Astro Boy Reboot (Future animated series)

[Little Brown Fox]

Some things make sense in context; but since we are already aware of the likely contexts, and it still doesn't ring a bell, idk.

[Umbral-Coltwings]

It's a little weird how they're introducing Astro's new friends, because he's always had the same ones except for the movie.

Anyway, now I have (slightly) different feelings about the release date. It's all hand drawn, like The Tale of Princess Kaguya, and it took them EIGHT YEARS to do the whole thing. But they (Studio Ghibli) only gave away very small details, and then they really announced it a year before its release.

I'm still mad, because they've had all this time to let us know more stuff and are just waiting or something. The hype is kind of running out, and we're mostly complaining now. \:^

[Little Brown Fox]

Well, I imagine that it is to some degree digital, as well. For instance, while the animation is frame by frame, for the most part, they likely used a computer program like TV Paint or whatever they're using to animate it. Plus, the frame-by-frame animation seems restricted to Astro himself; parts of the environment in the trailer appeared to be ordinarily static elements manipulated in a manner not unlike I think certain versions of Photoshop (though I can't be certain) are capable of; like, parts of a PSD were tweaked around a bit to give the illusion of life. I mostly noticed this in the grass around the platform he stood on. Then there was that tram; and also, the way the whole trailer was put together. I actually might recall somewhere that the plan was for a mix of 2D/3D elements, and that's at least some of the impression I got from that trailer, alone. That said, I have no idea how long it'll take to produce; one would have to take a cue from modern animation, particularly anything similar to this that's out now. (Not that I know of anything like that out now; but I believe I remember seeing things like this in the past... it's not uncommon, really; it's been a thing since the early 2000's at least- judging from the first few episodes of Invader Zim- it's not really impossible that it's been around even longer. They've just probably gotten better at it.)

That said, I suppose it does somewhat depend on the priorities of the groups involved. I just hope that this is important enough that we hear from it again sometime before the end of the year. Maybe they're going for a surprise tactic, a la Nintendo with the newest Zelda game, and Skyward Sword for a long time before that? Although, that suggests that we won't learn much of anything until it gets closer to release; and since we don't know for sure when that will be... It could also depend upon outside interest in the product; and I don't mean the fans- they still need a network to air on, I believe, unless they've already sorted that out. And I'm not completely sure it'll even air in the United States- I think that was the plan, wasn't it? But it's not a guarantee.

[Umbral-Coltwings]

It's all hand drawn

Well, I imagine that it is to some degree digital, as well..

Oh geez I forgot! Too late to fix it now. It would take a whole section out of there.

And yes, I hope that the reboot is important enough for them... I know they do have other things that they're working on, and it's hard to multitask with stuff like writing the story and completing the animation, but... It wouldn't hurt them to say more.

And if they are going with the surprise thing, then it would be quite a while, and I (and other people, surely) might get more edgy about it. irate:

[Little Brown Fox]

Yeah, I know I tend to get kinda snippy when I'm kept waiting for a thing (i.e., when the trailer was first announced for September last year (I believe, anyway), then rescheduled to around October/November (again, I cannot remember very well), before finally being rescheduled to March of this year- which, while a date had not initially been given, it eventually made :T ).

I really hope it isn't just a tease (I had another phrase that better describes what I mean, but I can't say that here) again, like back in May, I think, with a like, a couple seconds at most of a flashing yet otherwise static image of Atlas (and absolutely no exposition whatsoever).

[Meeshell]

I don't know if I like their art style and direction, to be honest. Even after the 2003 series, I like the look of the characters from the 1980 series the most, but I obviously notice when the art wasn't drawn as well as it could have.

[Little Brown Fox]

I like the 2003 series the best as far as animation and looks go. It hearkens back to the series' roots, while being modernized. It does this to great effect- at least up until the second season, maybe. And maybe parts of the first season... But you can't always have what you want, especially with multiple people involved in its creation. Different strokes for different folks, yeah?

As for myself... I'm not sure I liked the style at first. But I liked the animation, and so now I'm going forward with a bit more optimism. We'll have to wait and see more, in order to make a more informed decision. So far, the first impression is pretty decent (though the soundtrack- and maybe even the references to the original animated series dotted throughout- probably helped in that department a lot).

I'd like to see more, honestly... but, they sure have been quiet about it since this past May...

[Shiyonasan]

Just got further clarification on a previous bit of info:

According to this article, negotiations are being made to broadcast Astro Boy Reboot on television stations in France and the United States first. Here's the specific sentence and its Google Translation:

動画配信サイトYouTubeでは、デモ映像も公開されており、まずフランスや米国のテレビ局で放送すべく交渉を進めている。

In the video distribution site YouTube, demo video has also been published, you are negotiating in order to first broadcast in France and the United States of television stations.

Back in October 2014, Shibuya Productions stated that Astro Boy Reboot will be released in French and English first, followed by Japanese and other languages depending on broadcasters in other countries, according to a reply in this Facebook post.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Any time frame mentioned?

[Shiyonasan]

Any time frame mentioned?

Not in this article.