Heroman (BONES)

[duckroll]

http://www2.diary.ne.jp/user/116302/

The director of Kurau mentioned in his diary that at the BONES booth, besides showing a trailer of his Hakkenden CG short film, they also have a preview of a new show called "HEROMAN".

Heroman and Bounen no Zamudo are two trademarks registered to BONES last year. As such both are BONES originals. From 2ch and Irie's comments here's what I've mananged to gather about Heroman:

- Stan Lee is somewhat related to the production
- The style appears to be appealing to American children
- Irie says the characters are "cute"
- Someone on the BONES message board commented it seemed very western in design

[MrProphet]

BONES sure is on the roll these days.

A non-Japanese superhero sentai (or non-sentai) could be interesting. I for one cannot stand Ultraman. Hurray for american comics!

[duckroll]

Another comment on 2ch states that there's definitely an american comic feel to it and the design looks kinda 'pop'. When he first saw the trailer, he was kinda confused because the main character's hair style and hair color were kinda similar to the heroine in Xamdou, and there was a robot covered in shadow.

[duckroll]

I decided to check out Stan Lee's production company's site here: http://www.powentertainment.com/

Click on Characters & Franchises, then click on Animated Television Shows/Series, and then click on HERO MAN.

HERO MAN

Animated Television series in development with Japanese based Animation Company WOWMAX/BONES.

[himurokoken]

Hi duckroll :)

thanks for the information

[duckroll]

Here's more info on Wowmax Media: http://wowmaxmedia.com/corp.html

[duckroll]

Newtype's BONES blowout has a feature on this!


Hero Man

Concept: Stan Lee
Character Design: Shigeto Koyama
Chief Animator: Toshihiro Kawamoto
Director: Hitoshi Nanba
Animation Production: BONES x Pow! Entertainment x Wowmax Media!

Story: Set in America. A young boy named Joey living in the West Coast comes across a toy robot. The toy robot turns into the giant robot of justice - Hero Man! Joey controls Hero Man and fights against other giant forces of evil!

[aardvark]

Newtype's BONES blowout has a feature on this!


Hero Man

Concept: Stan Lee
Character Design: Shigeto Koyama
Chief Animator: Toshihiro Kawamoto
Director: Hitoshi Nanba
Animation Production: BONES x Pow! Entertainment x Wowmax Media!


Bolded = awesome

[solomon]

Hmm, I see Koyama's mainly done mech design so this will be a new swing.

As fer Kawamoto, I LOVE his designs (hes one of the best in my opinion) and I suspect he's probably a good animator, but when i think of japanese animators I think of either Ghibli people or action people like YutaNaka.

(Regular guys like him are harder to point out unless you can get your hands on intervews and stuff like that)

[MrProphet]

So, the rumours of Shigeto Koyama working with BONES on Xamdou were just slighty off the mark, but close enough.

The storylike makes me wanna facepalm, but this is BONES! Srsly, guys, not another "Imma SEIGI NO MIKATA!!!!11" series.

[Shinndou]

As fer Kawamoto, I LOVE his designs (hes one of the best in my opinion) and I suspect he's probably a good animator, but when i think of japanese animators I think of either Ghibli people or action people like YutaNaka.

(Regular guys like him are harder to point out unless you can get your hands on intervews and stuff like that)

Well yes, usually when one reads Kawamoto's name the first thing that comes to the mind is his distinctive and notorious character design. But in his portfolio he's worked as an animator, even as chief animator so I think we can expect some really nice things. What gets me curious is Koyama as character designer though.

So, the rumours of Shigeto Koyama working with BONES on Xamdou were just slighty off the mark, but close enough.
It's true that if he collaborated on Xamdou I would have probably pictured him covering the mechanical designer role. :heh:

The storylike makes me wanna facepalm, but this is BONES! Srsly, guys, not another "Imma SEIGI NO MIKATA!!!!11" series.
I'm fine even with an intended over-the-top/parody of the sentai genre, as long as the enemies aren't "PIG DISGUSTING", if you get what I mean. :D

[donquigleone]

Anyone know if there's some good pictures/film floating about on this?

