TOKYOPOP Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products have announced their latest joint venture will be Cine-Manga version of ASTRO BOY. Scheduled to hit shelves in August 2004, the book will be sheparded by the creative team behind the JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES Cine-Manga.
"We are delighted at the chance to work with Sony Pictures Consumer Products on such a cool project," said TOKYOPOP's senior editor of Cine-Manga, Elizabeth Hurchalla. "ASTRO BOY is an incredibly fun title, and we're confident that fans and newcomers alike will love seeing these adventures transcend the screen to steal their hearts."
"ASTRO BOY, with its exciting and jet-powered storyline, has all the components for awesome Cine-Manga," stated Al Ovadia, evp, Sony Pictures Consumer Products. "And we're sure that TOKYOPOP, with their extensive manga background, will develop a Cine-Manga that is as action-packed and exciting as the anime TV series."
Created in the 1960s by manga legend Osamu Tezuka, ASTRO BOY has gotten a new TV series, produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan and Tezuka Productions, which airs in the U.S. on Kids' WB! Set in 2030, the show revolves around the adventures of Astro, a fearless, jet-powered robot who fights to protect mankind from evil and defend his fellow robots from injustice.
TOKYOPOP Inc. is the leading North American publisher of manga, the fastest growing segment within the publishing industry. The firm holds exclusive rights to hundreds of licensed and original book, video and music properties. As a licensor, TOKYOPOP represents merchandising rights for RAVE MASTER, INITIAL D, STRAY SHEEP and others. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information.
Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP), based in Los Angeles and London, handles the merchandising and branding efforts for its parent company Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), whose global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment technologies and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
