Recognizable by his famous spiked hair, Astro has lived countless ordeals and trials since his first inception in the Japanese manga series first published in 1952. He became such a big influence that he was named Japan's envoy for overseas safety, back in november 2007. A daunting task it must have been for Imagi to adapt this iconic, long-standing figure that has been with us for 57 years now.
Did they succeed? I have to say "indubitably yes". Sure, the settings were changed, actualized for today audience, but the core message of Osamu Tesuka lives on. He used "Tetsuwan Atomu", the Mighty Atom in japanese, in the hope that the advent of atomic energy could be harness in a positive way, rather for its destructive side (a.k.a. the Atom bomb). Conflicts were always a vital part of Astro's universe. Every situations that our hero faced shown the "rights" and "wrongs" of humanity's actions. The moral issues that Tezuka invoked came from the heart. Just like Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, he hoped for a bright and positive future for humanity. Hence, the blue and red cores thematic introduced by Professor Elefun at the start of the movie.
Furthermore, the classic tale of the young robot boy searching for his identity, his meaning of existence, was told in a touching way. I chocked when Tenma rejected him for who he was. I felt the heart of Elefun has he tried to confort Astro on many occasions. I shed tears when our hero sacrifice himself for the good of others, despite their origins. If anything, Imagi truly succeed at showing who's Astro: a lovable boy that represents the good side of humanity and the potential that we carried.
Clearly, Imagi wanted to convey a large spectrum of emotions, from joy to sadness, even nostalgia... Yes, nostalgia! Despite what the critics might say, I can say without doubt that this movie does have a nostalgic feel to it. I remembered the scene where Toby/Astro first discovered that he could fly... It was magical! At first, he was clumsy at it, like in the original manga/anime, but once he got the twist of it, he skyrocketed to the clouds, shaping them has he past through them. He then plugged into the mountain, making his way through it until he burst out at the top, laughing in joy at his discovery. At that very moment, as I held back my tears, joyful memories sparked... I smiled knowing that I was a kid again.
The music too helped at delivering those key moments. A beautiful well written orchestral score made this movie a pure joy to watch. Yes, I would have like to ear the original 80's theme song, but the score that John Ottoman wrote definitely has that Astro feel to it. It sends shivers done my spine each time I listen to it.
Speaking of nostalgic moments, Astro Boy fans will be pleased to see references to Tezuka's work here and there throughout the movie. The scene were Astro's drilling out from the top of the mountain is reminiscence to the 60's intro. The blueprint that Doctor Tenma shows is Tezuka's original drawing. The animators even played with Astro's hair points, which shifts depending where the side of his head is frontal. It's like Imagi's making an homage to Astro. I invite you to find even more of those easter eggs.
What about the animation? They are top notch, brilliantly done. Imagi might not have topped what Pixar have made in the past, but they are getting closer with each new movies. The style really reflect that of Tezuka, with a colorful pallet and exaggerated points, such has the facial anatomy... You know, big ears, enormous noses! But does Astro looks like Astro? Even if he looks older, the likeness of Toby/Astro is amazing. He's still huggable and cute! I give 10 thumbs up just for the animation... They are that great!
Truly, Osamu Tezuka was a god. He had bring to life a character that's charming, cute, heroic, and to this day, his work still moves thousand of persons around the world. As for the movie, despite not being perfect, I had a blast watching my hero again. I strongly recommend it to everyone. Think outside the box, read between the lines, and you will see the magic and the beauty that is Astro Boy. I salute and thank the guys at Imagi for their awesome work. They have rekindled my spirit in all matters "Tetsuwan Atomu". I was moved, I cried, and I remembered the little boy that I was and the dreams he once had.
