On April 6 (his birthday no less) a new Astro Boy anime TV series debuted on Fuji TV in Japan, the same channel that broadcast the original Astro Boy animated series back in 1963.  Osamu Tezuka's most popular creation (known as Tetsuwan Atom in Japan) is still a major force in Japan, where the new series and yearlong birthday celebrations are expected (according to Ad Age) to increase sales of Astro Boy merchandise from the normal $42 million per year to an estimated $170 million in 2003.  Major companies including Kelloggs use the boy robot extensively on packaging for the Japanese audience, and he also appears on soft drink bottles and chocolate bar wrappers.  The influence of Astro Boy is so pervasive in Japan that he shows up in the most unlikely places -- including decorating the cups of an 'Astro-Bra' produced by lingerie maker Triumph.  On a more conventional level, the toymaker Takara is set to release 50 new Astro Boy products this year.

Although no dates or venues are set for the return of Astro Boy to U.S. broadcast airwaves, the new series was designed for export around the world and produced in conjunction with Sony Pictures Hollywood office, which had considerable input on the scripts for the new CGI series (see 'Sony To Create New Astro Boy TV Series').  Sony's feature length CGI Astro Boy film should debut here sometime in 2004.  With Dark Horse Comics publishing the classic Tezuka Astro Boy manga series, this is a property that could heat up in the U.S. as well as Japan over the next couple of years.