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Astro Boy (character)
Encyclopedia
is a fictional character
, and the main protagonist
of the Astro Boy franchise. Created by Osamu Tezuka
, the character was introduced in the 1951 Captain Atom manga
. Astro Boy has appeared in animated television shows (notably the 1963, 1980, 2003 series) and feature film
adaptations of its eponymous manga, as well as a live-action TV series, other works by Tezuka, and video games.
On 7 April 2003, the City of Niiza
registered the character as an actual resident. He was also inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame
in 2004.
d Astro) originally appeared as a supporting character in the comic Atom Taishi (Ambassador Atom, sometimes referred to as Captain Atom), which appeared in Shonen, a monthly magazine for boys, in April 1951. Tezuka then created a comic series in which Astro Boy was the main character.
Osamu Tezuka
created Astro Boy to be, in the words of Frederik L. Schodt
(creator of the English-language version of the Astro Boy manga), a "21st-century reverse-Pinnochio, a nearly perfect robot who strove to become more human and emotive and to serve as an interface between man and machine." As Tezuka's art style advanced, Astro Boy "became more modern and 'cute'" to appeal to the audience of boys in elementary school.
(Dr. Boynton in the 1960s English dub), and was meant to be a replacement for his deceased son Tobio("Toby" in various English translations and Astor Boynton in the 1960s English dub). However, because Astro Boy was not able to grow and age like a normal human child, Doctor Tenma abandoned him to a Robot Circus led by the cruel Ham Egg. At the circus, Astro Boy was found by Professor Ochanomizu
(Dr. Elefun) and adopted. Professor Ochanomizu gave Astro Boy a family with a robotic mother, father, sister (Uran/Astro Girl) and brother (Cobalt/Jetto). As head of the Ministry of Science, Professor Ochanomizu often calls on Astro Boy to help resolve situations involving humans, robots and (on occasion) extraterrestrials.
. He was originally built by Doctor Tenma
after his original son, Toby, died in a tragic car accident. Built in Toby’s image, Tenma is nearing the completion of a child robot with jets and weapons that he sees as his son however his coworkers are afraid of the danger that such a robot may bring. While the robot is almost finished, the villain Skunk manages to steal copies of its plans and give them to count Walpur Guiss (his boss), who plans to built a robot equipped with the Omega Factor (which gives his robot the ability to lie and other negative qualities) to “rule the world
”.
Doctor Tenma raises Astro as if he were his dead son, teaching him to speak and eat (which Astro has the ability to perform). While being alone, Astro learns to fly but accidentally touches electric wires. His destroyed clothes appear to be the only consequences, but not very long afterward the robot has a malfunction and his eyes flashing red. Tenma calls Honda, who tolds him the robot might have a short-circuit (although the real reason is the activation of Atlas, Skunk’s robot). Soon, the news that Astro is alive gets out, and Tenma, fearing that the secret is out, decides that he and Astro shall go to America
.
On the cruise ship
, Astro fails to master his powers, and has caused a lot of damages such as breaking a tap and ripping away his father’s suit. As a result, Tenma forbids him to go to the dinner with him, but changes his mind at the request of a passenger who want to meet his son. However when it is noted that Tobio is a robot, people all around the dinning room are upset. Following another goof up by Tobio, Tenma expels him, refusing to acknowledge him as his son anymore and calls him a robot. While outside, Tobio is approached by a man called Hamegg who comforts him. A cruel, unforgiving ringmaster for a robot circus, he wants to use Astro for basic backstage work and asks Astro to sign a contract. Astro, not knowing what the contract means, signs the contract and now he is a possession of Hamegg.
Skunk, meanwhile, brings Atlas with him for his next plot, which is to cause icebergs to sink a ship and have Atlas recover the gold transported by the ship. Astro foils the plan by attacking the icebergs. He meets Atlas and they both realize that they feel they already met each other in the past without knowing how, then fight. Astro is drained out of energy and falls unconscious at Atlas’ feet. About to destroy him, Atlas forgives him. Hamegg soon finds Astro and locks him in his trunk. Tenma, now feeling remorse, calls for his robot son, but no-one answers.
Astro wakes up at the circus surrounded by Hamegg, Kathy, his employee, and Tornado, the robot star of the circus. Astro is given daily chores and performs a clown act in the show. Misunderstanding the instructions he is given and not yet in control of his amazing power, he commits one mistake after another, drawing Hamegg’s fury. By then, Hamegg is already doubting his decision to bring Astro to his cirus.
Dr. Elefun is in town and watches the circus, where Astro catches his eye. Suffering from bad maintenance, Tornado misses his circus act and is destroyed. Losing the owner’s confidence, Hamegg is in danger of losing the circus. Confident in Astro’s abilities, Kathy convinces Hamegg that she can teach him Tornado’s dangerous act, which involves him jumping through two spinning rings filled with electricity, which would save the circus. Toby trains while the circus moves to another city, leaving Elefun, who has finally recognized him as Dr. Tenma’s missing robot. Elefun finds him right as Toby is about to perform the trapeze act. Toby makes it, and then saves the crowd from the elephant robots that have become mad after Hamegg overpowered them.
Elefun attempts to convince Hamegg to let Toby go with him, but Hamegg will not hear of it. Meanwhile, Kathy plots to make it look like Toby was destroyed in an explosion. Hamegg is convinced after watching what seems like Toby’s parts scattered around, and rips up the contract. Kathy then secretly brings Toby to Dr. Elefun, who is going to bring him back to his native country. Elefun explains that Toby is an atomic robot, and Kathy decides he needs to bear a special name: “Astro Boy”. And thus, back in Japan, the adventures of Astro Boy begins.
The later episodes could be described as “free-standing”, having no or little relation with each other, although they all involve Astro saving the day, and he would eventually make himself one of the World’s Strongest Robots and also hero of Japan
.
as a ‘replacement’ for Tobio, his deceased son. Tenma, overcome with grief, decided to make an identical robot copy, which he will raise just like his own. Tenma, however, during the project lost the trust of his fellow scientists, who had thought that he has been overcome with grief and longing for his son as as a result went insane. Tenma, who was indeed displaying signs of insanity at that point, finished his project and named the robot after his son. Unfortunately, things got out of hand as soon as Astro was led into the basement full of broken robots (including Nora) and Astro (doing the same thing Tobio has done) asks for Tenma to fix it. After Tenma refuses, Astro rebels against him (the same thing Tobio has done) and as a result Tenma shuts Astro down.
Before long, Tenma well and truly went insane, and burnt down the lab of the Ministry of Science and resigning his position as minister . The robot, though, was found by Tenma successor (O'Shay
) who attempted to bring it back to life and succeeded. The robot was renamed Astro, and O’Shay brought him up as a child and he eventually became the hero of Metro City.
O’Shay then made him as human-like as possible through means of allowing him to go to school, interact with friends and even gave him a robotic sister (Zoran), which he is very protective of. O’Shay also acts like a father to him, and also in the household is the nanny-bot Nora. Despite at time acting and behaving like a normal human boy, when duty calls he often fights and defeats evil robots, humans and on occasion aliens. Strangely, another villain is Dr. Tenma, who is deeply unsure if he wants Astro back or if he wants to kill him, as he is still insane. Astro cares about his true father, even when Tenma tried to explode them both, followed by the event where Tenma risked everything to kill himself. Astro started to foil the attempt, but after a while, he was unable to succeed (in other words, he failed). It looked just like Tenma was actually dead, but he survived it, later shown in jail.
made by Imagi Animation Studios
in 2009. He is shown to be older (13 instead of 9) and meets a host of entirely new characters, but also those that he has previously met, such as Elefun
. In the movie, Astro was, once again, made as a replacement for Toby after he died, although this time it is because he got vaporized by a robot. Tenma, overcome with grief, makes a robot which reminds him of his son, and yet this plan backfires because, due to the difference in personality between Toby and Astro (even though Tenma uploaded all of Toby’s memories into Astro), only reminds him that Toby is gone. Tenma does not want him any more, but Elefun comforts him, saying that he will find his purpose in life. After staying with Cora’s clan for a while, he is returned to Metro City. As Tenma removes Astro’s energy, he says that he is sorry. Astro replies that he is sorry to, as he could have been a “better Toby”.
