Mighty Atom, as the Japanese community know of him as, and as Astro Boy to the rest of the Western world. Originally conceived by manga artist Osamu Tezuka in the 1950s, the Astro Boy mangas incorporated thoughtful storytelling and robot-ass-kicking-action (most of which committed by the title character) to form the basis of great tales for readers spanning over generations.
Unfortunately, we seem to have fallen very much short of that in Astro’s latest updated gig – Astro Boy, the recent American computer-animated 3-D film. Presented here is a highly Americanised adaptation towards a classic character. Directed by David Bowers, this origins story takes Tezuka’s original science-fiction manga and literally butchers it.
Astro’s origins are addressed appallingly, with unnecessary alterations made where the writers seemingly have seen fit. These origins are overstretched and over focused to the main contention of the film. Despite this clearly being what the filmmakers had set out to accomplish, it is a serious misstep that has led to the film’s substandard storytelling. Much of the film feels as though the filmmakers were pushing for fillers in the story; when this is unnecessary considering Astro’s numerous stories that could’ve been considered for adaptation.
Numerous pointless new characters are introduced, whilst integral original characters have their roles severely diminished to the point of cameos or otherwise, omitted completely. Previous characters also have their definitive roots altered and changed, that they might as well be renamed into one of the “pointless new characters”. Some key characters even begin to not even resemble their manga and anime counterparts in terms of appearance. There is an introduction of a villain by the name of “President Stone”. Such new character introductions seem largely redundant, considering the large inventory of pre-existing characters by Tezuka.
The continual underlying themes that were consistent with the Astro Boy mangas become largely irrelevant and are barely apparent now.
The film does; however, sport impressively fluid computer animation, handled by Imagi Animation Studios. There’s an obvious level of cartoonish effects, akin to that seen in Pixar’s The Incredibles. The cartoon physics do not go overboard either, and remain constrained without going to extravagant exaggerations.
An animated Osamu Tezuka makes two cameos, which was a nice tribute to the late “God of Manga” who would often draw himself into Astro’s stories and break the fourth wall to readers. The earlier cameo is voiced.
This ultimately is a disappointing project that really did have much potential, perhaps if it had been handled with more tact. This film will undoubtedly impress its key demographic and there is much for them to enjoy in the way of a spectacular big screen adventure. But for those who have some sense, this film is far too derivative of Astro Boy to really even be titled “Astro Boy”.
-that_guy.
