IT'S GO TIME.

Remember when this image was pretty much all we had to go on?

Well, now that time is over! For those of us in North America, and select other places around the world, the countdown is complete. No more waiting, no more speculation. The time to watch the Astro Boy movie is here! Looking back at this early poster is almost nostalgic, even though it wasn't that long ago in the grand scheme of things. Clearly, we've come a long way!

It's been a ride, with a few shaky bumps and detours along the way, but we are here. I want to take this moment before I go see the film to thank everyone who has stuck with this blog all the way. I wish we could all go see it together.

I have not linked to any reviews of the film, nor shall I. But, if you've read them, or even just took a glance, you have probably noticed a number of reviews that haven't been been too kind to our favorite little robot. I'll address that at some point after I review the film myself, as well as give all of you the chance to post your own reviews, but for now I have this to say. it's pretty clear that these people don't know the character, don't know the story, and are forming judgments simply based on their preconceived and ultimately incorrect notions of what animation is supposed to be. The exact same thing happened with TMNT, and as we should all know by now, that movie was great.

So, with that in mind, I just want to give my take on things, and let out one last rallying call.

Forget about what everyone else says. Forget about the critics and the politics. Forget about box office and business numbers and the rest of that corporate nonsense.

Let's all just go see this movie, enjoy it, and spread the word as best as we can. Let's do this to support the character who has meant so much to so many people around the world for half of a century. Let's do this for the character who has build entire industries upon his back. Let's do this for the character who has more to tell us about ourselves and our future than anyone could have ever predicted at the time of his creation. Let's do this for the sake of the entire animated medium, which so desperately needs more quality, diverse movies that exist outside of the Disney/Dreamworks machine.

But of course, I'm preaching to the choir here. So, let's do this for the people who don't know how important this moment is. Let's do this for those who just don't get it, because we know something they don't. Let's do this so that we will be the ones who decide how history will look back upon this film. Most importantly, let's do this for the next generation of fans, so we can share it with them now and for years to come.

Let's do this because we know it would make Dr. Tezuka smile in Heaven.

Astro Boy, the original number one anime superstar, has got a movie now, people! Do you realize how big that is? Let's do this! IT'S GO TIME!

Sayonara.