Bug-Man’s Blog

As a child of the 1980′s I grew up with Astro Boy. The 80′s animated version that I used to watch is actually the second animated version of Astro Boy. Before animation, Astro Boy was originally released as a cartoon comic in the 1950′s which ran all the way through to the 1980s:

Here are some excerpts from within the first comic:

During the 50s and before any animated series was even conceived, a live-action feature-length film was developed. This is really incredible to see, as the first minute and a half were animated and the rest of the film is actually filmed with human actors.

Here’s a clip showing a few bits and pieces of the live-action sequences from the series:

Here is a link to Part One, from the beginning (this clip is lengthy and really poor quality but is interesting as it shows the animated intro leading into the filmed movie.)

Astro Boy was adapted for Japanese television in the 60′s and a black and white animated series was developed. The series intro from the Japanese version in the 1960′s depicts Astro Boy flying around town, waving at a plane, tunneling through the Earth and generally having a cool time. Here’s the clip for the Japanese intro:

The US version is very different. We start seeing the version of Astro Boy most people would be familiar with: helping the good and fighting the evil and generally saving the day. The theme tune is similiar to the Japanese version although probably has very different lyrics given the different animation. Coupled with this new theme, this version has a classic 60′s retroness about it but starts to feel like Astro Boy as we know it.

Let’s take a look at that 1980′s US intro that we’re all so familiar with. The theme gets a little more funked up and the lyrics have changed, and these are the ones most people I know would be able to sing along to. Like before, the intro shows Astro Boy fighting the bad and helping and defending the good, and I think this version is a little more personable than the original versions.

During the 80′s there wasn’t much difference with the Japanese version, except that their version has slight techno beat which is present throughout the tune that isn’t there in the English version. This is about it; there really isn’t much else that is different between the two. Unfortunately I don’t know if the lyrics translate differently. If you watch them in sync, the animation is identical although you can hear that the themes are ever so slightly off between the two.

In 1999 there was talk of an Astro Boy feature film, an idea which was shelved due to other projects.

In 2003, Astro Boy was released once again as an animated series however, this time there was all new animation and of course, a new theme. The animation was specifically done so that they wouldn’t loose the original look of the characters, but were able to enhance the animation sequences and effects using modern manga-type techniques (super speedy blurry backgrounds that shoot past, and that type of thing.) I have not personally seen the series itself and I don’t know how different, or, modernised, the 2003 version of Astro Boy has become.

The Japanese version and the US version have exactly the same cartoon background with some very major differences! The Japanese version contains a theme tune (I can’t translate it) and it seems like the right way to evolutionise the theme following the current trend.

Just what have they done with the US version? No lyrics, a techno/rock theme that makes you feel like you’re playing a game of Burnout instead of watching a cartoon series. There’s a more intense, less personal feel about the whole thing. Give me the 80′s version any day.

In 2009 there will be an animated/CGI version of Astro Boy coming out as a feature film. This was picked up from 10 year prior when it was originally discussed. As yet it is in pre-production and hasn’t even got any cast or director (announced, anyway) and the only thing that has really cropped up about it so far is some concept art, so perhaps this is what Astro Boy will become…

And who knows what from there…