Video Game website Kotaku has a new opinion piece about Astro Boy, largely inspired news of the upcoming Astro Boy videogame coinciding with the CG Animated movie coming to theaters this fall.
In this article, an important question is asked: Why isn't Astro Boy in more video games?
An excellent question, don't you think?
While no firm answers are given, there is some discussion about Astro's prior video game outings, as well as the connection to Mega Man. It's quite an interesting read.
The image to the right is from "Astro Boy: Omega Factor" for the Nintendo GameBoy Advance. It's one of my favorite games ever and I hope to get a chance to write more about it here some time.
You can read "Our Missing Video Game Robot Hero" on Kotaku or by clicking the link below for an archived version.Our Missing Video Game Robot Hero
By AJ Glasser, 2:00 PM on Wed May 27 2009
Osamu Tezuka's beloved boy robot, Astro Boy, defined an art form, inspired a nation, and is a cultural icon worthy of the Robot Hall of Fame. So why doesn't he get more video games?
Not counting his first Japan-only forays on the Famicom and Superfamicom, Astro Boy has only appeared in one PlayStation 2 game and one GameBoy Advance game. The year was 2004 and both Sonic Team and Treasure Inc. (partnered with Hitmaker) developed games based on the 2003 anime remake of the original 1960s Astro Boy cartoon. Sonic Team's PS2 game, Astro Boy, was pretty lousy while Hitmaker/Treasure's GBA Astro Boy: Omega Factor was one of the best things to happen to handhelds that year. Since then, we've got nothing but a quietly-announced, never-demoed tie-in game to the upcoming CGI Astro Boy film directed by David Bowers.
Astro Boy's absence from video games could be due to many reasons – licensing, marketing, etc. – but two big ticket items ultimately tank any hopes of a serious Astro Boy gaming franchise: demand and need.
There's not enough demand for Astro Boy video games in the United States because we don't love him the way they do in Japan. The 1960s cartoon didn't even complete its full 193-episode run in the States when it originally aired in 1963; and it took decades before Dark Horse Comics to translate and publish the manga. Poor Astro Boy just wasn't on the radar as America's resident robot hero.
Back in 1960s Japan, when Astro Boy was first created, there was a desperate need for heroes. World War II had been over for more than a decade, but there was a loss of hope in the country and a profound fear of technology and nuclear weapons*. Anime and manga icons like Astro Boy and Ashita no Joe restored to Japan a sense of purpose and youthful optimism they'd lost in the war. Also, science-y things like Astro Boy put a friendly, rosy-cheeked face on technology, which helped the country cope with the devastating fear inspired by the A-bomb attacks.
In short, Japan needed Astro Boy and America didn't. Without the need for the robot boy hero, America never established a connection to Astro Boy that would inspire parents to make their children watch the 1960s cartoon. Later when the 2003 reboot of the anime series reached America, the show still couldn't find its audience and was canceled after spawning the hideous PS2 game and the wonderful GBA game.
That's not to say America can live without robot heroes.
We have one, in fact, and his name is Mega Man. Mega Man does most of the same stuff as Astro Boy – he even has the beam cannon on his arm – and he beat Tezuka's beloved boy robot to the US gaming scene by a good decade or more. He may not be as fleshed-out a character as Astro Boy, because Mega Man didn't start out with a manga or cartoon series to establish his back story. But he did have the whole filial piety thing going on with his creator, Dr. Light, which was similar to the connection Astro Boy had for his adoptive father figure, Dr. O'Shay (a.k.a. Dr. Ochanomizu, Dr. Packadermus Elefun, Professor Peabody, Jimmy Durante's nose-twin). So what if Mega Man wasn't about childlike wonder or youthful optimism; so what if he never did anything serious like address racism against robots. Mega Man was about kicking robot ass and Americans can totally get in on that.
So, alas, Astro Boy. We loved you in Omega Factor and we respect you as a cultural icon worthy of Mickey Mouse's company – which is why you're in the Robot Hall of Fame. But Mickey doesn't have a great gaming franchise and so far, you don't either. Maybe your upcoming tie-in movie game on PS2, Wii, PSP and DS will be good. Heck, maybe the film itself will be awesome. But in the meantime, we'll be sticking with Mega Man 9.
*The Films of Akira Kurosawa, Donald Richie
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Kotaku talks Astro Games
Swallowing the Earth Preview
Previously reported over a year ago, the official English release of Osamu Tezuka's manga "Swallowing the Earth" is finally on its way next month via Digital Manga Publishing.
Thanks to our friends at Tezuka in English, you can read an awesome 25 page preview of this thrilling English-edition manga release.
A quick warning before you start reading. Swallowing the Earth is one of Tezuka's more adult works, and is for mature audiences only.
A full press release about the Swallowing the Earth Manga and the 25 page page preview is available on Anime News Network or by clicking the link below for an archived version.May 28, 2009 – TezukaInEnglish.com and Digital Manga Publishing are proud to announce an exclusive sneak peek of the "god of manga" Osamu Tezuka's SWALLOWING THE EARTH. This free online preview contains the first 25 pages of the upcoming DMP PLATINUM release, and can be accessed here:
http://www.tezukaenfrancais.com/ste/
SWALLOWING THE EARTH depicts the mysterious beauty, Zephyrus, and her quest to avenge the wrongs done to women by men over the course of human history. The story represents a turning point in the content of Tezuka's manga, marking a decidedly more adult approach in terms of satiric social commentary and human psychology. Originally written in 1968, SWALLOWING THE EARTH is an important and provocative tale in Tezuka's catalog of work.
Usually released in two volumes, this DMP PLATINUM edition presents the entire manga in one volume. Retailing for $24.95, SWALLOWING THE EARTH will be available for the first time in English in the United States. Also included is an introduction by Tezuka's personal friend and translator, Fred Schodt, author of The Astro Boy Essays.
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SWALLOWING THE EARTH- RATED YA+ (for ages 16+), MSRP: $24.95 US, 520 pages, softcover. Available: June 24, 2009
HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED.
Amidst the chaos of World War II, two Japanese soldiers hear of Zephyrus, an utterly captivating woman rumored to exist on an island in the South Pacific. The tales of this bold enchantress seducing men to their dooms are both chilling and fascinating. Over twenty years pass, and Zephyrus resurfaces in Japan, seemingly unchanged, to wield her mysterious power over men once more.
The one man immune to Zephyrus' charms is simple drunkard, Gohonmatsu Seki, son of one of the wartime soldiers. Employed to spy on Zephyrus, what will Gohonmatsu uncover about her ultimate plot to create international discord and consume the world of men? What brought this woman to conspire for decades against patriarchal society-against an entire gender-and can anything be done to stop her plans?
OSAMU TEZUKA (Astro Boy, Buddha, Black Jack) is recognized as the father of Japanese manga. For over forty years, his creative and prolific output entertained generations of readers and continues to do so twenty years after his death. A provocative and socially conscious artist, Tezuka's themes remain relevant to this day. Worldwide, his works have been published in numerous languages and adapted in countless media, extending Tezuka's influence far beyond the shores of his homeland.
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ABOUT DIGITAL MANGA PUBLISHING: Located in Gardena, CA, Digital Manga Publishing is one of the industry's most unconventional and innovative companies, specializing in building corporate and cultural bridges from Japan to the Western Hemisphere - specifically through the licensing, importation and preparation of anime (Japanese animation), manga (Japanese comic books) and related merchandise for the North American mainstream and subculture markets. In this capacity, DMI serves as a catalyst for the expansion of Japanese pop culture institutions into global arenas. The company's imprint line includes DMP: its mainstream imprint, DMP PLATINUM: its classic manga imprint, JUNE´: its boys love imprint, 801 MEDIA: its adult boys love imprint, and DokiDoki: its exclusive co-publishing imprint with Shinshokan Publishing.
For more information about Digital Manga Publishing, visit www.digitalmanga.com
ABOUT TEZUKA IN ENGLISH: Tezuka InEnglish (www.TezukaInEnglish.com) is an online index to the works of Osamu Tezuka, covering original works, new adaptations, fan activities and translations in English and other European languages. It began as a fan site but has since worked with numerous American publishers of Tezuka's works to support and promote English Tezuka releases. Since Tezuka Productions took down the English Language version of their official website, TezukaInEnglish.com has been working in partnership with them as the primary English language online resource for Tezuka's works until the new official page (http://tezukaosamu.net/) finishes constructing its English language version.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Updated Video Game Box Art
Thanks again to GoNintendo, here is an updated look at what should be the final box art for the upcoming Astro Boy video game, developed by High Voltage Software and set for release this fall through D3 Publisher.
Looks like they'll be using unique artwork instead of the movie poster, which I certainly approve of.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Anime North 2009
I will be at Anime North this weekend, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
You'll be able to find me speaking at the following panels:
- How to Draw Manga
- The Mecha Panel
- Robot/Cyborgs/AI
- Transformers
- Classic Anime
You can bet that I'll be talking about Astro Boy and the upcoming CGI Film! Check the schedules for exact times and locations. I will likely be wearing an Astro T-Shirt on at least one of the 3 days, so if you see me come up and say hi!
Looking forward to an awesome show!
Astro Boy Prequel Comic #1
The first issue of the Astro Boy Prequel comic by IDW Publishing was released last week.
If you haven't picked it up yet, you can read more about it and check out a 5 page preview on Comics Continuum.
Geeking Out Comic Peek O' The Week has given the book a good review on their YouTube video.
The individual issues will be released monthly this summer and the entire story will be collected into one book this fall.
Deigo - The art looks great! Good job. my friend!
Astro-Bear?
Some kind of bootlegged Care-Bears hybrid with Astro Boy. Weird.
Yet another strange discovery made on the Astroboy Online Forums.
What do you call the expression on the bear's face? Looks... creepy.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Princess Knight to Promote Tezuka's Hometown
The Japanese town of Takarazuka is about to get promoted in a big way! The hometown of Osamu Tezuka will be using one of his most famous creations, Princess Knight (Ribbon no Kishi), to attract tourism.
This, of course, makes perfect sense, as Takarazuka is well known for its theatrical performances where all of the roles, even the male characters, are played by ladies. Princess Knight is the story of a princess who masquerades as a male prince, so it's a perfect fit.
The image to the right is from a 2006 stage musical based on Princess Knight done in Takarazuka style, with an all female cast. I found it here.
InsideJapan News Network has the full story on Takarazuka's new mascot. You can also click the link below for an archived version. I'll be looking for more info on this, including pictures, very soon.The hometown of celebrated manga illustrator Osamu Tezuka is to be promoted by one of his most well-known creations.
Ribon no Kishi (Princess Knight) will be involved in a number of events aimed at attracting tourists to the area of Takarazuka, reports Kyodo News.
The character will be played by two students from Kyoto University and Osaka University, who were selected from dozens of applicants and will wear costumes to represent the princess.
One of the students, Hiroko Sadato, told the news provider: "I will cheer up Takarazuka."
Her colleague Ayuko Sogo remarked: "I will play this big role with a big smile."
They will both be involved in a range of promotional activities which will be held until 2011.
Mr Tezuka began his manga career in 1946 creating illustrations for a publication aimed at children.
Fans of manga visiting the Japanese capital Tokyo may want to stop off at the Mandarake retail outlet, which offers everything from anime models to manga comics.
