Astro Boy (2009)
Trivia
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The film was not a success in Japan, opening at the bottom end of the top ten films of that week. Initially, it broke box-office opening records for a CGI animated movie in China at the time (2009), however, numbers dropped after a few days. By the end of its run in China, it was not considered a box office success. Unlike two other U.S.-produced Japanese-based films had done previously: Dragonball Evolution (2009) and Speed Racer (2008) had tanked in Japan, but went on to be hugely successful in China.
As Astro Boy is under construction, the blueprint plan briefly seen has been drawn exactly as the character appeared in Astro Boy (1963).
Isaac Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics" are referenced a few times throughout the film. They are first mentioned when the RRF are introducing themselves to Astro. The laws, paraphrased, are as follows: 1) A robot may not harm a human being, or through inaction, allow a human to come to harm. 2) A robot must obey orders given it by a human being, as long as doing so does not conflict with the First Law. 3) A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not interfere with the First or Second Law.
Samuel L. Jackson only speaks eleven words in this movie: "I'm old school", "Not just people", "The blue stuff", and "No biggy".
A man in a red cap and glasses with a big nose appears in almost subliminal cameos throughout the film. This is the frequent self-caricature of Osamu Tezuka.
At one point, Brad Bird was interested in directing.
The character of Astro Boy first appeared in print as a manga in 1952 by Osamu Tezuka. This manga was adopted into the television shows Astro Boy (1963), Astroboy (1980), and Astro Boy (2003).
Scarlett Johansson was set to voice Cora, but was replaced by Kristen Bell for unknown reasons.
The Japanese release of the movie uses the original character model of Astro Boy, maintaining the original bodyform, facial features, and hairstyle rather than the updated character model. The differences can be noted in a comparison between the U.S. and Japanese trailers for the movie.
Astro Boy is called by his title name only by Hamegg, and only twice throughout the movie. Otherwise he's called Astro, Toby, Robot Boy, or Boy Robot.
Entertainment news reports in late January, 2009, stated that production had appeared, at the time, to have shut down, possibly due to the recession.
In the Japanese version, Megumi Hayashibara was the only one who provided voice work for an Astro Boy animé.
In 1999, Sony Pictures Entertainment purchased the film rights to Astro Boy from Osamu Tezuka Productions, intending to produce a combination live-action/animatronics/CGI feature film alongside Jim Henson Productions originally slated for a Christmas 2000 release, with Eric Leighton (Dinosaur) attached to direct. This came to no result, and in June 2004, Leighton was replaced with accomplished animator Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's Laboratory (1996), Samurai Jack (2001)) with a scheduled 2007 release. However, some time after this announcement was made, Tartakovsky left the film to produce The Dark Crystal (1982)'s sequel, The Power of the Dark Crystal, also for Jim Henson Productions.
Initially, Imagi Animation Studios wanted to redesign the shape of Astro Boy's face to make him look a little bit more grown-up. Tezuka Productions objected to such changes. Eventually a compromise was achieved whereby Astro Boy's face was only slightly altered to make him look a little more adult.
In summer 2006, the Hong Kong animation firm Imagi Animation Studios picked up the property as part of a three picture deal with Warner Brothers that also included Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Immortal (2007). Colin Brady was attached to direct. When Summit Entertainment took over the distribution rights in 2008, Brady had been replaced as director by David Bowers.
Samuel L. Jackson's third animated film, after The Incredibles (2004) and Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008), the former of which is also about superpowers.
Alan Tudyk's third theatrically released animated film after Ice Age (2002) and Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006).
Nathan Lane's fourth theatrically released animated film after The Lion King (1994), Titan A.E. (2000), and Teacher's Pet (2004).
Eugene Levy's third theatrically released animated film after Curious George (2006) and Over the Hedge (2006).
