Animation Review: Astro Boy

Astro Boy is a 2009 3D animated film loosely based on a Japanese manga by the same name that was created by Osamu Tezuka. The story is about a robot that was created in the likeness of the son of Doctor Tenma, whom he lost following an accident.

3D animation is fast becoming a trend in recent years, and Astro Boy is certainly no different in joining the bandwagon together with other movies of the same medium. The film itself features breathtaking CG imagery while still retaining aspects of the original manga.

Figure 1: A scene from the beginning of the film. Movie Screenshots, 2011.

Due to many action scenes in the film, plenty of panned out shots are used in the film to capture as much action in a single frame. The shots are dynamic, and draws viewers to anticipate the next scenes that follow.

                      

Figure 2: A scene in the film. Movie Screenshots, 2011

That does not mean, however, that the movie is short of close-up shots that help create personal scenes in the film. As one of its core themes revolve around family and friendships, medium to close shots are used to create a warmer, comfortable atmosphere in the film. 

Figure 3: Father-son bonding. Personal collection.

The colors used throughout the film are vibrant and warm, even during nighttime scenes. It allows for a warm atmosphere to be created throughout the movie, and highly-saturated colors are used to create a sense of anticipation and danger in more fast-paced scenes. The film itself runs through a fast pace as it is packed with action scenes.

Astro Boy is a rather good film, even when it does not fully adhere itself to the original manga. While it feels a bit too fast-paced with little that can be considered remarkable, it still is an enjoyable film to watch.

Picture credits:

Movie Screenshots, 2011. Astro boy movie screenshots. Available at: http://moviescreenshot.blogspot.com/2011/05/astro-boy-movie-screenshots.html [accessed 26 July 2013]