Imagi Studios

An Early GATCHAMAN Trailer – This Might be Our Last Look at the Movie

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 18th, 2010 at 11:19 pm

September 7, 2008.  That’s the day we posted a short teaser clip from Imagi’s animated Gatchaman movie.  Since that time, images have been released, a longer teaser clip was shown at Anime Expo 2009, and then the bad news hit: Imagi Studios L.A. branch was getting shut down and no one knew if the Gatchaman movie would ever get released.

When we reported Imagi was getting shut down, I figured everything Gatchaman related was going to get buried with it.  But that doesn’t seem to be the case, as an early teaser trailer has hit the net and you can check it out after the jump.  Just know this isn’t a new trailer, as Twitch reports it fits the description of something shown at the HK Filmart back in 2007

Imagi Animation Studios Shut Down; Is the Adaptation of GATCHAMAN Dead?

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 3:33 pm

It’s not easy being the outsider among giants, and now, according to Twitch, the independent Imagi Animation Studios is closing down after being forced to lay off 300 of its employees due to financial woes.  The studio launched in 2000 and after doing animation work for TV and in a supporting capacity with DreamWorks Animation’s Father of the Pride (2004), the studio had a moderate success in 2007 with TMNT.  Unfortunately, their next film, last year’s Astro Boy opened to disappointing numbers, raking in only $23 million worldwide, which was less than a third of its budget.

Unfortunately, Imagi was in the middle of working on an adaptation of the 1970s anime TV series Gatchaman.  The series [as related by Wikipedia] centered on five teenage superhero ninjas who opposed a group of technologically advanced villains from taking control of the Earth’s natural resources.  While their adaptation, set for 2011, is most likely dead, it’s also likely that someone will pick it up in the future and shoot it back to the big screen.  You just can’t keep a group of teenage superhero ninjas who dress like birds down.  But if you want to feel wistful and long for things that will not be, click here to see a teaser poster, a clip, and images from the film and click here to see a teaser trailer.

11 Movie Clips from ASTRO BOY

by David Lane    Posted: October 4th, 2009 at 2:27 pm

Opening on October 23^rd is Imagi Studios “Astro Boy”. The film is based on the legendary manga character created by Osamu Tezuka and in the film, Astro Boy is a young robot with incredible powers created by a scientist named Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Powered by positive “blue” energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly. Embarking on a journey in search of acceptance, Astro Boy encounters many other colorful characters along the way. Through his adventures, he learns the joys and emotions of being human, and gains the strength to embrace his destiny. Ultimately learning his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to understand what it means to be a hero. To help promote the film, we’ve been provided with 11 clips and you can watch them after the jump:

GATCHAMAN Movie – Photos of the Display at Los Angeles Anime Expo 2009 – Plus a Gatchaman Watch

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 2nd, 2009 at 5:51 pm

Starting today at the Los Angeles Convention Center is Anime Expo 2009. Billed as the nation’s largest anime and manga convention, I went to see if their claim was true. And I have to say, it was pretty impressive. In a little while I’ll be posting tons of pictures of people in costumes and a more detailed write-up of what I thought. But for now, let’s talk “Gatchaman”.

At the convention today, Imagi Studios had a booth where they were showing clips from their upcoming “Astro Boy” movie and they also had some early signage for their next feature “Gatchaman”. After the jump, you can see the images as well as a “Gatchaman” watch which they were giving away to people at certain times of the day.

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