Imagi Animation will produce theatrical release based on Osamu Tezuka's classic anime.
(Source: Big Cartoon Database)
Imagi Animation Studios seems to be on a quest to revive long-dormant franchises. It's making CG animated movies based on both Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (due March 30, 2007) and Kagaku ninja tai Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets for North American audiences). Now add the classic Astro Boy to that list.
Imagi has bought the rights to Astro Boy (originally Tetsuwan Atom from Tezuka Productions Company Limited, to develop a theatrical feature film. They plan to release the movie in 2009.
"I grew up with Astro Boy, as did so many of us at Imagi," said Imagi CEO and vice-chairman Francis Kao. "We now have an opportunity to bring our Astro Boy dreams to life by combining the power of high-end CG imagery and Imagi's creative collaboration with Tezuka."
Osamu Tezuka (now considered "the god of manga") first released Tetsuwan Atom as far back as 1952. The manga followed the adventures of a boy-sized robot who tries to find a place for himself in the world. He also fights his enemies using his jet-powered legs and laser guns in his posterior.
From 1963 to 1966, Mushi Productions (a company owned by Tezuka) produced a television series based on the manga. This series was highly influential in developing the distinctive look of Japanese anime.
After Tetsuwan Atom became highly successful abroad, the anime was redesigned in the 1980's, and the name translated to Astro Boy for North American audiences. In 2003, the series was revamped yet again, now called Astro Boy Tetsuwan Atomu. Astro Boy's Japanese popularity rivals that of Disney's Mickey Mouse.
On April 7, 2003 (Astro Boy's birthday), the Japanese city of Niiza gave the character a special citizenship. In 2004, Astro Boy was inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame.
