Osamu Tezuka appreciation thread

[MartyMuppets]

Episodes 23 and 24: The Greatest Robot In The World

A crazy Sultan has hired a scientist to build a powerful robot the size of King Kong to destroy seven of the world's most powerful robots. Astro is naturally one of them. Things look terrible as the big robot Bruton destroys all six of his other opponents one by one.

Furthermore the Sultan even kidnaps Dr. Elefun to force Astro to fight willingly. Bruton is immensely strong. What chance does Astro have?

This story, the only 2 parter, was the series big finale in the dub. The producers made a very smart choice indeed placing this exciting and in the end heart-rending adventure last. It really sums up the theme of what Astro and Dr. Elefun have been hoping for. A vision of a time when all robots will be able to live in peace with each other as well as with humans.

Anyway the alternate order on my DVD reviews will continue.

 

[MartyMuppets]

Episode 25: The Robot Vikings

There's chaos in the city at night as a terrible gang of Robot Vikings roam around all the streets smashing up buildings and terrorizing people just for the heck of it. Where did these horrible hooligans come from? Astro is determined to find out. Who is the master of the Robot Vikings? The answer will be revealed in a surprising twist ending.

I hope you're all enjoying these brief, tantalizing reviews. I sure am.

 

[The Shoe Fairy]

I saw another trailer for the upcoming Astroboy movie, and I am looking foward to it, but I think the CGI has kinda killed it.

 

[MartyMuppets]

I know how you feel Shoe Fairy. I'm sure I'll enjoy it, but it won't really feel the same. I shall reserve my final judgement until after I see it however. Back to the job at hand.

Episode 26: The Time Machine

This episode is unique. A young detective from the 30th century was visiting the 15th century when his time machine caused a terrible accident. It spooked the young Prince's horse when it materialized out of thin air resulting in the Prince being thrown off and critically hurt. To save his life Rock the detective travels into the past to enlist the skilful services of a surgeon named Dr. Roget. He also asks Astro to come along to help defend the kingdom against the forces of the tyrant Gorr while the Prince is convalescing. So Astro and Dr. Roget travel back in time with Rock accompanied by Uran and the Doctor's nurse, a midget woman named Penny.

There's a big twist in the story with a happy ending naturally.
One note of interest. Look very carefully at the villian Gorr's face when he is unmasked at the end. That is actually an animated charicature of Tezuka's very own face. Sometimes he put himself in small cameos within his works, but this is his most significantly memorable appearance certainly.

Next episode will be ready soon.

 

[The Shoe Fairy]

I know how you feel Shoe Fairy. I'm sure I'll enjoy it, but it won't really feel the same. I shall reserve my final judgement until after I see it however. Back to the job at hand.

Episode 26: The Time Machine

This episode is unique. A young detective from the 30th century was visiting the 15th century when his time machine caused a terrible accident. It spooked the young Prince's horse when it materialized out of thin air resulting in the Prince being thrown off and critically hurt. To save his life Rock the detective travels into the past to enlist the skilful services of a surgeon named Dr. Roget. He also asks Astro to come along to help defend the kingdom against the forces of the tyrant Gorr while the Prince is convalescing. So Astro and Dr. Roget travel back in time with Rock accompanied by Uran and the Doctor's nurse, a midget woman named Penny.

There's a big twist in the story with a happy ending naturally.
One note of interest. Look very carefully at the villian Gorr's face when he is unmasked at the end. That is actually an animated charicature of Tezuka's very own face. Sometimes he put himself in small cameos within his works, but this is his most significantly memorable appearance certainly.

Next episode will be ready soon.

Yeah. I am not going to judge it until I see it, but I am still critical of the CGI, IMHO. I just really think that some of the characters noses don't look quite right, and I am also curious as to what Astro's voice will be like.

 

[MartyMuppets]

Episode 27: The Robot Stuntman

Uran goes on a tour of the movie studios to meet a popular adventure film actor Tom Stanton. But when she discovers that Tom uses a tiny robot double of himself for a stuntman and that they treat him very unkindly she liberates him and runs away from the studio. The movie people are very upset about this for if the public hear that their hero Tom doesn't actually do all his own stunts, they'll never want to see another one of their movies again.

Astro has a challenge rescuing his sister and her little friend from a trap set to quietly get rid of them before Tom Stanton's big secret is blown. The ending is a little far-fetched but all is happily resolved for all concerned. Another extraordinarily unique adventure for Astroboy. Stay tuned to hear all about his next one.

 

[MartyMuppets]

Episode 28: The Great Meltdown

Unimaginable disaster threatens the world. Atlas is at the North Pole and he's melting all the icebergs in order to flood all humanity to oblivion. Atlas has underestimated Livian however. She has departed from the Flying Crystal so that she can warn Astro before it's too late. Robot servants of Atlas follow her however and she is taken back to the Crystal. Is she able to alert Astro and in any case what can he do to stop Atlas now that so much water is already overflowing the ocean?

I'll have the next episode for you shortly.

 

[Drtooth]

I saw another trailer for the upcoming Astroboy movie, and I am looking foward to it, but I think the CGI has kinda killed it.

Actually, I really feel that Imagi did a wonderful job with TMNT. absolutely the best Turtles movie since the first (despite the self censorship to make the film PG, when it really needed to be PG 13). But then again, that's before a brutal change in Imagi's head of staff turned it into a nearly bankrupt kiddy film factory (the new president is ex-Dreamworks, so you can tell what we're going to get. In fact, several directors left their projects. Keven Monroe (director of TMNT) got off the Gatchaman project 2 years ago, and I doubt it's even going to happen at this point. I'd be surprised if Astroboy even gets released at this point.... add to the addition of random celebrity voice actors (ex-Dreamworks, man).... TMNT kinda downplayed the fact that it had Lawrence Fishburne, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Patrick Stuart (as the opening narrator, April O'Neil, and the movie's villain respectively). I like Nathan Lane and all, but who in Astroboy's world would fit that voice actor?

But I'm still optimistic about the project. Especially since they turned Dragonball into some sort of Smallville wanna be, killing the essence of the franchise by trying to Americanize things that didn't need to be Americanized.

 

[MartyMuppets]

Episode 29: Uran's Twin

Believe it or not, Uran wants to become a robot wrestler. Not surprisingly Astro, Mum, Dad and even Astro's teacher Daddy Walrus have said no and they won't hear any argument from her. Uran has agreed to a secret plan though. She's been to see a weird scientist who's built a special circuit into her that will enable her to change into two identical girl robots so that she can participate in the wrestling matches without anybody knowing it. But will this really prove to be such a wonderful thing as Uran thinks so? What will Astro make of it?

My reviews will continue.

 

[MartyMuppets]

Episode 30: Speeding Through The Storm

Daddy Walrus has taken his class on a field excursion trip to visit an old railway station where an old-fashioned steam train is sitting on display. The guardians are an elderly engineer and his young grand-daughter and they are prepared to go to any length to ensure their visitors have a very enjoyable time and an educational experience.

Disaster soon strikes when a storm erupts and the big dam nearby threatens to burst. Everybody will be drowned unless the old steam engine can be made to run again. Can it work well enough to take them all to safety? And Astro is starting to malfunction for some reason. Will he be able to help in this circumstance? Don't miss the suspense and thrills.

More coming up.