Animation ascend to new heights with 'Astro Boy'

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Astro Boy, the mythical Japanese cartoon character that has fascinated generations of young people worldwide, will come out this year as an animated film by British director David Bowers.

The Astro Boy film is being crafted at Imagi Animation studios on the outskirts of Los Angeles, where a few scenes were shown to reporters from the project, the biggest animated feature undertaking since "TMNT," the 2007 Ninja Turtles blockbuster.

"To me it's a family unit film and like a lot of family films has darker elements, because the tale of Astro Boy is pretty sad and dark.

"We worked very, very hard to make sure that it was sensitively, dramatically terrific and as well to be respectful with this important Icon for the Japanese culture."