Doraemon and Hello Kitty were recently appointed ambassadors of Japan.  It was only a matter of time that Astro Boy would be receiving some form of recognition.  Here is a mural that will make the Father of anime and manga, Osamu Tezuka, smile from above.  The Astro Boy mural resides at a department store in Shinjuku and was created in celebration of Tokyo’s newest subway station.  Through the help of volunteers, 138,000 recycled metro fare cards were assembled to create this masterpiece.

I have yet to see an episode of Astro Boy, but I am a big fan of Mr. Tezuka’s work.  His work often pondered on the many facets of human nature.  Those not familiar with his work should watch Metropolis, the usually Phoenix series or Black Jack.  And as a bit of off topic information, one of his early characters, Kimba the White Lion, actually inspired the Disney movie.

Make the leap for more shots of the Astro Boy mural.

Image Source: :Inhabitat

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1. A comic depicting a man obsessed with nuns and his wang!
[ Binky Brown Meets The Holy Virgin Mary ("Believe it, or Burn!") ]

2. A cartoon projection of Anime transformers battling to the death!
[ "Super Dimension" ! Super Duper! ]

3. Pac-Man, Zelda, Mario & The Sims amongst Quake, Spore and Doom!
[ All the GamerZ, prepare your thumbs! ]

4. Sexy Masochistic Dolls with Professional Occupations, Dead Sperm and Bloody Chainsaws
[ Manga Manga, me not so hungry anymore!]

5. Pink Elephants on Parade and a “sketchy” Dancing Dino
[ Trippy & Skippy]

6. Actors in Bright Spandex and Metal outfits slaughtering each other in the city streets while Cows and Zebras stare dumbly.
[ Who doesn't love interpretive dance mixed with Mortal Kombat!? ]

7. A comic series under glass showcasing penis people with scrotum faces.
[ Most obviously a theoretic phallic symbol meaning 'dickhead' ]

8. A blue claustrophobic room displaying the best Japanese pop artists and blasting girly offensive music.
[ Lost me in the translation long time ]

9. The Adventures of Prince Achmed as told with cardboard, tissue paper and pubic hair.
[ It's the earliest surviving feature length cartoon. Scaring the shit out of kids for generations!]

10. Cheap tickets to the “Krazy World of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art” on Tuesdays from 5-9pm.
[ Admission by Donation ]

Starting tomorrow at the Kennedy Center is Robotopia Rising. Patrons will get to see Honda’s Asimo or Toyota’s Partner robot in action. The festivities actually started yesterday and will end on February 17th. Robots, Anime, Film, Fashion, Photography all from the land of the rising sun brought to Washington DC. More information can be found here. Big thanks to Xian for pointing out this event.

Image Source: The Kennedy Center