Friday 13 April 2012

Astro Boy - The movie (2009)


Astro Boy animation (1963)

Monday 9 April 2012

List of Astro Boy Characters


Uran

Astro's cybernetic sister with a shown adoration towards Astro; she is a superhuman robot with a naive, tomboyish personality. Constructed by Dr. Ochanomizu as a "gift" for Astro, Uran is an extremely mischievous little girl who constantly lands her older brother in trouble. While lacking Astro's weaponry and propulsion systems, she is extremely powerful (50,000 horsepower) and regularly accompanies him on various missions. Like Astro, she is fully capable of experiencing human emotions - though being somewhat less 'mature'. 




Dr. Umatarō Tenma 
The former head of the Institute of Science. Ever since his son passed away, he decided to build a robot boy who looks like his son. But when he discovered that Astro Boy could not grow, he sold his son to the circus. 
















Professor Ochanomizu
 The present head of the Institute of Science and a fearless campaigner for robotic rights. Kind, patient and good-natured, he serves as a mentor for both Astro and Uran, and would willingly give his life for either. Somewhat eccentric by nature, he tends to be excitable when faced by a scientific mystery, particularly when his opinions are questioned by his scientific colleagues. 








Police Inspector Tawashi
A highly-placed police detective with an innate distrust of androids and robots (the reason to this is never explained in detail). Due to his opposition to Tokyo's robotic population, Gumshoe has a long-standing feud with both Dr. Elephun and Mr. Pompous, and frequently engages in volatile arguments with them. While arrogant, cantankerous and, in some cases, downright rude, he eventually comes to respect Astro's courage and abilities, even calling for his assistance in particularly difficult cases.




















Papa and Mama
Astro Boy's robotic parents. Mama is depicted as an idealized 1960s housewife, and she is sweet, kind and nurturing. She is entirely trusting of her son's impeccable nature, knows he would never deliberately lie or harm another being (as seen in Episode 20). In contrast, Papa is portrayed as something of a well-meaning blowhard, often jumping to conclusions and losing his temper over minor incidents. They first appeared in Episode 2: Colosso. In the Sankei Newspaper Astroboy manga series, it is revealed that Mama was modified to resemble Dr. Tenma's wife who had died of a heart condition shortly after Astro was sold to the circus.




Chi-Tan
Astro Boy's baby brother created by Dr. Ochanomizu and seen primarily in the last season of the anime. Created primarily as a comic relief character. Main characteristic is his loud bawling, which can shatter things. Believed to have been inspired by the character, Swee' Pea from the Popeye cartoons.

Structure of Astro Boy


Astro Boy has several capabilities to aid him in his adventures:
  • The ability to translate more than 60 languages
  • Strength equivalent to 100,000 horsepower (75 MW)
  • The ability to fly using jets in his legs and arms
  • Amplification of his hearing up to one thousand times
  • Guns deployed from his posterior
  • Invulnerability to conventional physical injury
  • An electro-heart that can discern people's criminal intentions
  • Bright eye-lamps to assist his vision
  • Laser guns in his finger tips
  • Laser cannons in his arms
  • An extremely accurate electronic brain

Story of Astro Boy





In the year 2000, robot technology has advanced to an astounding level. Robot workers are common, and can be found performing duties in virtually every occupation around the world, from factory workers, to fireman and even nurses.
Doctor Boyton is the Head for the Ministry of Science. A brilliant professor who is dedicated to his work. For months, Doctor Boyton has been trying to create a new type of robot; A robot with a soul, a robot capable of human emotions. After many failed attempts, his son, Toby, suggests that his father creats a "boy robot". Inspired by his son's idea, Doctor Boyton relaunches his research with new found enthusiasm.
Unfortunately, Doctor Boyton's obsession with his research causes him to miss alot of time with Toby. After breaking too many fatherly promises, Toby runs away from home and is tragically killed in a car accident. Doctor Boyton, driven mad by his grief, goes on to secretly complete his robot with a soul in the likeness of his son.
This robot, is AstroBoy. A thinking, caring robot with a heart and soul.
Living with his newly built parents "Mum" and "Dad" his sister Uran and his dog Jump, AstroBoy lives his life as normal and happily as he can. He goes to school and has made many friends along the way. However having the abilities that he does, it is sometimes hard to stay out of trouble. Especially after he finds out that he has a brother by the name of Atlas, who has a hatred for humans and the way they treat the robots of the world. Using this hatred, Atlas tries to eliminate the human race.
AstroBoy, along with Doctor Elefun, are sometimes asked to lend a hand to help where they can. This can lead them into catastrophe and peril. Although with a lot of effort and a bit of luck, they manage to make it through in the end. Most of the time.


About Astro Boy :


Astro Boy is a Japanese manga series first published in 1952 and television programfirst broadcast in Japan in 1963. The story follows the adventures of a robot named Astro Boy and a selection of other characters along the way.
Astro Boy is the first, most popular Japanese television series that embodied the aesthetic that later became familiar worldwide as anime. It originated as a manga in 1952 by Osamu Tezuka, revered in Japan as the "God of Manga." After enjoying success abroad, Astro Boy was remade in the 1980s as Shin Tetsuwan Atomu, known as Astroboy in other countries, and again in 2003. In November 2007, he was named Japan's envoy for overseas safety. AnAmerican computer-animated 3-D film based on the original manga series by Tezuka was released on October 23, 2009.