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There are the odd few moments alluding to what it is that defines being human, but it simply isn’t going to go any deeper. Interestingly the story does have shades of the anime film Metropolis, which is also based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka. That film (which Bowers must have viewed) was a little more serious, with the main character being a robot, Tima, who truly believes that she is human.

The CG animation is good enough, though one wonders if maybe audiences were put off by the retro look of the title character. The overly cute big eyes and slick hair probably even looked too childish for most kids, giving off a somewhat cheap and predictable vibe. Astro Boy was not cheap, but predictable, yes.

This was a film that felt like it was going through the motions rather than adding its own unique spin. Just one look at the poster and you can already see exactly how this is going to play. We find out that Astro has super strength and can fly. He is rejected by his creator, he makes friends with humans, he defeats the villain and saves the day. Aside from the iconic title character himself, there is nothing overly distinctive that makes Astro Boy stand out from those films of its ilk. As an origin story, the first half of the film sticks close to the source. While it deserves to be praised for this, it could also be seen as part of the problem, with the timing of an Astro Boy film probably suffering a strange circle of misfortune.

If it wasn’t for the success of the original anime, then a good chunk of the anime series people know and love today might not have existed. Astro Boy’s influence can also be found in the likes of Transformers and more recent series such as Robotboy (blatantly) and My Life as a Teenage Robot. One could argue that by the time the Astro Boy film had come around it had simply been overshadowed by similar films and series that the original anime had helped inspire. If kids are already enjoying a similar premise on TV, then what is Astro Boy offering that’ll make them want to view it on the big screen?

In February 2010 parent company Imagi Holdings closed down their Imagi Animation Studios. They also still owed money to hundreds of staff that they had laid off. They were working on their next film Gatchaman (based on the anime series Science Ninja Team Gatachaman), but in June 2011 it was officially cancelled.

The sci-fi genre is one that excels in anime, but mainstream animated feature films always seem to be a struggle. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Titan A.E., Treasure Planet and Mars Needs Moms have all faltered at the box office. Robots, Wall-E and Monsters vs. Aliens have proven to be standouts, but that’s probably down to marketing the comedy side a little more. Astro Boy deserves kudos on sticking with the origin theme and the death of Toby, but opening the film with the death of a child makes it a difficult sell to parents (especially those that haven’t had the whole “death” conversation with their kids yet). Its blue core heart is in the right place, but despite the futuristic setting, the film presented a predictable scenario that feels dated.

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