Astro images, background free!

[Strange Wings]

These are images of Astro separated from the original pic's background. It's quite tricky to do the separation properly, but it's a good way to visually emphasize Astro's strong appearance. Astro Boy is still a driving force in my life, and he probably ever will be, so it's time to dedicate another image-laden topic to him.

Taken from the 80's episode "Atlas Forever":

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

What software did you use to separate the foreground from the background? I've used the GIMP for this, and it works well when there is a good deal of contrast separating the images. Even so, there is usually a lot of cleanup required at the pixel level along the cut points.

I'm not sure which version of Astro I like the best. The 1980 anime had him with the smallest head to height ratio of about 1 to 3 giving him that "cute widdle astro boy" look. In the 1963 anime he was mostly drawn at a 1 to 3.8 ratio, and the 2003 version was close to that as well. However there were other modifications made to his appearance in 2003 that I think gave him the most endearing look of all.

Certainly his appearance in the 1963 Anime is the closest to the manga (though some of the last manga released in the 1980's, IE: darkhorse #23, reflected the 1980 series). In the 1980 series he is always drawn with four fingers and a thumb, in the 1963 anime it's mostly with 3 fingers, though you can catch frames drawn with 4, and even some with "mitten" hands. Tezuka more often used the mitten style for bare feet though.

[Strange Wings]

What software did you use to separate the foreground from the background? I've used the GIMP for this, and it works well when there is a good deal of contrast separating the images. Even so, there is usually a lot of cleanup required at the pixel level along the cut points.

I use the XP-version of WindowsPaint because I'm a lot more comfortable working along the outlines. Windows7-WP doesn't do it for me. I probably should use GIMP too, but as you said, you can't really avoid cleaning up some parts.
There was hardly any contrast in the images above, as they originally show Astro floating in space, so I first had to light the images up via gamma correction and set it back to normal when the cutting was finished.

For the transparent background I use a little free GIF-software called Animake.

I'm not sure which version of Astro I like the best. The 1980 anime had him with the smallest head to height ratio of about 1 to 3 giving him that "cute widdle astro boy" look. In the 1963 anime he was mostly drawn at a 1 to 3.8 ratio, and the 2003 version was close to that as well. However there were other modifications made to his appearance in 2003 that I think gave him the most endearing look of all.

Each Astro version is fine with me, maybe apart from certain drawing styles used in some 80's episodes, particularly in 'The Hijacked Airship' or 'The Snow Leopard'. Astro just needs the proper amount of cuteness, otherwise there's something missing. )

Certainly his appearance in the 1963 Anime is the closest to the manga (though some of the last manga released in the 1980's, IE: darkhorse #23, reflected the 1980 series). In the 1980 series he is always drawn with four fingers and a thumb, in the 1963 anime it's mostly with 3 fingers, though you can catch frames drawn with 4, and even some with "mitten" hands. Tezuka more often used the mitten style for bare feet though.

When I first read 'Let's Draw Astro Boy' by Junji Kobayashi it was really interesting to learn about Astro's slight changes of appearance through the years. I also remember reading somewhere in the Dark Horse mangas that Mr. Tezuka himself sometimes wasn't aware whether he drew Astro's hands with 4 or just 3 fingers.


I've done a few more (from the same episode):

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

I use the XP-version of WindowsPaint because I'm a lot more comfortable working along the outlines. Windows7-WP doesn't do it for me. I probably should use GIMP too, but as you said, you can't really avoid cleaning up some parts.
There was hardly any contrast in the images above, as they originally show Astro floating in space, so I first had to light the images up via gamma correction and set it back to normal when the cutting was finished.

For the transparent background I use a little free GIF-software called Animake.

Once you have Astro's image saved as a separate file it's easy to use the Gimp to create the floating background. Simply open a new image, delete the current layer, create a new layer (which by default will be transparent), then paste Astro's image onto the layer. By creating multiple transparent layers you can create a motion GIF as well, pasting one frame of each part of the image at a time.

When I first read 'Let's Draw Astro Boy' by Junji Kobayashi it was really interesting to learn about Astro's slight changes of appearance through the years. I also remember reading somewhere in the Dark Horse mangas that Mr. Tezuka himself sometimes wasn't aware whether he drew Astro's hands with 4 or just 3 fingers.

I have a copy of that book, it's a great resource. I'm no artist, but I've tried to draw Astro and so far I can only manage a simple front view. (look on my deviant art pages). I tried to imagine a side view prospective with him being held around his neck from behind by the twin claws of the 'Master Cylinder' and using his butt guns to blast his way free. So far I can't get the image properly to paper, though there are some examples in that book to start from. (See my fan fiction posting on this forum for my 'futurama' cross over story for the setting. 'Master Cylinder' is actually a character from the 1959 'Felix the Cat' cartoon!)

[Dragonrider1227]

These are excellent! Thanks for sharing

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

This one still needs a little work ....

[Strange Wings]

^^ But I like it, you've done a good job! Thanks for contributing!

Once you have Astro's image saved as a separate file it's easy to use the Gimp to create the floating background. Simply open a new image, delete the current layer, create a new layer (which by default will be transparent), then paste Astro's image onto the layer. By creating multiple transparent layers you can create a motion GIF as well, pasting one frame of each part of the image at a time.

Seems to be a smooth way of doing these, I should give it a try myself.

I have a copy of that book, it's a great resource. I'm no artist, but I've tried to draw Astro and so far I can only manage a simple front view. (look on my deviant art pages). I tried to imagine a side view prospective with him being held around his neck from behind by the twin claws of the 'Master Cylinder' and using his butt guns to blast his way free. So far I can't get the image properly to paper, though there are some examples in that book to start from. (See my fan fiction posting on this forum for my 'futurama' cross over story for the setting. 'Master Cylinder' is actually a character from the 1959 'Felix the Cat' cartoon!)

I just checked your deviant art pages, I think your Astro drawings are fabulous! Great work!
I'm just able to draw Astro from one side perspective, and he still doesn't appear the way I'd like him to. Maybe it's because I lack time for practising to draw him properly. Or I probably get discouraged too fast when I see other artists' great attempts!


Some others:

[fafner]

It reminds me of the guy who rides a bomb, except that here Astro is the one giving the ride

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Actually here is Astro riding a bomb!

[Strange Wings]

^^ Lol! What episode was that taken from? That can't be from the last episode, you know, where he rides the 'final' bomb. His expression looks too cheery for that!