If there is any place in the world that has the strongest sentimental attachment towards Imagi Studios' Astro Boy, it would undoubtedly be Japan. After all, the flying robot kid is revered as the Mickey Mouse of Japan so you know the Japanese media will have a field day on this animated film. In a local TV program, some previously unseen footage has been revealed and it was also announced that actress Aya Ueto (Azumi and Azumi 2) will provide the voice for the title character. For those attending the San Diego Comic-Con this year, you can check out more footage and the final trailer at the Astro Boy panel.
It hits theaters on October 23rd. You'll find the new footage after the jump.
Unfortunately....sentimental is not what the Japanese are for this.
I was watching 'Asazuba', which is basically the big morning news show here and the hosts [it's Japanese Tv, so there are always at least 4-12 hosts for any given thing...and colours, lots and lots of random colours] just slammed the hell outta the flick.
"Why are the Americans making Astro Boy?" "Is it all in English?" "That's so strange" were the responses to the footage with a very obvious disdane for the product in general. Once the reel ended, they jarringly jump cutted to some weather news.
We're all about hype and promotion of anything here in Japan so I was really shocked that they were so blunt.
Ouch.
Still...I think it looks good!