My mom's comments on Tezuka

[Manetoys]

I was watching Phoenix. (The 2004 version I believe) and my mom commented that Tezuka "Wouldn't know a happy ending if it bite him in the face." That hit me kinda hard and I couldn't help but think, "Damn, she's right. Tezuka stuff can be a real downer" and it made me wonder why I'm so into his stuff since I'm not normally into tragic stories like this. It dawned on me that I think I'm attracted more by his characters and art style more than his actual stories.
Your thoughts?

[Jeffbert]

While I like happy endings, I also enjoy good stories whose characters compel my empathy or at least I identify with them. Owning the B&W MIGHTY ATOM 193 episodes on disc, I have seen more tragic endings than those who have only seen the English dubbed episodes. I think that tragic endings alone are depressing, but given a positive message in those endings makes a difference.

[AprilSeven]

I know what you mean, Manetoys - I recently watched the English subbed "Metropolis" that is on Crackle. Incredible story, but also NOT exactly a "feel good film." Likewise with Astro/Atom, which I feel very well acquainted . . . BUT it seems that with his stories/characters, that there is always an underlying, burning hopefullness. There are also such compellingly wonderful characters (like Ochanomizu or Atom) who you become REALLY connected to - perhaps because they DON'T always get a happy ending, and in that way, they are more realistic and memorable.

I'd like to see/read Phoenix because it seems to be one of his best-loved works. Hopefully I can locate it somewhere online (and I'll certainly add it to my collection when I can).

[F-Man]

Just remember folks - the best adaptation of Hi no Tori is the trilogy of films from 1986. But thankfully, all the different anime adaptations cover different chapters, never overlapping one another.

It was the look of Tezuka's characters that made me a fan immediately, and to seek out more of his works after | first watched Metropolis, but I was extremely lucky to find that he also turned out to be this "god of manga" and that his stories match my tastes perfectly. From the Shakespearian tragedy often present, to the hard-core science fiction concepts, to the jarring mix of cute and violent, and of course, the great messages about life itself.

[strobe_z]