[flou]

Hmm....Koyama Shigeto is doing the character designs? That's unusual. I hope we'll get to see a new promo picture soon! This and Bonen no Xamdou are going to rock, if not only for the reason they are both animated by BONES :D

[duckroll]

It looks like you're going to have to wait until I get my copy of Newtype in a day or so. People don't seem to care to scan anything from the BONES article other than E7. :(

[flou]

It looks like you're going to have to wait until I get my copy of Newtype in a day or so. People don't seem to care to scan anything from the BONES article other than E7. :(

I'm also waiting for my copy of Newtype, too. Was it confirmed on 2ch that there is a picture?

[duckroll]

There's a 14 page BONES 10th Anniversary feature in Newtype. It covers all their upcoming, running and previous works. There's also an artwork by Kawamoto featuring 29 BONES characters. :o

[flou]

There's a 14 page BONES 10th Anniversary feature in Newtype. It covers all their upcoming, running and previous works. There's also an artwork by Kawamoto featuring 29 BONES characters. :o

I'm so glad I ordered this month's Newtype :D

[duckroll]

Wow, I got it. This is the best issue of Newtype is a loooooong while. Especially for fans interested in BONES as a studio, the people in it, how they operate and what are their thoughts on their work and the industry at large. Really, really awesome 10th Anniversary feature on the studio. I'm sooooo happy. ^_^


Edit: Here are the Hero Man scans. Remember, if you're a fan of BONES and you have access to Newtype in your area, please BUY this issue. It's really worth it.

http://img202.imagevenue.com/loc22/th_08725_HeroMan1_122_22lo.jpg (http://img202.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=08725_HeroMan1_122_22lo.jpg) http://img16.imagevenue.com/loc946/th_08732_HeroMan2_122_946lo.jpg (http://img16.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=08732_HeroMan2_122_946lo.jpg)

[ZODDGUTS]

Is this really aim at U.S. audience? Had to take a double look because I was certain that person in the mag was a girl. Not sure if I'll appeal to them because of how the character looks. Don't they know that we like our leads to be buff and bald, girly man not wanted! ! :heh:

[Shinndou]

Oh boy, look at these illustrations (thanks duckroll, I can't get NT here, but if this month's issue is THAT good I might as well order it from the intertubes). While it was obvious this wasn't going to be a "serious" show, I guess these pretty much confirm my previous speculations. :heh:
Maybe it could very well be an over-the-top mecha show, along the lines of Gurren Lagann (which is the most recent example) and other not-so-serious-yet-interesting type of shows. :heh:

Koyama's character design looks nice!

[aardvark]

The mechanical design is what you would expect from Koyama who I am glad to see in a more prominent role. The overall design of the Hero Man reminds me of the 3rd form of the Nirvash from E7, though blockier (and without the back protrusion)

This is the first time he's done actual character design though (afaik). For comparison, here's an E7 illustration from Koyama that is pretty similar in terms of character art (he can draw, though not spell english :heh:)

http://i26.tinypic.com/nh18yf.jpg


As far as the show, it seems like a Tetsujin-28 set in America :)

[duckroll]

Stan Lee was part of the various people that had a message for BONES' 10th anniversary in the article, here's what he said:

Happy 10 year anniversary! It's been great pleasure working with you. I can't think of any better partner to be collaborating with to make this amazing project "Hero-Man" than Studio Bones. - Stan Lee

[spaced]

Would it be absurd to expect this at TAF this week?

[aardvark]

Would it be absurd to expect this at TAF this week?
It would be worrying if it wasn't :heh:

[solomon]

Well it looks SUPER DUMB but at least the designs are nice, at first glance I thought it was Yoshida under someone elses name.

