Osamu Tezuka is often referred to as “The God of Manga,” so it’s no surprise that his works are still being adapted to this day. His manga series Buddha is being made into a film trilogy by Toei Animation and Tezuka Productions, the second of which is due out in Japan February of next year. A ten minute trailer for Buddha 2: Tezuka Osamu no Buddha ~Owarinaki Tabi~ was recently uploaded to the film’s official website, complete with English subtitles.
The original manga is comprised of eight volumes that were released over the span of 11 years. It tells the story of Buddha’s life from the time he was born as Prince Siddhartha to his death as the enlightened voice of Buddhism. Vertical released the series in English for North American audiences.
The first film, Tezuka Osamu no Buddha – Akai Sabaku yo! Utsukushiku was released in Japan in May 2011. So far, there’s no definitive news on whether the films will be localized for viewers overseas.