Though its popularity in Western cultures has waned over the past couple decades, Astro Boy is a cultural icon in Japan. Based on a story by Osamu Tezuka (a.k.a the god of manga), the animated series -- arguably the first "popular" anime TV series -- told the story of Astro, a powerful robot boy created by the head of the Ministry of Science to replace the son he lost in a tragic car accident. Each episode involved Astro using his robot powers to save the day.
The original show aired in black and white, and when American network execs brought it stateside, it became the first anime to be broadcast outside Japan. A 2003 remake of the TV series didn't make waves in the U.S., but the original 1963 series is still considered to be one of the most important forces in comics, animation, and even videogames. The uber-popular Mega Man/Rockman franchise was heavily influenced by Astro Boy's story and character designs.
In 2009, Imagi studios will release a new, "Americanized," CGI incarnation of Astro Boy in a feature film. Fans everywhere are praying that it will do justice to the original, and introduce the beloved franchise to a new generation.
Nebs66 extraxted all anime titles from the list in his blog:
95. FullMetal Alchemist
90. Afro Samurai
86. Astro Boy
78. DragonBall Z
76. Voltron: Defenders of the Universe
73. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing 70. Pokemon
51. Death Note 44. Battle of the Planets
38. Naruto 34. Robotech 29. Speed Racer (1967)
23. Transformers
14. Cowboy Bebop
10. Neon Genesis Evangelion
Source: http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-s
The 2003 Astro Boy series got a poor reception here in the US for a few main reasons:
ReplyDelete1. Dubbing- it was just flat out horrible. It took itself too seriously, which often made for disaster when they tried to add humor into the mix.
2. Inconsistancy- The episodes in the 2003 series were not even in the proper order when the show was produced in English.
3. Marketing- it was just as horrible as the dubbing. Sony tried to market it off as a boy's action show, but it really is much more than just that. It also has a layer of substance and emotion that separated it from other shows. Also, did you notice that ads for the show had Astro always frowning? I counld't stand it!
What I've seen so far from you guys looks to be fantastic. A more westernized approach to the series that actually works. Astro seems to maintain his more youthful energy in the pictures that I've seen. I still have yet to see how the voicing is, but it won't take much to beat out the 2003 dub.
I can't believe they wouldn't include Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex on that list. It's so much better than some of the other anime choices they did include.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note. I'm so glad they included Star Trek: The Animated Series. Classic show. :]