Osamu Tezuka’s manga works such as Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion have brought readers joy for well over half a century. 2024’s Unico: Awakening honors Osamu Tezuka’s original Unico manga from 1950, as it reimagines the story and offers a child-friendly experience for newcomers to the medium. Anime Corner had the honor of interviewing Samuel Sattin, the author of Unico: Awakening, to ask about his experience working with Tezuka Productions, his time in Japan, and more.
Q: Unico: Awakening is a reimagining of a Tezuka classic, but was the original Unico your first Tezuka work to read, or was it something else?
Samuel: The first Tezuka-sensei work I read was Dororo. I found it at a comic shop with a great manga section, picked it up, and the love affair began. I’d learn this about a lot of Tezuka-sensei’s works, but Dororo opened up like a fable that quickly became something far more complex. It’s the same for even more kid-oriented works like Unico and Astro Boy. Tezuka sensei created fables that tackle difficult truths. There’s a meatiness there that you don’t always find in other kinds of children’s stories.
Q: How did you end up starting a Kickstarter for Unico: Awakening? Did you expect it to be so well-received?
Samuel: It began with me being connected to someone who worked with Tezuka Productions, and getting the chance to send a pitch in their direction. It was kind of an open pitch, but a little birdie told me that they’d been interested in doing something with Unico–a beloved character who mostly carried on in the form of merchandise. I reread the manga, and rewatched the films, and discovered that this character, this story, wasn’t just something that could work as a reimagining. I thought it was kind of necessary. Unico needed to be a part of our lives.
When my pitch got accepted and I spent some time in disbelief about that fact, I got to working, got Gurihiru on board as co-creator (details below), and made a plan. My thought was that Unico needed to be seen to be believed. By this I mean that we considered taking it to a traditional publisher, but I worried that they wouldn’t really understand it. They’d think it was cute, but they might not understand just how much it means to people who already know and love the character, and how much it means to be working with the legacy of the God of Manga himself. In short, that’s how the Kickstarter came around.
Q: What was your experience working so closely with the artist duo, Gurihiru like during writing Unico: Awakening?
Samuel: Well, they’re absolutely brilliant. And when you’re working with a team as brilliant as Gurihiru, you thank your lucky stars at every step. They don’t just understand the ideas I’m trying to bring to this reimagining, but they understand Tezuka-sensei, and how he influenced everyone working in manga today. They were actually nervous at first and turned down the possibility of working on the project. It’s a tall order, working on a project like this and walking in the footsteps of the God of Manga. Thankfully, however, when they realized they could bring their own style and personality to the project, they signed on. They’re lovely to work with, smart and kind, and everything they draw is beyond critique. Whenever they send in a new page, I just look at it and say “wow.”
Q: And what about Tezuka Productions? After all, the studio is Osamu Tezuka’s direct legacy – I’m sure their support meant a lot.
Samuel: It means a ton, yes. We could not and would not be able to do this project without them. We show them everything that we do and ask for their honest opinion. To my great relief, they’ve continued to enjoy and sign off on our vision as we progress. I believe it’s amazing to them and all of this that this project has become as wide-reaching as it has. And they have specific rights related to animation that is always exciting to think about.
Q: What was it like trying to incorporate your own writing style with characters and a story that is already established? How do you stay unique and refreshing while also respecting the original work?
Samuel: This might sound strange, but in a way, it’s been more seamless than I expected. I like to read and write stories that are both emotional and feature innovative world building. Unico–along with a chunk of Tezuka’s work–does that. The story is filled with gods and monsters, with a unicorn at the center of it who is cursed to wander through time and space, never able to remember the friends he made and helped along the way. It’s a deeply emotional story, which checks that box. But it also leaves a door open to create a bigger universe around Unico. I try to take what’s already present at the core of the original story, and build a ship for it to take a longer voyage.
Q: You dedicated your life to drawing and writing, you even have an MFA in comics. Is this path something you would recommend to young and aspiring artists who perhaps draw inspiration from the manga today?
Samuel: Everyone’s path is different. And what eventually worked for me may not work for someone else. I’ll say I’ve been laboring at this writing trade in a serious manner since 2009. That’s fifteen years–a long time. Some people might get there sooner. I hope they do. Some people may figure out it’s not for them along the way, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I think what I would say to young and aspiring artists is that once you decide you want to head in this direction, you have to put your foot down. There are no half-measures, unfortunately, and remember that it’s a full-time job that probably won’t pay enough—if at all—for a good long time. If you have a job already, one that does pay, then you’ll find that you have another job on top of that. Fun, right? It can be hard, and tiring. But your youth can keep you going for a while.
All that said, when you get to a certain point where what you put out into the world reflects your most cherished dreams, and if, by chance, you can somewhat support yourself on those dreams, it’s an amazing feeling. Second to none. So would I recommend this path? Absolutely. Just with the caveat that you should get a pretty thick suit of armor to protect your heart along the way.
Q: How often do you go to Japan, and are you able to draw inspiration for your writing when traveling there?
Samuel: I try to go twice a year–but this year I’ll be going just once due to the Unico: Awakening release. In a statement that should surprise nobody: I love Japan. Every country has its problems, but I love how much Japan values art. Everywhere you go there’s something beautiful to look at. Despite preconceptions others may have, Japan is a country that centrally values creativity and vision. When I’m there, it’s impossible not to absorb that energy. Not to mention that I gain a lot of context for the stories I love. Through learning the language and getting a non-superficial glimpse into what life is like there, you get context for all the books and films you enjoy. Oh, and the food is incredible.
Q: Are there any other works you’d love to be able to contribute to?
Samuel: Surely, yes. There are a couple I have specifically in mind, but I should probably refrain from naming them at the moment. You never know which way the wind will blow.
Q: Any future projects we should look out for?
Samuel: Unico: Hunted will be storming the barricades soon–due for release in June, 2025. I also have a nonfiction book coming out in October about the history of role-playing games, and am clicking away at a noir story that keeps the shadows in my life mysterious.
Q: Thank so much for your time today! Is there anything else you’d like to say to those getting into your works for the first time?
Samuel: Thank you! Your questions were wonderful.
As for those getting into my works for the first time, you may realize that what you see on the surface contains more than meets the eye. Unico might be cute, but he’s far, far more than that, and he’ll have to be brave to change the order of things. Bravery, discovery, these things mean a lot to me, since there’s so much mystery we take for granted, and it takes a lot of strength to find what your way home. In short, I hope you walk away from my stories feeling a little stronger when you need strength most. And I hope you have fun along the way.
We thank Samuel for his time with us and appreciate his answers. We wish him the best in future projects! You can keep up with Samuel Sattin and his works on his website: samuelsattin.com.
Unico: Awakening is now available and can be purchased on Scholastic’s website, or at your local bookseller. Check out our own review of Unico: Awakening.
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