Wednesday, November 14, 2007

FREDERIK L. SCHODT ON OSAMU TEZUKA: THE ASTRO BOY ESSAYS

Osamu Tezuka (1928-89) was the pioneering genius of manga and TV animation in Japan, and Tetsuwan Atomu, or “Mighty Atom,” known in the United States as Astro Boy, is his life’s masterwork. Tetsuwan Atomu is the enduring story about a cute little android who yearns to be more human. The history of its creation and production-and Tezuka’s role in it-is as much a roadmap to understanding the development of the twin powerhouse media of manga and anime in the United States, as it is the story of Tezuka’s creativity and dedication. Japan expert Frederik L. Schodt examines Tezuka’s life, the art of animation, the connection between fantasy robots and technology, spin-offs, and Astro Boy’s cultural impact.

Frederik L. Schodt was befriended by Osamu Tezuka in the late 1970s and maintained a close relationship with him until his death in 1989. Fluent in spoken and written Japanese, Fred frequently served as Tezuka’s interpreter and is the translator of several of Tezuka’s manga, including the 23-volume Astro Boy series. He is also the author of several acclaimed works on Japan and Japanese culture. Fred won the Osamu Tezuka Culture Award in 2000 for helping to popularize manga overseas. He lives in San Francisco.

Location:
Japan Society
500 Washington Street, Suite 500, San Francisco

Time:
5:30 pm Reception
6:00 pm Program
7:00 pm Book Signing

Cost:
Free for Japan Society Members & Students / $5.00 Non Members

Generously Co-sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee