We’ve seen the metrocard mural of Astro Boy. Now here is a teaser trailer that will make the God of Manga extremely proud. Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy will be hitting the silver screen around Fall 2009. The Hollywood pixar-esque feature film also stars a heavy lineup including Kristen Bell, Nicholas Cage, Eugene Levy and Donald Sutherland to name a few names. Personally, right next to Hayao Miyazaki, I’m a huge fan of Osamu Tezuka’s manga and anime. I love how the works of both artists are capable of capturing emotion and raise awareness of our surroundings.
The concept behind Oboe is to have all memories, experiences and knowledge passed from your loved ones into the android above. All of which is held within the sphere Oboe is holding. I’m wondering if the matrix from Transformers had any influence on designer, Arnauld Deloustal’s concept. The first thing that popped in my mind when I saw Oboe was Osamu Tezuka’s The Phoenix. Particularly, the one episode where the main dude, Leon, asks to have his memories swapped into a Rosie from Jetsons like robot. And I believe his last line to a child was, “I rememember when I was once human…” If and when this does happen, I wonder how people will embrace the idea.
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.
