Following the trailer's debut, Imagi Animation Studios has unleashed several stills from their upcoming CGI animated flick, Astro Boy. You can see them posted on Latino Review, or as a slide show on Imagi's website.
Thankfully, Imagi has decided to throw in a few warmer colours into the mix when rendering the famous robot boy. The first couple of images are dedicated to Astro (voiced by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Freddie Highmore). Thank goodness Imagi also dumped the prominent eyelashes and ruddy cheeks that made Astro look like he had just come back from doing a drag review. Overall, it's a pretty solid update for the classic cartoon character.
The images also feature something that looks like a cross between a pit bull and a garbage can (any information, readers?), and a possible image of the character voiced by Kristen Bell (the upcoming Fanboys).
There are a couple of images of Astro Boy fighting some kind of combat mecha, flying through the air, and looking at some kind of rusted out robot.
What's Astro Boy About?
This flick is based on the classic cartoon created by "the god of manga" Osamu Tezuka in 1951. Astro Boy is very well known in the Far East, rivaling Disney's Mickey Mouse for sheer popularity among comics fans.
Once again, here's the synopsis, courtesy of Imagi's website:
"Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers. Powered by pure positive "blue" energy, Astro Boy (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.
"Embarking on a journey across the planet to discover his powers, Astro Boy encounters a netherworld of robot gladiators and other comic characters, and learns the joys and emotions of being human. When he learns his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals all his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City, in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to embrace his place in the world."
David Bowers (Flushed Away) is directing the flick, from a script penned by Timothy Harris (Space Jam). In addition to Highmore and Bell, the cast includes Nathan Lane as Ham Egg, Nicolas Cage as Dr. Tenma, Bill Nighy voicing Dr. Elefun, Eugene Levy as Orrin, and Donald Sutherland as General Stone. Matt Lucas, Madeline Carroll and Sterling Beaumon round out the rest of the voice cast.
Astro Boy flies into theatres on October 23, 2009.
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