A Robot Boy's Tale
Astro Boy Volumes 1-6
Unrated
1963, Manga
Long before Stanley Kubrick began development on A.I.: Artificial Intelligence and Steven Spielberg finished the film, Japanese artist Osamu Tezuka's 1960s animation series Astro Boy was saving the day on countless TV sets.
On many levels, A.I. is an unintentional homage to Astro Boy. In A.I., the robot boy David eases the suffering of Monica and Harry Swinton, a couple who are distraught over their incurably ill son, Martin. In Astro Boy, Doctor Boynton constructs a robot in the likeness of his son, Toby, who was killed in a car accident. In A.I., David leaves his adoptive family after Martin recovers. In Astro Boy, Boynton sends his child robot away after he realizes that the ageless Astro can't replace his dead son. A.I's David gets into trouble at a "flesh fair," a carnival where robots are destroyed for the entertainment of human audiences. In an early episode, Astro Boy battles a cruel ringmaster who runs a circus where robots are forced to fight each other. Later, Astro Boy is rescued by Doctor Elefun, a robot rights activist who teaches Astro Boy to use his powers for good.
Tezuka's Astro Boy cartoons and comics are closer in spirit to author Brian Aldiss' 1969 short story, "Super-Toys Last All Summer," the heartfelt tale that inspired Kubrick's idea for A.I. Astro Boy's adventures battling robot villains like Atlas and Frankenstein and outer space monsters are boosted by pro-environment themes and subplots about robots' rights. Astro Boy is kind-hearted and lovable, and that's part of his charm.
Originally titled Tetsuwan Atom (Iron-Arm Atom), Astro Boy made his premiere on Fuji TV on Jan. 1, 1963 and was first broadcast in America on Sept. 7, 1963 in black-and-white episodes. The first six volumes contain 36 of the series' 51 color episodes, making them easily available to U.S. audiences for the first time.
Astro Boy remains a series of great adventures, combining futuristic images of 2003 Tokyo with moon cities and large space stations. While Tezuka's image of the 21st century seems dated, Astro Boy remains a timeless character. He's intentionally stylized, with a round face, thick black hair and a chubby body. I like the way his red boots transform into rockets and how lasers shoot from his fingers.
Astro Boy might be a robot, but he's not the least bit oily looking. His large eyes have become an anime trademark. Astro Boy resembles a puppet more than a human boy. Personally, that's what makes him so lovable.
A.I., as sleek as movies come, shows how much animatronics and special effects can accomplish. Haley Joel Osment's A.I performance captured the non-blinking emotions of a boy robot. Still, A.I.'s effects captured a large share of the spotlight. In Tezuka's cartoons, Astro Boy isn't meant to look realistic, and that's part of his charm.
A live-action version of Astro Boy is currently in pre-production. Personally, I can't imagine how they'll improve on Tezuka's heartfelt cartoons.
And the rest
Many contemporary anime films are more adult-oriented than Astro Boy, but no less exciting. Neon Genesis Evangelion -- Death and Rebirth (Manga), directors Tsurumaki Kazuya and Masayuki's first chapter in a two-part follow-up to their popular TV series, continues the adventures of a trio of fighter pilots battling the Angels, a race of super beings intent on destroying Earth. Fans of the series will enjoy the DVD's extra features, including scenes deleted from the TV series. Meanwhile, the film's non-stop action, mature characters and intelligent sci-fi storytelling will dazzle first-time viewers.
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