2003-04 ASTRO BOY Anime Series Returns on Region 1 DVD

Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment press release Official Site: Astro Boy Complete, Astro Boy Vol 1

With Imagi Studio`s CG ASTRO BOY movie scheduled for a October 23rd US theatrical release, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is taking the opportunity to re-issue the 2003-04 ASTRO BOY animated series on DVD. The anime based on the legendary Japanese comic series by Osamu Tezuka, known as the "Japanese Walt Disney", will be available on September 15. ASTRO BOY follows the adventures of a clever and resourceful atomic-powered robot with super strength and jet-rocket feet, who possesses a human-like personality and fights for justice and peace for humans and robots alike. Produced by Tezuka Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, the fifty episode ASTRO BOY was inspired by the classic anime series that originally aired in Japan in 1963. The new show celebrated the 40th anniversary of Tezuka`s original ASTRO BOY anime and premiered in Japan on the character`s fictional birthday of April 7, 2003 with state-of-the-art animation and visuals that kept the same classic style as the original Astro Boy manga and anime. The series debuted in America on the Kids WB Network and Toonami in 2004. In 2005, the series was released in a Region 1 DVD box set by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Now Sony will now re-release ASTRO BOY in five separate collectible DVD volumes, each containing ten episodes and priced at $14.94 SLP.

DVD Contents

ASTRO BOY Volume 1: Power Up! Rocket Ball Atlas Astro vs. Atlas Destination Deimos Into Thin Air Rainbow Canyon Neon Express Franken The Venus Robots ASTRO BOY Volume 2: Reviving Jumbo Robot Hunters The Rise of Pluto The Fall of Acheron Dragon Lake Lost in Outland Deep City The Blue Knight Hydra-Jacked Geo Raider

ASTRO BOY Volume 3: Secret of the Blue Knight Robot Circus Little Sister, Big Trouble Micro Adventure Only a Machine Robot Boy Dawn of the Techno-Revolution The Legend of Tohron March of the Micro Bears Old Dog, New Tricks ASTRO BOY Volume 4: The Case of the Phantom Fowl Gideon Fairy Tale Shape Shifter Firebird Space Academy Atlas Strikes Back Battle-Bot Time Hunters Escape from Volcano Island

ASTRO BOY Volume 5: Avalanche! Battle of Steel Island Undercover Into the Dragon’s Lair Night Before the Revolution Robotonia Showdown in Robotonia Journey to Tomorrow Astro Reborn The Final Battle Featurette: “Remaking of Astro Boy” ASTRO BOY Volumes 1-5 each have a run time of approximately 240 minutes and are not rated. DVD Special Features on Each Volume: Full Screen Presentations Audio: English, Spanish, Portuguese (Stereo) Closed Captioned

About ASTRO BOY (2003)

Blast off with the all-new ASTRO BOY, a state-of-the-art update of Osamu Tezuka’s classic series that started the anime explosion. Filled with exciting action, humor, and drama, ASTRO BOY tells the story of a young robot boy modeled after the deceased son of a research scientist. Originally intended to be kept a secret, the atomic-powered robot becomes a reluctant but publicly renowned superhero— complete with devices like laser-firing fingers, uncanny hearing, and jet-powered boots— who fights for justice and peace for humans and robots alike!

About Sony Picture Home Entertainment

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE`s global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 100 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at sonypictures.com. For more info on Blu-ray Disc, visit sonypictures.com/bluray.

For more information on ASTRO BOY please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: