Astro Boy Trailer Soaring High In The Sky

Posted by Wintle on March 25th, 2009   Filed under: Animation, Books/Comics, Sci-fi, Trailers

The publicity machine for the latest adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy is finally gearing up with its first full trailer. This is only Imagi Animation Studios second theatrical release after the successful TMNT feature. I imagine they’re hoping Astro Boy repeats the success of their previous film rather than that other recent adaptation of ’60s anime, Speed Racer.

I’m torn on this trailer. While some of the character designs are nicely exaggerated and the Tezuka cameo made me smile, the overall look of the movie seems diluted. Without a strong visual identity, and with a plot as worked over as this one, Astro Boy needs something special to make it all worthwhile. Hopefully the movie follows the manga in at least one regard, and reveals the pathos behind its candy-colored exterior. He may be stronger than all the rest, but do you think this mighty robot will pass the test?

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Comments (6)

  1. Meh.

    Posted by Ryan M. on March 25th, 2009

  2. The look is decent, if a bit dull, but I’m so tired of retold origin stories.

    Doesn’t everyone know Astro Boy’s backstory?!?

    Posted by krew on March 25th, 2009

  3. I’m sure most kids don’t know Astro Boy’s origin story, and even if they did, I get the feeling that this is going to be lighter in tone.

    Posted by Wintle on March 25th, 2009

  4. What, you mean his father isn’t going to sell Astro Boy to the circus out of sheer hate?

    Posted by krew on March 26th, 2009

  5. I hope the franchise continues to the point where Astro Boy travels to the past and dies rusting in a barren field, alone and unloved.

    Posted by Wintle on March 26th, 2009

  6. Astro Boy is not winning any new fans too in Japan. The character is behind the times and totally irrelevant today. Tezuka is so desperate for money, they sold the character as a spokesperson fo STD warning in Japan. Would Pixar or Disney do this?
    All Jap anime is strange and our tendency to love this strangeness is already waning… there is nothing universal in Astro Boy or jap anime in general.

    Posted by sakuda imaii on October 2nd, 2009

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