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(Image credit: Scholastic)
The late, great Osamu Tezuka is one of the finest comics artists of all time and it’s not for nothing that he is often referred to as “the father of manga.” Tezuka created a legion of beloved characters and stories that have stood the test of time, fromAstro Boyand Princess Knight to Phoenix and Unico.
It’s the latter we’re here to discuss today. Unico was published in manga magazine Ririka between 1976 and 1979. Two anime films were also completed in the ’80s. Alas, the manga was never completed, and Tezuka passed away in 1989.
(Image credit: Scholastic)
Newsarama: Samuel, for our readers who may not be familiar with Unico, could you tell us a little about who he is and what sort of world he exists in?
How did you first discover Unico? Was it through the original manga or the anime based on it?
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Sattin:I saw the anime “Unico and the Island of Magic” when I was young, and it really stuck with me. That mechanical dragon and Kuruku! The castle made from former humans turned to stone! It was colorful and scary and it sparked my imagination. Later on, as I got into manga and started to go down the Tezuka rabbit hole, I discovered that I had found a cartoonist I could idolize in the most honest sense of the word. I think Tezuka embodies the potential of comics in a way that no one else has or ever will.
(Image credit: Scholastic)
Who are some of the characters that we’ll meet along the way in this story?
Gurihiru, which characters were your favorite to draw and why?
Gurihiru:West Wind is a character we enjoy drawing. We made this character without legs and the lower part of the body extends forever. Whenever we draw her in the pages, we always extend her outside of the panel, so we use her to make the page layouts fun and mysterious too. It takes some thinking when she appears in the pages, but it is very challenging and very interesting.
(Image credit: Scholastic)
How did this relaunch come about and how did you get involved?
Sattin:When I was first introduced to the dear people at Tezuka Productions in 2019, they asked me if I had any pitches for a project. My eyes went wide, and I quickly turned to Unico. I found that Unico was a lot like Tezuka’s masterwork, Phoenix, but through the lens of Western mythology. Unico fascinated me because, even though Tezuka was trying to create a sweet story for kids about a unicorn, it turned into something filled with big themes, and difficult truths. And also… Tezuka hadn’t finished it (which I’ve amazingly been given permission to do).
What I loved about Unico was the story, and I truly thought a new generation could benefit from its remimagining. So… I pitched my idea to Tezuka Productions. And to my great shock and eternal gratitude, they accepted it. I then spent a long-ish stint in Tokyo tying different elements of the project together with the help of an amazing team. Things really gelled when Gurihiru agreed to work on it. The whole thing is a dream.
(Image credit: Scholastic)
What are some of the challenges that come with relaunching a beloved character like this?
Sattin:Overall, I feel a responsibility to do the character – and more importantly, Tezuka’s legacy – justice, while making sure that the story stands on its own, and is exciting to modern young readers. One of the many reasons I adore Tezuka’s work is that he saw manga/comics as an international language. Which it is. And he loved collaboration. He loved reinterpreting the stories of others, and having his stories reinterpreted in turn. Tezuka himself was working in a different era, and his work was obviously of his time. The new Unico series is of our time, while respecting the past.
How do you go about updating the story of Unico for a new audience?
Sattin:Our reimagining of Unico builds upon the original story while opening it up to new characters, expanding upon existing characters, and bringing in other characters from the rest of the Tezuka Star System. (These are characters that Tezuka created who appeared throughout multiple works of his, such as Rock, Higeoyagi, Duke Red, etc.). We are building an entire universe around Unico, filled with its own Tezuka-inspired mythos, and loads of captivating characters.
(Image credit: Scholastic)
Sam, what has it been like working with Gurihiru on this project?
Sattin:Incredible. They’re geniuses, and the way their art combines Japanese and Western drawing aesthetics is truly groundbreaking. They understand so much about both Tezuka and a lot of the work that inspired him – likeDisney, for instance – and they are able to capture that spirit while doing something entirely new. I’m often agog at their ability to combine color, movement, and technical expertise so seamlessly, creating such an unbelievable sense of wonder and drama. I can’t imagine anyone else who could do what they’ve done with this reimagining. And they’re really nice to work with, to boot.
Gurihiru:We feel great romanticism from Sam’s script. The expressions are very lyrical and emotional, and while we have Tezuka’s Unico story as the base, it moves on to an original story, which is amazing. We have worked with many writers in the past, but we had to go through the editors to communicate so we never had the chance to talk to them directly. But Sam touches base and also comes to Japan to see us, so he is very active and cares about us a lot. We are happy to have a relationship that is more than just a writer and an artist.
How has it been working with Tezuka Productions?
(Image credit: Scholastic)
Finally, what can you both say about Osamu Tezuka’s incredible legacy and how his work has impacted you?
Sattin:Osamu Tezuka made me understand the power and importance of comics. He helped me understand the importance of learning and embracing visual language, and about embracing expansive, ambitious ideas that reach for the stars. He also wasn’t afraid of introducing difficult truths into even his warmest and most accessible stories, and taking stories from other cultures and reimagining them in his own right. His work is humane, artful, and beautiful. It’s something that will withstand the test of time.
Interested in manga but unsure where to start? Why not try one of our picks ofthe 10 best manga to read right now?
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”