by Amrith » Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:21 pm
Even if I love all versions, Black Jack OVA Series is by far better.
Osamu Tezuka disliked to make happy endings in "Astro Boy", "Jungle Emperor Leo", "Dororo" and all his anime conversions, but he was forced by japanese networks. It was in 1960's. And now, in 2006, the thing that he hated continues, the same cutting ritual, this time under supervision of his own son : Black Jack TV Series mutated into a childish, colorful, happy and optimistic work, far away the original manga. Yes it's a funny series which I like too, but I cannot compare with the masterpiece of legendary duo Osamu Dezaki/Akio Sugino - fabulous "Space Adventure Cobra" and "Lady Oscar" are the proof they were the most talented Tezuka's disciples with Rin Taro.
The OVA series is frightening, pitiness, bloody, serious, both political and spiritual, dealing with thriller and fantasy. It has a resonance with the modern world, and it has been made without the commercial constraints that Tezuka denounced - I'm talking about the audacity of topics, in particular. This is not a scholar "Copy/Stick" anime, but a powerful reinvention of the legacy.
In addition to these considerations, there is simply the fact that animated Black Jack never looked as charismatic as during this OVA series. The Black Jack who smiles easily, eats hot-dogs, plays baby-sitter, and the Pinoko who shouts all the day, are not the same characters : they were not in the original manga, only in the Black Jack and Black Jack 21 TV Series. To my opinion.
So Osamu Dezaki, please come back on next remake.