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Osamu Tezuka's Garon Manga Inspires Museum Anime Short

A new anime short inspired by the late pioneer Osamu Tezuka's Majin Garon (The Devil Garon) manga will begin playing at The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum in Hyōgo Prefecture at the end of this month. "Garon the Guardian" celebrates the 50th anniversary of Mighty Atom (Astro Boy), the first full-fledged television anime in Japan, and the upcoming 20th anniversary of the museum.

The story follows an awe-imposing giant named Garon who comes from space to Earth, threatening humanity with extinction. However, a girl believes that Garon is not evil, and reaches out to Pick, a boy contained inside Garon's body. Meanwhile, the military plans a nuclear strike against Garon.

Tezuka serialized the original Majin Garon manga in the magazine Bōken Ō from 1959 to 1962, although the anime short has new story elements and characters. While Garon has appeared as a guest character in other Tezuka anime such as Astro Boy, this new anime is the first standalone Garon anime.

The 22-minute short is a collaboration of veterans of Mushi Productions, younger talent at Tezuka Productions, and the Osaka University of Arts' Character Creative Arts Department. Sōji Yoshikawa (Lupin the 3rd: The Mystery of Mamo, Kirby: Right Back At Ya!, Tensai Bakabon) helmed the project with animation director Michinosuke Nakamura (assistant animation director on 2009 Jungle Emperor Leo television special, Kids on the Slope, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal) and producer Ryousuke Takahashi (Votoms franchise, Jungle Emperor Leo special, Aoki Ryūsei SPT Layzner).

The anime will run for free at the museum eight times a day from April 27 to May 14.

Thanks to F-Man for the news tip.

Source: Asahi

Image © Tezuka Productions/Osaka University of Arts