AstroBoy Online Forums

How America Changed Astro Boy in the 2003 Series

It sounds like the Japanese wanted to make an authentic Astro boy series, but caved into pressure due to wanting it to air in America. (Even sadder, the show didn't even do well in the country they changed it to appease).

Admittedly, there are some episodes where I can see them trying for a more depressing storyline, but at the last minute turn it happy. But I think this meddling may be a large reason I have trouble getting into the 2003 series as much as 1980s (I'm about half way through 2003's).

What is it about America taking Japanese shows and destroying them (The Speed Racer Movie, The Dragomball movie, ect)? (And I say this as American.)

Though, after listening to an interview, it does seem to be less his fault than I thought http://www.awopodcast.com/2006/10/anime-world-order-show-37-interview.html

Amen!!!

And when they said " but we're doing ASTRO BOY! It's just depressing!"
All I could think is, "thank you! It's amazing heart felt stuff here!!!"

Seems like I was shooting the messanger, in the interview, he demostrated a greater understanding of Astro than that clip, but was hired to say what wouldn't fly in America. Interesting tidbit, one of the first questions they asked him was "Would it be ok for Astro to lose" to which he replied "In the middle of an episode it would be ok, but at the end of a stand alone episode it would be a hard sell"

Well, having listened to this interview, here's my response;

Yes Mr. Marc Handler, I believe you. I have never worked in network television, but as a writer and a fan, I understand your own frustration with the system. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been, being a fan of a product, and then having to rework the ideas of the writers due to standards of your own broadcasting. I still think the product you turned out is great, but I do agree that the major changes that were made were not necessary.

Okay, out of context, I'm actually glad he didn't go the standard way of "all network executives are evil" route either. Yeah, I really don't care for standards and practices on tv either, but that doesn't mean that all executives in tv are evil, nor incompetent. I think many are incompetent, but that's just the thing; most of them are just doing their job, just like he was hired to do.