The character design on Astro Boy is perfect. Everything about his face - eyes, nose and mouth, is exactly how I imagine he would look in CG. I got no complains on the way he looks in the teaser. I notice the design in the teaser is slightly different from an earlier screenshot from last year:
The proportion of the arm and body is different and also the eye lashes has been tone down which I'm fine with. I was worry that having too much eye lashes will make Astro look like a girl so good job on Imagi for not doing that. How many different version of the CG models of Astro before you came up with this final design, Felix? I remember reading an article that Colin Brady was originally attached to direct but he got replace by David Bowers so I assume there has been some changes during production. How was the transition and how the project evolve to the way it is? There was an early concept art of Astro flying with his arm as a cannon in a David's interview article and the artist took many creative liberty on the original design by Osamu Tezuka. I'm glad the final look of Astro is quite faithful to the manga/anime. If there is an action figure of this Astro, I would buy it.
The animation where Astro was flying in the clouds was very cool. I was disappointed that the amount of footage is too short. I wanted to see more. There was only 19 sec of actual footage. Then again, its a teaser so I can understand why its short. I assume you guys at Imagi is still in production. There is almost a full year till it hits the theaters. I rather have you guys take good care of the animation to ensure quality than to rush out and complete the work in haste so I don't mind waiting if thats what is going to take for that to happen.
In the teaser, Dr Elefun is present with Dr. Tenma when Astro Boy was built. In the 80's series, Dr. Elefun first encounter Astro at the circus. This is not a criticisms but an observation. I got no comment on the story or voice acting since its not reveal yet.
One more question: Now that Imagi has license the rights of Astro Boy to the publishing house, Penguins, I was wondering if you guys will produce an artbook on Astro Boy in the future? It was a shame that TMNT didn't have one. I'm very interested to read what goes on behind the scenes at Imagi and also look at some concept art, storyboard, CG rendering etc.
Anyhow, I talk long enough. Thanks and please do keep us posted for the latest updates.
Many thanks go out to David Bowers and everyone Imagi for making this teaser trailer an homage to the 60's animation. When I saw Astro digging through the ground and bursting out of the mountain, just like in the 60's anime, I freaked out. It was so cool, and a perfect sign that you guys know what you're doing with this franchise. So thank you all very much for that moment.
I know that typically the music for a movie is usually one of the last things that's worked on, so I don't know if the music in the trailer is just temporary or something actually from the soundtrack. I do know that it sounded great and that is definitely the direction I'd like for the final music to go! Of course I want to hear the classic anime theme song at some point too (in Japanese!)
I'm wondering, does Astro have hair? It looks like he does. I'm not so thrilled with that change, because it was implied by technical drawings by Teezuka that each point of his hair had some robotic part, and that's why his "hair" is in that style. It's not a big deal, but still, it's odd to see Astro with realistic actual hair instead of a shiny smooth area.
I second the vote for an artbook! TMNT really should have gotten one, so I hope Astro doesn't miss out.
Looking forward to seeing more. Keep up the great work!
What happened to the original poster designs?...The new version is quite lacking in strong design. Ive been an animator/modeller/artist doing 3d for the past 10 years working in film/tv and games, so understand the whole process you all go thru! Unfortunately, with the new design, Astro just doesnt hold up as much as TMNT did or with your previous poster designs. I don't mean to offend, just curious to know what happened along the way with Astro's evolution in design?
hi AL, glad to hear you ove the new design of Astro.Actually the design is very different form teaser version, especially the body shape. There are lots of details are different, the biggest one is the treatment of nose and eyes. There are tons of versions in development. for the teaser one, i tried to keep it looks younger, at the beginning of movie version, we made him older, taller more like teenage boy. And we make it younger and more cute again...
Hottoys will make a hi-end action figure for Astro, you have to buy one! :P
for the teaser trailer, those hots actually is not that finished, just around 75% finishing, rushed for teaser...
for the "art of Astroboy" book, i really really want to make one, we couldn't make one for TMNT due to copyright problems. Marketin is still figuring out the way to do that. I want one! there are tons of unused but cool design.
--------------------------------- Hi Ninjatron,
thanks you for your great support on astroboy and imagi. thanksss thankssss thankssssss
yeah, the music for teaser is very TEMP thats good idea to go for classic anime theme music or song.
