial sites dedicated to Beethoven, including his old room where Tezuka touched the composer's own piano.