AstroBoy World has hit quite the milestone. In only a few months, there have been 100 posts.
Within bringing you these 100 posts, I've been able to establish AstroBoy World as a premiere destination for Tezuka news and a great, all in one resource for information on the upcoming animated movie. But more importantly I've been been able to meet some cool people and make new friends.
Thanks to everyone who has been checking out the site. Stay tuned for more, because the best is yet to come. And I'm not just saying that!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
100 Posts!
The Astro Boy Essays
This incredible book, written by Frederik L. Schodt and published by Stone Bridge Press, is absolutely a must read for any fan of Astro Boy and Osamu Tezuka. I have personally found it to be not only an invaluable reference tool but also an entertaining read in and of itself. The Astro Boy Essays is an eye opening look at the depth and importance of Osamu Tezuka's influence through the perspective of his most popular creation.
I could go on and write a thorough review on this book, and I have been meaning to do so, but Animated Views has said pretty much everything there is to say about it. Check out their Book Review of The Astro Boy Essays and if you're interested in purchasing a copy, please consider buying through the AstroBoy World Store to help support this website.
The Reign of Sci Fi Animation
Here's an interesting article about the current state of animated science fiction movies. While the upcoming Astro Boy and Gatchaman movies from Imagi are only given the briefest of mentions, it does set up the scene that those two movies are walking into. Other upcoming films are brought up and serve as examples of the potential variety that the sci-fi genre in the animated medium can offer.
Give it a read on io9.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Art of Japanese Animation Exhibit in Portland
Anime fans in the Portland, Oregon area are going to want to check this out. The MOSHi MOSHi Gallery & Store is currently presenting an exhibition on "The Art of Japanese Animation", featuring original animation cels and backgrounds from anime productions. Astro Boy is a part of the display, along with several other popular and important series.
The exhibition lasts until September 3rd. Don't miss out!
Thanks to MOSHi MOSHi and Mecha Mecha Media.
Pluto Press Release
Pluto is on its way to English speaking manga fans, and here is the official word from Viz Media.
Thanks to PressZoom.com. Look forward to more info on Pluto right here in the future. Continue reading "Pluto Press Release"...
"MONSTER-creator Naoki Urasawa's two new series, 20th Century Boys and PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA, which is based on Osamu Tezuka's classic manga ASTRO BOY, show this master artist at the height of his powers. Those wondering what are the manga equivalents of WATCHMEN and THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS need look no further," said Alvin Lu, Vice President, Publishing, Viz Media. "In Japan, these two series are considered masterpieces of the form, along the lines of Katsuhiro Otomo's AKIRA and Takehiko Inoue's VAGABOND. With our other new releases for 2009, we're extremely excited this season to be presenting some of the absolute best the manga medium has to offer."
...
PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA • Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $12.99 •
February 2009
A darkly-lit science-fiction thriller set in a cybernetic future reminiscent of BLADE RUNNER and I, ROBOT, PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA takes a storyline from Osamu Tezuka's classic manga ASTRO BOY and radically retrofits Tezuka's space-age optimism for a more chaotic age. Somebody is out to kill the world's most powerful robots—including Astro Boy! A cyborg detective must investigate the robot-murders and solve them, before they come after him. Serialized at the same time as NAOKI URASAWA'S 20TH CENTURY BOYS in Japan, PLUTO exhibits Urasawa's narrative skills at the top of their form, taking the thrilling plot twists of MONSTER to a new level. As a radical reimagining of a classic comic character, PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA is to Astro Boy what THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS was to Batman.
Frank Miller Hearts Astro Boy
At this year's San Diego Comic Con, Entertainment Weekly hosted a panel called The Visionaries: Filmmakers. On that panel were Kevin Smith, Judd Apatow, Zach Snyder, and Frank Miller.
When a member of the audience asked Miller what TV shows and movies inspired him and his own work, Miller had this to say:
“It’s a really long list that would include everything from old ‘Gunsmoke’ episodes to ‘Astro-Boy’ to ‘Citizen Kane’ so I can’t name them all.”So there you have it. Frank Miller was inspired by Astro Boy. It really shouldn't come as a big surprise, since Miller has been a proponent for Japanese manga since way before it was ever popular in the West. But still, it's pretty cool that, out of all the things he could have said, he specifically mentioned Astro Boy. You can think about that next time you read 300 or Sin City, I guess.
Thanks to Comic Book Resources.
I would be remiss if I did not include, just for fun, a link to this Shortpacked comic. Continue reading "Frank Miller Hearts Astro Boy"...
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Back in Grey
I have returned from a long vacation. Too long, if you ask me. But when I came back home I had a package waiting for me. Inside was this awesome t-shirt!
Oh yeah! That is one handsome ninja sporting that rockin' Astro Boy promotional shirt. This is the same shirt that was given out at Anime Expo this year. Big time thanks to Collider for sending it to me.
I'll be doing my best to catch up on the latest updates and adding new content, but it could take awhile. Hold tight, we'll be back to full operating status soon enough.
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