You guys are doing an excellent job! I know the animation in the teaser isn't completely finished, yet I think it looks excellent (especially the part of Astro flying through the clouds). Can't wait to see the next trailor!
I posted the comment about Astro's evolution in the design process. I was referring to the poster version "I want you for Imagi"
Design elements such as the hair seemed stronger...the picture gave a more robotic feel. The trailer version looks like a human cartoon boy with rocket feet.
Also, in the trailer, the scientist with the large nose, is that suppoe to be Dr Elefun?
Guess, my main disapointment is the movie doesnt seem to reference the original 80's version(in design again) too well. It was a series that i grew up on, so i guess you could call me a purist(and yes im aware the poster version i was referring to is different from the 80's as well, it just seemed to me, a stronger design over the teaser version). Again, i mean no offence, just curious is all...
Also on a positive note, as an animator myself, i know you guys will pump out some lovely stuff there..so good luck with it all!
I posted the comment about Astro's evolution in the design process. I was referring to the poster version "I want you for Imagi"
Design elements such as the hair seemed stronger...the picture gave a more robotic feel. The trailer version looks like a human cartoon boy with rocket feet.
Also, in the trailer, the scientist with the large nose, is that suppoe to be Dr Elefun?
Guess, my main disapointment is the movie doesnt seem to reference the original 80's version(in design again) too well. It was a series that i grew up on, so i guess you could call me a purist(and yes im aware the poster version i was referring to is different from the 80's as well, it just seemed to me, a stronger design over the teaser version). Again, i mean no offence, just curious is all...
Also on a positive note, as an animator myself, i know you guys will pump out some lovely stuff there..so good luck with it all!
Given Imagi's history with tv animation. I would like to know how much a CGI TV series produced by Imagi would cost, the Clone Wars tv series runs at a million dollars per episode.
The character design on Astro Boy is perfect. Everything about his face - eyes, nose and mouth, is exactly how I imagine he would look in CG. I got no complains on the way he looks in the teaser. I notice the design in the teaser is slightly different from an earlier screenshot from last year:
ReplyDeletehttp://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7529/astroboycgiln6.jpg
The proportion of the arm and body is different and also the eye lashes has been tone down which I'm fine with. I was worry that having too much eye lashes will make Astro look like a girl so good job on Imagi for not doing that. How many different version of the CG models of Astro before you came up with this final design, Felix? I remember reading an article that Colin Brady was originally attached to direct but he got replace by David Bowers so I assume there has been some changes during production. How was the transition and how the project evolve to the way it is? There was an early concept art of Astro flying with his arm as a cannon in a David's interview article and the artist took many creative liberty on the original design by Osamu Tezuka. I'm glad the final look of Astro is quite faithful to the manga/anime. If there is an action figure of this Astro, I would buy it.
The animation where Astro was flying in the clouds was very cool. I was disappointed that the amount of footage is too short. I wanted to see more. There was only 19 sec of actual footage. Then again, its a teaser so I can understand why its short. I assume you guys at Imagi is still in production. There is almost a full year till it hits the theaters. I rather have you guys take good care of the animation to ensure quality than to rush out and complete the work in haste so I don't mind waiting if thats what is going to take for that to happen.
In the teaser, Dr Elefun is present with Dr. Tenma when Astro Boy was built. In the 80's series, Dr. Elefun first encounter Astro at the circus. This is not a criticisms but an observation. I got no comment on the story or voice acting since its not reveal yet.
One more question: Now that Imagi has license the rights of Astro Boy to the publishing house, Penguins, I was wondering if you guys will produce an artbook on Astro Boy in the future? It was a shame that TMNT didn't have one. I'm very interested to read what goes on behind the scenes at Imagi and also look at some concept art, storyboard, CG rendering etc.
Anyhow, I talk long enough. Thanks and please do keep us posted for the latest updates.
The internet sure is powerful. I saw it being posted as early as Thursday afternoon!
ReplyDeleteI like Astro's new outfit! What exactly is it? A uniform?
