Live-Action TETSUJIN 28-GO aka GIGANTOR Movie to be directed by GHOST IN THE SHELL Director

One of Japan's most famous giant robots is starting its journey to the big screen. Tetsujin 28-go aka Gigantoris the giant robot of all giant robots, this is the one that started it all. The manga was created in 1956 byMitsuteru Ykoyama. In 1963 it was adapted into four anime TV series starting in 1963, and was the first Japanese series to feature a giant robot.

The story is about a young boy named Shotaro Kaneda who controls a giant robot built by his father, the robots name is Tetsujin 28/Gigantor.

During the final days of World War II, the Japanese military is secretly developing a superweapon that helps save the Japanese Empire. After twenty-seven failed attempts, Dr. Kaneda completes a three-stories high, remote-controlled robot. The robot is officially named Tetsujin 28-go. The war, however, is already over, and Dr. Kaneda dies of heart failure. Rather than becoming the military's key weapon, Tetsujin 28 is given to Dr. Kaneda's ten-year-old son, Shotaro. Under the Shotaro's control, Tetsujin is put to work stopping criminals and enemy robots.

If I had a giant robot when I was a kid, I don’t think I would have thought about using a giant robot to fight crime. I would have had a ton of fun with it, probably causing mass destruction in the process. I used to play with fire when I was a kid, but I didn't go around stopping crime with it, I burned stuff! I think I would be more like the kid in The Iron Giant. Good for Shotaro thinking of helping others before helping himself.

There is actually a CGI animated film being made right now which is being developed over at Imagi Studios which brought us Astro Boy. As you know though, Astro Boy failed miserably and who knows if the studio is still even perusing this new Gigantor film or not. To see what they are currently doing with it Click Here.

This new film that is going into production based on this classic giant robot is going to be a live action version and it will be directed by Mamrou Oshii, who was the guy that directed The Ghost in the Shell, Avalon, and The Sky Crawlers. This guy has a great creative imagination and I think he would make a great director on the project. He’s actually already adapted Gigantor once before for a stage play.

There are no details on what Oshii has in store for the live action film, but I have no doubt he will be able to make an epic giant robot movie.

What are your thoughts on Tetsujin 28-go aka Gigantor being made into a live-action big screen movie?