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I was not expecting this. As both sources report, this DVD collection will only feature the English dub. It'll be released on May 5.

Sources: [url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Astro-Boy-The-Complete-Series/20899]TV Shows On DVD[/url], [url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/03/26/mill-creek-entertainment-to-re-release-2003-astro-boy-anime-on-dvd]Crunchyroll[/url]

Astro Boy - The 2003 Series Gets a 'Complete Series' Set this Spring!

50 episodes this May on an inexpensive 4-disc set

Posted by David Lambert [-] 3/25/2015

Blast off with ASTRO BOY, a state-of-the-art update of Tezuka Osamu's classic series that started the anime explosion. Filled with exciting action, humor and drama, ASTRO BOY tells the story of a young robot boy modeled after the son of a research scientist. This atomic-powered robot becomes a reluctant superhero who fights for justice and peace - for humans and robots alike! Contains all 50 Episodes; Aired on Cartoon Network and Kid's WB! Based on the classic 'Astro Boy' series from Tezuka Osamu in 1960s.

The 2003 show was previously released on DVD by Sony back in 2009, as five separate "volume" titles. Now Mill Creek Entertainment is bringing the entire show together in one collection with Astro Boy - The Complete Series on DVD! This 4-disc set with all 50 episodes is priced at just $14.98 SRP, and package art is below. We've also got an Amazon pre-order button link:

[url]http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V5JEIZ8?_encoding=UTF8&camp=15041&creative=373501&linkCode=as3&tag=tvshowsondvdcom[/url]

AstroBoy_Complete2003.jpg (35.57 KiB) Viewed 3702 times

I'm surprised to hear this as well. IIRC, the show bombed pretty badly in North America so I wasn't expecting a re-issue. It probably has something to do with the upcoming new Astro Boy show being made.

I'll be passing on this one given that I don't like the English dub, but this is good for those who don't mind it.

If that screen shot is accurate they may have restored the full wide screen format. That and the price make it worth considering. I still wish we could get the original release as it appeared in Japan, with good sub's or the voice soundtrack from the ELV (and the Japanese music track) though.

"astarisborn94" wrote:It probably has something to do with the upcoming new Astro Boy show being made.

That's what I'm thinking as well. The tagline on the front of the DVD collection does say "All 50 episodes from the 2003 reboot", which is interesting with the new series being called Astro Boy Reboot. Even if it is unrelated, it's interesting that they chose to use the word "reboot" in this particular instance.

Speaking of the cover of this DVD collection, does anyone else find Atom's angry face funny? I assume the company that made this wanted to make the cover look cool, but knowing Atom's character, I could never see him making a face like that in the series.

"Tetsuwan Penguin" wrote:If that screen shot is accurate they may have restored the full wide screen format.

The article that image comes from says the following:

On the other hand, this release will feature only the Sony-produced English language version of the show, which changes the aspect ratio of the picture from 16:9 to 4:3 and also makes strange editorial choices such as changing the names of principal characters and even changing Astro's characterization.

Granted, the Amazon listing doesn't have the aspect ratio listed yet, but taking that quote into account, it'll probably be in 4:3 (full screen).

I guess they either doctored the screen shot, or took one from the Japanese release for the article. Well, if anyone doesn't own a copy of the 2003 series, that is a good price. I don't remember what I paid for mine on Ebay, but it was in that ballpark. Seems that they've squeezed it down from 5 disks to 4 though .....

"Tetsuwan Penguin" wrote:Seems that they've squeezed it down from 5 disks to 4 though .....

Making the whole thing useless. I'm surprised there's even a topic for this. If someone really wants the botched US release, the previous set is still available for even cheaper than this. It had a more professional box art too. This new release is laughable from every angle.

EDIT: On the other hand, Black Jack set 2 finally came out. Looks beautiful.

"Shiyonasan" wrote:[QUOTE=astarisborn94;232556]It probably has something to do with the upcoming new Astro Boy show being made.

Speaking of the cover of this DVD collection, does anyone else find Atom's angry face funny? I assume the company that made this wanted to make the cover look cool, but knowing Atom's character, I could never see him making a face like that in the series.[/QUOTE]They just ripped the picture off of here:


Then changed his face to make him look angry. It looks like it was done on Photoshop and done very quickly for a quick release.

Speaking of re-releases, I'm surprised that I haven't heard of the Japanese original getting re-issued/released in Blu-Ray in Japan. Surely that must be out of print by now. Hopefully a Blu-Ray release happens someday; if it were I would definitely buy it despite my lack of Japanese knowledge.

This is exactly what Sony did in the fall of 2009...as soon as Imagi's movie was coming out, Sony re-released the original 5-disc set as five individual DVDs of 10 episodes each. This is nothing more than a cash grab, reusing the exact same files, which makes it even more despicable.

Sony only seems to hold onto the AB2003 license to throw it out for a quick money grab. I've seen weird knockoff CGI movies at Walmart that look similar to newly-released Disney/Pixar/Dreamworks/Blue Sky films that have more tact than this.

Hey that DVD image was on the original DVD release and was copied onto this new one.
Who holds the copyright on the 1980 series? I would have rather seen a re-release of that one!