Director David Bowers talks ASTRO BOY

The official Imagi Studio website has posted an interview with Astro Boy director David Bowers. While there isn't much to chew on in the short Q&A interview, you can read about his background in animation and you'll also find a new picture of Astro at the bottom of the page. Here's a quote on his vision in bringing a CG-fied Astro Boy to the big screen:

"I want Astro Boy to be a really special movie, a mix of action-adventure with lots of comedy and a really emotional story at its core. It's an iconic property and deserves respect, so I don't want to give it the glib, pop-referential treatment that so many animated movies have today. Instead I want it to stand as a classic superhero origin story, something befitting the icon of Astro Boy, kind of along the lines of Richard Donner's Superman. I want it to serve as an introduction to Astro Boy for western audiences whilst remaining faithful to the lore of Asian audiences. Astro Boy is a treasured icon in Japan and so I'm working closely with the Tezuka estate to ensure I get everything right."

His sincere statement on staying true to the source material gives me faith that its in good hands and it won't end up as a mediocre hack job. My fingers are crossed for a classy and respectful treatment of this classic Japanese icon. As of late October, the animated film is 50% completed in the pre-production stages according to Imagi's creative director Felix Ip. The theatrical release date is on October 23, 2009.