What bothers me about the way Astro is drawn in 2003 anime

[AprilSeven]

I've really enjoyed your comments on this!

One thing I must commend the artists of the 03 series - they set a distinctive style and carried it throughout everything. To me it seems very "retro-futuristic" - very "art=deco" and the colors are very dreamlike.

I actually like that Astro doesn't show "joint lines" in this series (it always puzzled me that he had no "joints" on his FACE!!)

But yeah, humans don't constantly hold their eyes fully open, so it seems Astro would have been programmed to mimic our facial expressions in that way. But he's still a cute little guy, no matter which series (and my favorite hero!)

[Astro Forever]

I could talk badly about '03 Astro but it would just be in reference to some episodes/scenes. Truth is, the design of the characters in that show changes a bazillion times. It may have very expensive and fluid animation, but it might very well be the anime with the least consistent character designs I have ever seen, and that's a shame.

Even more than the 1980 Astro? When he is well drawn in that series, I agree he is at his best, but when it's not, he's at his worst, in my opinion.

[Strange Wings]

One thing I must commend the artists of the 03 series - they set a distinctive style and carried it throughout everything. To me it seems very "retro-futuristic" - very "art=deco" and the colors are very dreamlike.

Yeah, in fact the designers of the '03 series were aiming for a "Retro-Future" vibe for the series' environment.
They even used Fritz Lang's silent movie 'Metropolis' as pattern for various buildings.
Imagine the Ministry Of Science with this kind of architecture being placed in the middle of NY!

[QUOTE=F-Man;163543]I could talk badly about '03 Astro but it would just be in reference to some episodes/scenes. Truth is, the design of the characters in that show changes a bazillion times. It may have very expensive and fluid animation, but it might very well be the anime with the least consistent character designs I have ever seen, and that's a shame.

Even more than the 1980 Astro? When he is well drawn in that series, I agree he is at his best, but when it's not, he's at his worst, in my opinion. [/QUOTE]
I couldn't agree more. Particularly 'The Snow Leopard features the worst examples of a mediocre drawn Astro:


His upper torso doesn't seem right at all here.


Same here. He's like having no neck at all! :d oh:


His eyes are totally misplaced here.


Here as well.


Same.


Ouch!! That one even hurts to look at!


Eyes misplaced again. And his head is way too big in relation to the body.


Dr. Elefun's weird squint gives me the creeps each time I see it!

That's got to be the worst 80's episode, drawing-wise. A close follower might be 'The Hijacked Airship', showing Astro about in the same style of appearance.
But enough of rant here. I too definitely put my preference for the 80's series over the '03 one.

[Astro Forever]

Also, Astro has some shadow on his nose. The person who drew him is the only one to ever do that.

[Androids101]

I dunno, he kinds looks there...erm, not too bad?

I never really stopped to think wether all the episodes were drawn by the same person. The drawing style was the same all the way through.

As for the '03 series, I believe that the episode 'Undercover' was drawn the worst. I don't know why I think this (plus when I looks closely it doesn't happen), and I know someone on YouTube posted the same thing on the very same episode (WingedMushroomOfDoom's upload), but it almost seems as if the people there have gotten a bit lazy with the drawing and stuff. Or maybe its just me. Anyway, all the other episodes were drawn really well and didn't have any problems.

[Gotta Love ASTRO BOY]

On the 2003 series I noticed 3 different art styles. There is one where Astro looks round and weird (

Astro surprised.gif (21.34 KiB) Viewed 1876 times

) (Like in the episodes Space Academy, Undercover, and Lost in the outland) Then there is one where he looks really stretched out (Deep city) Then there is one where he looks as he is suppost to be

Oh wait I just found another one

astrolooking.jpg (23.53 KiB) Viewed 1902 times

[teugene50]

very nice!!

[Alittleacorn]

On the 2003 series I noticed 3 different art styles. There is one where Astro looks round and weird ([attachment=]719[/attachment]) (Like in the episodes Space Academy, Undercover, and Lost in the outland) Then there is one where he looks really stretched out (Deep city) Then there is one where he looks as he is suppost to be

Oh wait I just found another one
[attachment=]721[/attachment]

There are different art styles depending on those's drawing. You can notice this for some anime episodes where one team might work on one scene or one on the other.

You can notice that for that episode where he meets er...older Nikki? (I forgot her name) where he has this over the cute look. In some other episodes he'll look like the lines are less define on him and less of the cute factor, whilst in some of the key episodes Astro will just like his iconic 2003 self.

But still... they resemble bubble people with those ears. I honestly would've prefered a more detailed design on the characters.

[Unhurdof]

Heh...this is probably one of my favorite threads here so far...didn't know for sure if anyone else noticed these types of details or really cared much.

There's not much for me to say that hasn't already been said. I don't really think I came across anything that I actually disagree with per se, but I'll try to add my 2¢...

I think I was more of a fan of the 80's version of Astro, because that was what I saw first, so I identified with it. As time goes on, I appreciate the other versions too, I just don't like the distracting drawings that take my focus from the story.

I agree his fully opened eyes in the 03' series are distracting at times. As for his eyelashes, I don't know what to make of it . According to "Let's Draw Manga Astro Boy", in some of his other older designs, there were 9 eyelashes instead of only 5. As for the 5 lashes you see when his eyes are opened vs the one broad eyelash when his eyes are closed, I don't really have a preference, but I think it would have been less distracting to pick one or the other.

I'm trying to keep in mind as I discover more Astro Boy media that when the 80's version was produced, standards in animation and illustration for production were still being developed. I'm also trying to keep in mind that working on an Astro Boy project must be challenging because the character is so iconic, and dynamic. I'm starting to judge Astro Boy less than I would any other anime character or series. It's probably because of Astro Boy, the manga, and all of the anime shows, that the other shows I know and love look as great as they do.

It would be interesting to see what new stories and art looked like in an all new Astro Boy series.

[Astroboy599]

I agree with strange wings