[Zu Ra]

http://img202.imagevenue.com/loc22/th_08725_HeroMan1_122_22lo.jpg (http://img202.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=08725_HeroMan1_122_22lo.jpg)http://img16.imagevenue.com/loc946/th_08732_HeroMan2_122_946lo.jpg (http://img16.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=08732_HeroMan2_122_946lo.jpg)

Its good to see two of my favorite genres collaborate Marvel Comics/Anime also Stan lee and Koyama. Even if Stan Lee has done just the concept the anime in whole looks very promising . Also from the cover posted the art and character designs too look good at a first glance. Will be looking forward to seeing it when it comes out .

And last but not least thanks to D.Roll for the thread and for all the updates .

[duckroll]

Erm, yeah I think this show has been canned. We haven't heard anything for a year now and it's been missing from all the usual cons and trade shows. Lol.

[_gallo_]

Eh, it's only me or Bones doesn't seem on the roll anymore? Could be they have same financial difficulties since American market is in trouble? I don't know what to think of them now. Probably is not completely their fault, but after some recent shows I have lessened my faith in them.

Also, A studio in certainly unlucky. First with Ayakashi and than with this... well, I hope the manage to make at least a show by the end of 2010. The only anime they produced in recent years is Jyu Oh sei, which wasn't good, and a studio supervised by Kawamoto could give something more to the public.

[duckroll]

Wasn't Ayakashi Ayashi after Jyuohsei?

[_gallo_]

Ah, you're right. I thought that Ayakashi started in spring (the year is the same).

[spaced]

Maybe it's a communication issue with Stan Lee that's delaying the development process?

[duckroll]

Ah, you're right. I thought that Ayakashi started in spring (the year is the same).

After the Ayakashi Ayashi OVAs, A Studio went on to work on production of Chiko. While BONES did not anime or direct the series (Telecom did), they were responsible for the designs and overall concept. They also animated the OP and ED. BONES also worked on ep3 of Michiko, with Kawamoto as animation director. So it's not like A Studio hasn't been doing anything. They've been working on Heroman for a while, so that would be the last thing they've been working on, assuming it's canned. If it isn't canned then they're probably still working on it.

[sapphire-pyro]

Wow! This show looks really seem awesome! I look forward to it *_*

[Katapan]

Starting in Shounen Gangan next month (heads up to Heiji-sama from Mangaverse forums for posting the scan):

http://i25.tinypic.com/2s0iaub_th.jpg (http://i25.tinypic.com/2s0iaub.jpg)

I guess the project's fine? :)

[duckroll]

Yup, looks like the project is still alive. They're starting with a manga first for some reason. Maybe the anime project got delayed after they worked on a few episodes last year, and they're resuming production soon?

[duckroll]

Gangan has updated their site with the cover page of the first chapter of HEROMAN!

http://gangan.square-enix.co.jp/lineup/up_image/2009081228b.jpg

[spaced]

So the first chapter should be out now right? Has anyone read it yet?

[duckroll]

Chapter 2:

http://gangan.square-enix.co.jp/lineup/up_image/2009091226b.jpg

[Albafica]

I like Stan Lee's work with comics, so is Heroman good?

[Haohmaru]

Art looks weak. Especially compared to other BONES manga like Darker than Black Shikkoku no Hana. But then again, that looks just incredible. So it's not a fair comparison.

[Albafica]

Well, it looks incredible or it is incredible? :heh:

If the design is bad but the story is good, it's ok for me :).

[duckroll]

Oh look, and the anime is actually going to come out next year! More details in next month's Gangan...

http://i38.tinypic.com/15kjmb.jpg

[LightningZERO]

Stan Lee? Man, I have to watch this!

[Haohmaru]

Oh look, and the anime is actually going to come out next year! More details in next month's Gangan...

http://i38.tinypic.com/15kjmb.jpg
I wonder if it'll be a full series or something else. I would prefer OVA's

[duckroll]

It's a TV series. Wanpack worked on animation for episode 4 in November last year, and in September this year they worked on animation for episode 12.

[spaced]

Oh my gosh! Bones, how I love you.

[McMilk]

Reminds me of Eureka Seven art (which I love). Really looking forward to this.