The long-awaited remake of Astro Boy reveals exclusive images before its release

After more than a decade of waiting, the new Astro Boy anime is taking shape and will be officially shown at the Annecy Festival, which will take place in June. This highly anticipated remake has been a co-production between Shibuya Production, Method Animation, and Tezuka Productions, with the supervision of the heirs of the legendary creator Osamu Tezuka. Tezuka’s crowning work The development of this remake has been long-lasting, as it began 12 years ago, with Thomas Astruc, known for his work on Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug, in charge of the project. Although it was formally announced…

After more than a decade of waiting, the new Astro Boy anime is taking shape and will be officially showcased at the Annecy Festival, which will take place in June. This highly anticipated remake has been a co-production between Shibuya Production, Method Animation, and Tezuka Productions, with the supervision of the heirs of the legendary creator Osamu Tezuka.

Tezuka’s Masterpiece

The development of this remake has been long-lasting, as it started 12 years ago, with Thomas Astruc, known for his work on Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug, at the helm of the project. Although it was formally announced four years ago, the silence in updates has left fans with many questions. However, the presentation of exclusive footage at Annecy promises to answer some of them and generate more anticipation.

The premiere of the new Astro Boy is expected to take place in late 2026 or early 2027. The first revealed trailers have shown spectacular CGI animation, which aims to merge European animation styles with Japanese anime art, a combination that could attract a global audience.

Astro Boy, one of the pillars of Japanese pop culture, has maintained its relevance over the years, but this new project is set to revitalize its presence. The evolution of the franchise is crucial, especially after recent success stories like Pluto, which also took years in development. The first glimpses of the remake have been positive, generating interest among fans eagerly awaiting the return of the little hero.

If interested parties cannot attend the Annecy Festival, they will have to wait a little longer before seeing the new version of Astro Boy in action. Undoubtedly, the return of the character is one of the most anticipated events in the anime and pop culture sphere.

Everything you need to know about Pluto, the next big Netflix anime

Pluto, the acclaimed cult manga by Naoki Urasawa, will arrive on Netflix at the end of the month and we will tell you everything you need to know about it.

Few anime series are causing more excitement among a certain sector of anime fans than Netflix’s adaptation of Pluto by Naoki Urasawa. It’s a cult classic from a cult author that, for many people, might not just fly under the radar, but might not even ring a bell. But that’s where we come in, to provide you with context and let you know why this is a significant event in the anime world. And why you shouldn’t miss it for anything in the world.

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Who is Naoki Urasawa?

Naoki Urasawa is a mangaka born in 1959 in Tokyo. Starting his career in 1981, his first long story would be Pineapple Army. Success wouldn’t come until 1986 and 1988 when he released two of his most popular manga: Yawara and Master Keaton. However, it wasn’t until the 90s that he created the three cult works for which he is now known: Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto. Recognized for being an excellent storyteller, both in literary and visual terms, he is known for the idiosyncrasy of his character designs.

What is Pluto about?

“Pluto” is a story set in the world of Astro Boy, the manga created by Osamu Tezuka and published between 1952 and 1968. Specifically, it is a reimagining of the arc “The Greatest Robot on Earth,” taking the name of the villain from the original story for the title of the manga. In this tale, a robot detective named Gesicht is trying to uncover who is behind a series of murders involving robots and humans that seem to be connected. All of this unfolds in a society that, while accepting the essential rights of robots, still harbors deep suspicions and prejudices against them.

Do I need to know anything about Osamu Tezuka or Astro Boy to watch it?

While it helps to be familiar with the original story it’s based on, it’s not necessary to have read or know ‘The Greatest Robot on Earth’ or ‘Astro Boy’ to enjoy Pluto. Those familiar with the character and, more specifically, the story, will appreciate many subtle nods, non-explicit references, and hidden details, but the narrative doesn’t require any prior knowledge of the world.

Where can I see it?

The anime will be exclusively released on Netflix. No other streaming platform currently has the broadcasting rights for this anime.

How many chapters will it have?

According to information from Netflix, the Pluto anime will have 8 episodes. Since the original manga is made up of 8 volumes, it seems like a perfectly reasonable length for a story of this kind.

When does it arrive on Netflix?

Pluto will arrive on Netflix next Thursday, October 26th.

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The archive that holds the originals of Astro Boy, Naruto, and Detective Conan is closing, and they may have to delete them

Tokyo Laboratory will close its doors next fall and with it will go many mythical anime originals that, if not claimed, will have to be destroyed.

Technology changes everything, and technology changes all the time. While this has a positive side, it also has the tragic aspect that technological preservation is not only a necessity but a need that is rarely fully understood. Throughout human history, much of our culture has been lost due to the inability to preserve our outdated technology. It appears that we are on the verge of experiencing another one of these catastrophic transitions.

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Tokyo Laboratory is set to close its doors next autumn. If you’re not familiar with the name of this company, that’s understandable, but it has actually played a crucial role in many anime series you adore.

Owned by TOHO, Tokyo Laboratory was founded in 1955 to edit, archive, and develop films. Thanks to its ample space, TOHO also began using it as an archive for original anime films and television series due to its vast storage capacity. For instance, franchises like Mobile Suit Gundam, Astro Boy, Naruto, and Detective Conan have relied on Tokyo Laboratory’s services to store their original materials and preserve them with maximum security.

However, Tokyo Laboratory’s primary function is film editing and development. Due to the shift in anime production to digital, which requires much less physical space, they no longer need these facilities to preserve the content they produce.

So, what’s going to happen to all the original materials they have stored there? Tokyo Laboratory is attempting to return them to their rightful owners. Unfortunately, many may not claim their materials. In those cases, they are legally obligated to destroy all originals for which they do not hold the rights. This will be a significant loss, not only for the anime industry but also for culture in general.

That’s why the closure of Tokyo Laboratory is doubly sad. On one hand, a legendary company in the industry is closing its doors. On the other hand, many original materials will disappear, and we will never know more about them. It’s a genuine tragedy for the medium.

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