Hot On The Heals Of 'Astroboy' Comes 'Americanised Gigantor'

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Undead Backbrain / Avery Guerra

It seems that a less than stellar box office for the modern computer animated version of "Astroby" hasn't deterred Hakari Productions and Imagi Studios from going after another of Japan's classic characters, "Tetsujin 28″ (Gigantor)

Indeed the Tokyo and Hong Kong based companies have been working overtime producing a teaser trailer and promotional artwork for the project despite financial problems.

It is obvious that a large publicity campaign will be in order to help get this baby off the ground and it seems that the film makers are gearing up for just that.

Over at the the film's official website fans are being encouraged to 'vote' on whether they would be interested in seeing the film or not. The results of this online poll will undoubtedly be used to gauge the interest in a new "Tetsujin-28" film and help secure more funding for the project, if they turn out highly positive. You can do that - HERE - if you like.

The film has been listed under several different titles, “Tetsujin 28″, “T28″ and now on IMDB as "Americanised Gigantor".

If the film goes on as planned it wouldn't be the first time that the classic animated giant robot has gotten the CGI treatment. Back in 2005 there was the live-action film "Tetsujin niju-hachigo (Tetsujin 28) directed by Shin Togashi. That film featured CGI rendered robots inserted into real-life scenes. This new version, however, will be 100% computer animated.

That film was very good, and if you haven't gotten a chance to see it, I recommend that you search it out.



Here is some history:

Tetsujin 28-gō (Iron Man #28) is a 1956 manga written and illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, who also created Giant Robo (also made into a live-action TV series, released as "Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot" here in America)

The manga was later adapted into several anime TV series, the first in 1963. It was the first manga to feature a giant robot. The 1963 series was released here in America in 1966 as Gigantor.

As with the Japanese animated series, "Speed Racer", the characters’ original names were altered and the original series’ violence was toned down for American viewers. Originally produced in black and white, the show was colorized and revived in the 1990s.

Plot:

During the final days of World War II, the Japanese military is secretly developing a superweapon that will turn the tides of war and save the Japanese Empire. After twenty-seven failed attempts, the project gives fruit: a three-stories high, remote-controlled robot. The metal man is christened Tetsujin 28-go.

The war, however, is over. Rather than becoming the military's "ace in the hole", Tetsujin becomes a civilian robot. Under the control of Shotaro Kaneda, the twelve-year-old son of Tetsujin's developer, the iron giant is put to work stopping criminals and enemy robots.

You have to admit that the trailer and production stills (below) look very promising. I would be more inclined to shell out the money to go see “Tetsujin 28″ than I was for "Astroboy", though I believe that the film makers will have a hard time producing a film that can equal, or better, the 2005 Shin Togashi film.

Lets hope that Hakari Productions and Imagi Studios can get the fan support and funding they need to get this one off the ground.

Here are the stills: