New Astro Boy series could be on the way!

[AprilSeven]

woooooo - HOOOOO!!!
Forgive me for being giddy about this . . . but those of you who have known me on ABO all these three years are aware I felt Astro Boy was ahead of it's time and that it's more internationally appealling than people give it credit.

Well, thank you, Tezuka Pro for validating my instincts!

Just as I grew up believing Astro was an American hero - I TOTALLY believe a "localized" version could work. Heck, I'd watch 'em all.

To my thinking, Dr. Tezuka made Astro/Atom a maleable character for a reason - it's his story that's is universal and most important. I'm sure some of us won't care for what comes out of this, but I still think it's wonderful news!

I'm pasting the story here so in case some folks have trouble connecting, they can see what was being reported:


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Tezuka Pro in Talks to Create Local Versions of Astro Boy Around the World

Company's international venture may receive support from Japanese government's 'Cool Japan' initiative

Tezuka Productions revealed at France's Annecy animation festival that it is in talks with Channel TV, a network made up of eight Nigerian television channels, to remake the original Astro Boy television anime series. The studio is in talks to sell its content to Channel TV as well.

The entertainment trade news source Variety additionally reports that Tezuka Productions is also believed to be in talks with other companies as well, with a goal of creating local versions of Astro Boy around the world. Variety reports that Tezuka Productions itself may co-produce the remakes by providing the animation and other technical information.

Tezuka Productions general manager Yoshihiro Shimizu told Variety that Tezuka Productions' venture of branching out internationally in this way might receive monetary support from the Japanese government's "Cool Japan" cultural export initiative.

The first television anime adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom) manga about a young robot boy's adventures aired in Japan in 1963-66. The anime inspired two remakes in Japan in 1980 and 2003, and IMAGI remade the story as a CG-animated American film in 2009.

[the 鉄腕アトム fan]

Sorry for reawakening the thread.

If Tezuka Pro does make another Astro Boy series for us, there might be a lot of change. Plots and/or animation style will probably change a lot. I really hope that our dear gets into good hands of writers and animators, and hey, maybe they won't slice and dice up this series like they did with the 2003/4. I wonder who they might chose for voice actors? Maybe Freddie Highmore who voiced Atom in the 2009 movie English dub. I really hope that gets into great hands and they make something really good out of this. Who knows?

[Earthshine]

This sounds like Sesame Street to be honest. Curious to hear more information.

[Prettywitchiusaka]

This sounds like Sesame Street to be honest. Curious to hear more information.

If I may ask, how does this sound like Sesame Street?

[Earthshine]

There are many of versions of Sesame Street worldwide. Most people are not aware of this however. In America people are familiar with Big Bird and the Cookie Monster but in China the people are familiar with a slew of different puppets (such as a dragon and a panda if I remember correctly). In South Africa they have a girl puppet who is HIV positive. Every show is Sesame Street but each one is drastically different because the nations that produce them cater them to match the culture in which they are broadcasted.

So if Astro Boy is produced independently by many different animation studios all across the world but still with the title "Astro Boy" you will probably see many differences but a similar commonality which is "Astro Boy". Just like Sesame Street.

[Little Brown Fox]

That is strangely awesome.

[AprilSeven]

I agree - Astro has had so many origin stories - he might as well BE localized (the anime started this way, actually, with the American dub being set in NYC).

Astro for EVERYONE!! But I never knew that about Sesame Street. Very interesting!

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

I agree - Astro has had so many origin stories - he might as well BE localized (the anime started this way, actually, with the American dub being set in NYC).

Astro for EVERYONE!! But I never knew that about Sesame Street. Very interesting!

I don't remember Ladd's dub actually stating that it was set in NYC. It was a conclusion easily reached (especially if you happened to LIVE in NYC) since Tezuka's vision of a future city was drawn in such a way that looked location agnostic. NBC studios carefully removed anything written in kanji, and most of the signage in the original actually IS in English (or "romanji" anyway).
In very few of the 193 episodes were there any backdrops that were from Japan, the only one I can recall was in the final opening sequence showing Astro flying through Mt. Fuji, and the bullet train going by.

BTW The supersonic transport that appeared in that sequence was amazing, Tezuka anticipated the carnard wings that wouldn't be developed in such aircraft for another twenty years at least! Did he ever study aeronautical engineering?

[the 鉄腕アトム fan]

I agree with everyone here

Astro for EVERYONE!!

It'll be funny if they do something like that

[Prettywitchiusaka]

There are many of versions of Sesame Street worldwide. Most people are not aware of this however. In America people are familiar with Big Bird and the Cookie Monster but in China the people are familiar with a slew of different puppets (such as a dragon and a panda if I remember correctly). In South Africa they have a girl puppet who is HIV positive. Every show is Sesame Street but each one is drastically different because the nations that produce them cater them to match the culture in which they are broadcasted.

So if Astro Boy is produced independently by many different animation studios all across the world but still with the title "Astro Boy" you will probably see many differences but a similar commonality which is "Astro Boy". Just like Sesame Street.

Actually, now that you mention it, I DO remember hearing about a Sesame Street puppet who was HIV positive a few years back, but nothing major.

Either way, that's kind of interesting.