You probably already know what I think!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks go out to David Bowers and everyone Imagi for making this teaser trailer an homage to the 60's animation. When I saw Astro digging through the ground and bursting out of the mountain, just like in the 60's anime, I freaked out. It was so cool, and a perfect sign that you guys know what you're doing with this franchise. So thank you all very much for that moment.
I know that typically the music for a movie is usually one of the last things that's worked on, so I don't know if the music in the trailer is just temporary or something actually from the soundtrack. I do know that it sounded great and that is definitely the direction I'd like for the final music to go! Of course I want to hear the classic anime theme song at some point too (in Japanese!)
I'm wondering, does Astro have hair? It looks like he does. I'm not so thrilled with that change, because it was implied by technical drawings by Teezuka that each point of his hair had some robotic part, and that's why his "hair" is in that style. It's not a big deal, but still, it's odd to see Astro with realistic actual hair instead of a shiny smooth area.
I second the vote for an artbook! TMNT really should have gotten one, so I hope Astro doesn't miss out.
Looking forward to seeing more. Keep up the great work!
Sayonara.
What happened to the original poster designs?...The new version is quite lacking in strong design. Ive been an animator/modeller/artist doing 3d for the past 10 years working in film/tv and games, so understand the whole process you all go thru! Unfortunately, with the new design, Astro just doesnt hold up as much as TMNT did or with your previous poster designs. I don't mean to offend, just curious to know what happened along the way with Astro's evolution in design?
ReplyDeletecheers
hi AL,
ReplyDeleteglad to hear you ove the new design of Astro.Actually the design is very different form teaser version, especially the body shape. There are lots of details are different, the biggest one is the treatment of nose and eyes. There are tons of versions in development. for the teaser one, i tried to keep it looks younger, at the beginning of movie version, we made him older, taller more like teenage boy. And we make it younger and more cute again...
Hottoys will make a hi-end action figure for Astro, you have to buy one! :P
for the teaser trailer, those hots actually is not that finished, just around 75% finishing, rushed for teaser...
for the "art of Astroboy" book, i really really want to make one, we couldn't make one for TMNT due to copyright problems. Marketin is still figuring out the way to do that. I want one! there are tons of unused but cool design.
---------------------------------
Hi Ninjatron,
thanks you for your great support on astroboy and imagi. thanksss thankssss thankssssss
yeah, the music for teaser is very TEMP thats good idea to go for classic anime theme music or song.
---------------------------------
for new poster which version do you mean?
You guys are doing an excellent job! I know the animation in the teaser isn't completely finished, yet I think it looks excellent (especially the part of Astro flying through the clouds). Can't wait to see the next trailor!
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI posted the comment about Astro's evolution in the design process. I was referring to the poster version "I want you for Imagi"
Design elements such as the hair seemed stronger...the picture gave a more robotic feel. The trailer version looks like a human cartoon boy with rocket feet.
Also, in the trailer, the scientist with the large nose, is that suppoe to be Dr Elefun?
Guess, my main disapointment is the movie doesnt seem to reference the original 80's version(in design again) too well. It was a series that i grew up on, so i guess you could call me a purist(and yes im aware the poster version i was referring to is different from the 80's as well, it just seemed to me, a stronger design over the teaser version). Again, i mean no offence, just curious is all...
Also on a positive note, as an animator myself, i know you guys will pump out some lovely stuff there..so good luck with it all!
Hi
ReplyDeleteI posted the comment about Astro's evolution in the design process. I was referring to the poster version "I want you for Imagi"
Design elements such as the hair seemed stronger...the picture gave a more robotic feel. The trailer version looks like a human cartoon boy with rocket feet.
Also, in the trailer, the scientist with the large nose, is that suppoe to be Dr Elefun?
Guess, my main disapointment is the movie doesnt seem to reference the original 80's version(in design again) too well. It was a series that i grew up on, so i guess you could call me a purist(and yes im aware the poster version i was referring to is different from the 80's as well, it just seemed to me, a stronger design over the teaser version). Again, i mean no offence, just curious is all...
Also on a positive note, as an animator myself, i know you guys will pump out some lovely stuff there..so good luck with it all!
Hi Felix,
ReplyDeleteGiven Imagi's history with tv animation. I would like to know how much a CGI TV series produced by Imagi would cost, the Clone Wars tv series runs at a million dollars per episode.