Imagi Studios has posted an exclusive interview with Colin Brady, director of the upcoming CG-animated Astro Boy feature film. Marking the first time Brady has discussed the project, the Q & A session can be found at www.imagi.com.hk, under the ‘What’s New’ section. Imagi’s U.S. studio is developing an original story based on the Tezuka Productions Co. property, and its animation facility in Hong Kong will handle physical production for the movie, which the company hopes get into theaters sometime in 2009.
Brady was one of the directors on Starz Media’s 2006 theatrically distributed animated feature Everyone’s Hero, and has worked in the animation industry for more than a decade. At Pixar, he served as a lead animator on Toy Story and a co-director on Toy Story 2. He also contributed to major projects at such leading vfx shops as Industrial Light & Magic and Rhythm & Hues.
Astro Boy tells a Pinocchio-esque tale of a robot boy, modeled after the deceased son of a research scientist, who becomes a renowned superhero complete with laser-firing fingers, keen hearing and jet-powered boots. Osamu Tezuka first introduced the character to Japanese manga readers in 1951. A black-and-white cartoon series emerged in 1963, followed by a color update in 1980. The latest version, produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan and Tezuka Prods., debuted on Kids’ WB! in the fall of 2004.
Hong Kong-based Imagi most recently completed the CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie TMNT, which The Weinstein Co. and Warner Bros. Pictures released in theaters on March 30. The independently produced feature opened to $24 million and eventually earned more than $92 million worldwide. Imagi is also prepping an animated feature based on Tatsunoko Prods.’ classic anime series Gatchaman (a.k.a. G-Force, Battle of the Planets and Eagle Riders), with TMNT helmer Kevin Munroe attached to direct.
