Monday, October 19

• Director David Bowers Discusses Astro Boy

  Initially unveiled at the San Diego Comic-Con to thunderous applause, Imagi's latest animated adventure, Astro Boy, debuts in theaters this week and director David Bowers is hoping that American audiences will connect with his take on the iconic Japanese character created by Osamu Tezuka.

  It's such a rich story, and I think its themes are universal. I think American audiences are very used to superheroes, so it's not an enormous stretch for them. The only difficulty was having it be such a beloved character and having to decide what to retain and what to get rid of.

  I like origin stories. I think Richard Donner's Superman is still just about the best superhero movie ever made. And I think it's interesting to see where these characters come from and what their roots are. I think it would be hard to jump into an Astro Boy movie with him already fighting robots and battling aliens. Plus, I think the story, what happens to Toby and why Astro Boy is created, it's pretty compelling.

  Bowers' first film as a director was the light-hearted animated film Flushed Away, but he got his start as an animator and story artist on such films as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Shark Tale, skills that proved useful when directing a movie about a robot boy with a fairly distinctive haircut.

  The graphic image is great, but in three dimensions when he turns his head one of the hair points disappears. So I swap it over every now and again. So it points left in some shots and right in the others. It's just like Mickey Mouse's ears.

  Astro Boy stars Freddie Highmore as the voice of Astro Boy and also features the voice talents of Kristen Bell and Donald Sutherland.

  
  
  

  Astro Boy - Trailer

  In theaters this Friday, Oct. 23

  Posted 10/19/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Donald Sutherland | Freddie Highmore | David Bowers | Kristen Bell | Astro Boy

Friday, September 18

• New Astro Boy Preview Clip - "Escape from Metro City"

  We've got a new action-packed three-minute scene from Imagi's coming CGI-animated adventure Astro Boy. This is an old anime classic from the '60s that has been given a modern makeover, but if it's new to you, we've included the official synopsis after the clip.

  Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy tells the story of a young robot with incredible powers, created by the brilliant scientist Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Powered by positive blue energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, X-ray vision, unbelievable speed, and the ability to fly. Embarking on a journey in search of acceptance, Astro Boy encounters many colorful characters along the way. His adventures teach him the joys and emotions of being human, and gain him the strength to embrace his destiny. Ultimately learning his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to understand what it means to be a hero.

  
  
  Next Showing: Astro Boy releases October 23, 2009

  Posted 09/18/2009 by Jim

  Related: Freddie Highmore | Nicolas Cage | Astro Boy

Friday, August 28

• New Astro Boy Stills Released

  Imagi Animation Studios has released a series of new stills from the upcoming CGI film Astro Boy. Imagi put on a media blitz at San Diego Comic-Con, showing several unfinished scenes and hosting round table interviews with the cast, and since that time they've been carefully releasing bits and pieces of artwork to help build on the momentum generated at that event.

  Astro Boy was directed by David Bowers (Flushed Away) and features the voice talents of Freddie Highmore, Kristin Bell, Nicolas Cage, Nathan Lane, Eugene Levy, Donald Sutherland, Bill Nighy, and Samuel L. Jackson.

  
  
  

  Astro Boy - Trailer

  Releasing Oct 23, 2009
  

  Kristen Bell on Astro Boy

  Kristen talks about Astro Boy's ecological commentary

  Posted 08/28/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Freddie Highmore | David Bowers | Astro Boy

Monday, August 3

• Kristen Bell Says Astro Boy Has a "Green" Message

  

  After viewing Imagi Animation Studios' unfinished footage of Astro Boy at the San Diego Comic-Con, we had the opportunity to sit down and chat with actress Kristen Bell, who provides the voice of Cora, a character created just for the Astro Boy movie. Bell, famous for her roles on Veronica Mars and Heroes, said, "I saw the movie a couple nights ago and I loved it." Bell went on to say that while the movie contains kid-friendly action, it still touches on some important themes, including the importance of preserving our environment and the old standby of being kind to one another.

  
  

  Astro Boy was directed by David Bowers and also features the voice talents of Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Nathan Lane, Eugene Levy, Donald Sutherland, Bill Nighy, and Samuel L. Jackson.

  
  
  

  Astro Boy - Trailer

  Releasing Oct. 23, 2009

  Posted 08/03/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Freddie Highmore | David Bowers | Kristen Bell | Astro Boy

Saturday, July 25

• Freddie Highmore Likens Astro Boy to Pinocchio

  

  

  Astro Boy has new life, thanks to CGI magic and the talent of voice actor Freddie Highmore. Created in back in 1950s Japan as a work of manga (Japanese for "comic book") by Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy was turned into a popular TV series that ran for three years in Japan before being exported to the rest of the world.

  Imagi Animation Studios rolled out unfinished clips of the new feature-length CGI Astro Boy movie at the San Diego Comic-Con and Reelz had the opportunity to sit down with Highmore after the presentation for a little Q&A. Watch the clip below for Highmore's response to the question, "Are you personally a fan of animation and comic books?"

  Astro Boy was directed by David Bowers and also features the voice talents of Kristin Bell, Nicolas Cage, Nathan Lane, Eugene Levy, Donald Sutherland, Bill Nighy, and Samuel L. Jackson.

  
  
  

  Astro Boy - Trailer

  Releasing October 23, 2009

  Posted 07/25/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Freddie Highmore | David Bowers | Kristen Bell | Astro Boy

Thursday, March 26

• Astro Boy Trailer #2 - Plus a New Movie Poster

  To get some early hype for the computer animated feature Astro Boy, which will be released in October, IMAGI has released the 2nd trailer for the film, PLUS an all-new movie poster.

  For those not familiar, Astro Boy is an adaptation from the classic manga by Osamu Tezuka.

  Credited as one of the very first incarnations of what has become known as Japanese Anime, Astro Boy crossed continents to thrill American youths as a popular cartoon series in the '60s.

  The tale is Pinnochio-esque, about a robot boy powered by pure positive "blue" energy. Astro Boy, voiced by Freddie Highmore, is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly -- not to mention the purest spirit on the planet. His adventures will taken him across the universe in a search to find his purpose, only to realize that saving his friends back on earth from otherworldly danger is what makes him "human."

  See also: Astro Boy not to be confused with Big Boy.

  
  

  Posted 03/26/2009 by Jim

  Related: Freddie Highmore | Astro Boy

Thursday, July 24

• Astro Boy Perhaps at Next Year's Comic-Con

  

  A movie that could very well be at Comic-Con next year is Astro Boy, the animated sci-fi story will star the voices of Scarlett Johanssen, Donald Sutherland, Nicolas Cage and Freddie Highmore in the title role. The movie is set for release next year, but here's the new poster. David Bowers, who was one of the directors of Flushed Away in 2006, is the director of Astro Boy. He tells ReelzChannel that the movie will go more for the heart than the laughs featured in Flushed Away.

  It's based on the classic 1950s anime about a young android boy (Astro) who's created by his father to replace the real son he's lost. Astro doesn't work out at first but then it's discovered he was gifted with superior powers and skills, as well as the ability to experience human emotions. It's a very emotional story.

  
  

  Posted 07/24/2008 by reelz

  Related: Donald Sutherland | Freddie Highmore | Nicolas Cage | Scarlett Johansson | David Bowers | Astro Boy