TAG had a contract with Imagi (L.A.) for a year and a half. Then the bottom fell out. Film Biz Asia now gives us a clear idea of where that bottom ended up.
Hong Kong-based animation firm Imagi International Holdings yesterday announced colossal losses. ...
For the financial year to March 2011, Imagi reported revenue of HK$8.6 million ($1.11 million) and losses of HK$624 million ($80.2 million). These include the redemption of a prints and advertising loan, a bridge loan and convertible loan notes. Additional provisions against two feature films Astro Boy (released last year) and Gatchaman (uncompleted) cost a further HK$81.2 million ($10.4 million). ...
Yeowch. No wonder the studio shut down. Hard to be an indie and stay in business with those kinds of monster losses.
The end of Imagi was a double tragedy. Not only did a hundred-plus people at the Los Angeles studio lose their jobs, but Astro Boy, one of the great films of the modern era, failed to find an audience. (This was obviously the distributor's fault.)
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16 comments:
Astro Boy was a good little movie. My kids and I loved it. Poor Imagi.
It's back to making christmas trees for imagi. What a shame they just couldn't quite tell a story.
Well since they have a new Disney distribution deal maybe they will reinvent themselves.
Wish to hell they'd had that distribution deal when Astro Boy came out. The movie might have had a chance then. Summit kills just about all the movies they distribute, except Twilight, which it barely needs to even advertise.
Calling Astroboy one of the great films is a bit like calling a Twinkie one of the greatest accomplishments of the culinary arts, isn't it?
Astoboy was, umm how should I best phrase this? Oh yes, CRAP!
Astro Boy was awesome. Hell of a lot better than Up as far as I'm concerned. It just didn't get the advertising and support that other rebooted properties have gotten. Those here dissing it probably have never actually seen it. It's a far cry from bastardized reboots like Chipmunks and the Smurfs. It was done with intelligence and heart, and the animation was superb for a film with its budget. I too hope for a sequel.
Astro Boy was a mediocre film. The sad thing is that it had so much potential. There were so many themes and ideas there begging to be explored.
"I too hope for a sequel"
I hope my 401 K will get back to where it once was too. I think we both are going to be disappointed. Now, put down your action figures and come get your dinner...
^Sounds like you're as smart an investor as you are a moviegoer, then. Astro Boy rocked.
Where is all this love for Astro-boy coming from? Few went to see it. Few liked it. Look I realize that you probably worked on it and that is what is driving your loyalty. I worked on both "Cats Don't Dance" and "Surf's Up" so I share your pain, but let it go...the public certainly did.
"A little charmless and not particularly funny. The recycling message is also woefully heavy-handed"
"Awesome. Truly." - San Francisco Chronicle.
"A charming and entertaining animated science fiction adventure that doesn't club us over the head with sensory overload..." - Cinema Crazed
"It is a bold and even poignant idea and the movie certainly zips along. It's not in the Wall-E league, but it's well made and inventive." - Guardian UK
^Yes, they're talking about Astro Boy...
"An enjoyably written and performed romantic comedy." -Amy Dawes, Variety
"Julia Roberts and Richard Gere probably WISH they had this type of chemistry." -Chuck the Movie Guy, ComingSoon.net
^Yes, they're talking about Gigli...
Anyone can cherry pick the few positive reviews of a terrible, terrible film.
It's funny how folks forget that they actually made "TMNT" before they made "Astroboy" and that did well in the theaters, much better than "Astro."
It's sad the "new" management of Imagi drove it into the ground.
It's funny how folks forget that they actually made "TMNT" before they made "Astroboy" and that did very well in the theaters, $90 mil, which was 3X the budget...much better than"Astro." It's sad the "new" management of Imagi drove it into the ground... In only 2 years...
Wish to hell they'd had that distribution deal when Astro Boy came out. The movie might have had a chance then. Summit kills just about all the movies they distribute, except Twilight, which it barely needs to even advertise.
No arguments there.
It's funny how folks forget that they actually made "TMNT" before they made "Astroboy" and that did very well in the theaters, $90 mil, which was 3X the budget...much better than"Astro." It's sad the "new" management of Imagi drove it into the ground... In only 2 years...
Don't forget the Highlander anime thingy as well (of course nowhere near what TMNT raked in but they had a few things going on simultaneously)! Some friends and me didn't like the Astro Boy film when we went to see it back then. I remember not really enjoying myself at all and found the 6 or 7 dollars I used probably could've went to something else in the end. The film certainly deserved better treatment on the distributor's part, but I also think he still needed improvements to satisfy those like me. Certainly the kids would've ate it up anyway, but those of us more steeped into Tezuka's creation and approach probably wanted more.
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