125, Find the Bacteria

[AprilSeven]

These are not storyboards, I believe there are some in the extras for certain discs, though. I would not attribute fluidity to these, why do you think so, AprilSeven?

The "unfinished, rough," hand-drawn frames appear to be storyboard sketches - were they interspersed with the actual animation?

What I meant by "fluidity" was the grace with which they were drawn. If you look a them, many are drawn with a single, elegant stroke (not lots of little, sketchy lines). It is EXTREMELY difficult to do this kind of freehand cartooning.

Look at the expressions drawn on the characters faces in these "roughs" - you see exactly what he wants on the "finish." I'm guess that's Dr. Tezuka's handiwork, and in many ways, it's even more rewarding to see than the polished, finished cartoon. Thanks so much for sharing these!!

[jeffbert]

Yes, they were interspersed with the actual animation, though there was really next to no animation, other than what I described. I guess the film was so badly damaged that only a few scattered frames could be recovered.

Though I had done some drawing in years past, I do not know why you say drawn with just 1 stroke.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

I looked back at the Star of Africa. Interesting to see the Voice actors standing next to their characters. So now we see the face of Atom's Japanese voice.

[Little Brown Fox]

Well I'll be! It's a picture of Atom face-palming!

@Jeffbert: I'm not overly familiar with W3; I just know that it stars three aliens-turned-animals (a popular science-fiction trope, it seems; does anyone remember the old animated Men In Black series?): A duck, a rabbit, and a horse. And they get around in some kind of wheel? And Pukko(?) the duck appeared in an 80's episode of Astro Boy.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Well I'll be! It's a picture of Atom face-palming!

@Jeffbert: I'm not overly familiar with W3; I just know that it stars three aliens-turned-animals (a popular science-fiction trope, it seems; does anyone remember the old animated Men In Black series?): A duck, a rabbit, and a horse. And they get around in some kind of wheel? And Pukko(?) the duck appeared in an 80's episode of Astro Boy.

Well almost (hand not over eyes). But doesn't he look a bit rotund in that shot?

[Little Brown Fox]

Well, his tummy's sticking out, but that's just how he's sitting.

[Juanita]

He looks a bit too happy to be face palming XD

[Little Brown Fox]

Well, it's a similar expression; he's somewhat exasperated about something. And while it's only a partial, it's as close to a genuine facepalm as we are ever likely to get from the cutey goody-two-shoes Astro Boy. (wow that just happened)

[Juanita]

Well I don't want to offend him too much so I'll just smile while I face palm.

[Little Brown Fox]

I dunno. It could be one of those "Ah, of course! Why didn't I think of that?" types of expressions.

Or maybe he bumped his head.