Astro’s weapons in the movie have been changed or altered when compared to the other series. Astro has machine guns on his backside like in the 1980s series, however this time they fire actual bullets, instead of lasers. His finger lasers “digibeam” is absent. Instead of the arm cannon in the 2003 series, it is changed to full arm blasters in both arms. Also, his arm rockets are absent, although his arm cannons can also serve as a means of propulsion. In the 1980s series, Astro’s eyes act as lights, while in the 2003 series they allow him to analyze things. However, in the film, they are also lights, although they can see through skin or tissue intimidating skin, much like a X-ray. Also, Astro retains his super hearing and strength, as well as rockets in his feet.(super hearing excluded in video game)
Another difference is Astro’s source of power. In the original series, he is powered by atoms (hence his Japanese name), but yet in the film he is powered by the Blue Core Energy, made out of pure positive energy. It is unknown as to why the writers changed his power source. Also, this is the first time that Uran does not appear at all.
Despite his abilities and work for good, Astro is often ostracized by the human race for being a robot
, mostly out of fear. Since he is not officially considered a citizen, he often has to deal with the prejudice of humans against robots. In turn, in some episodes the robots eventually also rebel against the humans. The majority of the series contains an story arc
which concerns robot rights.
, Astro has appeared in several of the artist's works (although he is not always identified as "Astro Boy").
50 Greatest Comic Characters list ranking forty third on the list. IGN
's Chris Mackenzie also ranked Astro Boy as 2 on the list of the top anime characters of all time.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, and the main protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of the Astro Boy franchise. Created by Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka
was a Japanese cartoonist, manga artist, animator, producer, activist and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack...
, the character was introduced in the 1951 Captain Atom manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
. Astro Boy has appeared in animated television shows (notably the 1963, 1980, 2003 series) and feature film
Astro Boy (film)
Astro Boy, also called in Japan, is a 2009 computer-animated film loosely based on the long-running Japanese series of the same name by Osamu Tezuka. It was produced by Imagi Animation Studios, the animation production company of TMNT. The studio announced the project in September 2006...
adaptations of its eponymous manga, as well as a live-action TV series, other works by Tezuka, and video games.
On 7 April 2003, the City of Niiza
Niiza, Saitama
is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and is essentially a suburb of the Tokyo conurbation. Niiza is located at the southernmost part of Saitama. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 159,741 and a population density of 7,010 persons per km²...
registered the character as an actual resident. He was also inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame
Robot Hall of Fame
The Robot Hall of Fame was established in 2003 by the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. It is designed to honor both achievements in robotics technology and robots from science fiction that have served as creative inspiration in robotics...
in 2004.
Creation and conception
Astro Boy (sometimes nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d Astro) originally appeared as a supporting character in the comic Atom Taishi (Ambassador Atom, sometimes referred to as Captain Atom), which appeared in Shonen, a monthly magazine for boys, in April 1951. Tezuka then created a comic series in which Astro Boy was the main character.
Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka
was a Japanese cartoonist, manga artist, animator, producer, activist and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack...
created Astro Boy to be, in the words of Frederik L. Schodt
Frederik L. Schodt
Frederik L. Schodt is an American translator, interpreter and writer.Schodt's father was in the US foreign service, and he grew up in Norway, Australia, and Japan. The family first went to Japan in 1965 when Schodt was fifteen. They left in 1967 but Schodt remained to graduate from Tokyo's American...
(creator of the English-language version of the Astro Boy manga), a "21st-century reverse-Pinnochio, a nearly perfect robot who strove to become more human and emotive and to serve as an interface between man and machine." As Tezuka's art style advanced, Astro Boy "became more modern and 'cute'" to appeal to the audience of boys in elementary school.
Original Manga & 1960s Series
Astro Boy was created by Doctor TenmaDoctor Tenma
, whose real name is and is also known as Dr. Nagamiya Tenma, Dr. Boynton, and Dr. Balthus, is the father/creator of Astro Boy in the anime and manga series of the same name created and animated by Osamu Tezuka....
(Dr. Boynton in the 1960s English dub), and was meant to be a replacement for his deceased son Tobio("Toby" in various English translations and Astor Boynton in the 1960s English dub). However, because Astro Boy was not able to grow and age like a normal human child, Doctor Tenma abandoned him to a Robot Circus led by the cruel Ham Egg. At the circus, Astro Boy was found by Professor Ochanomizu
Professor Ochanomizu
is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Astro Boy, as well as all of its many adaptions, including the 1980s series, 2003 series, and the film. Created by Osamu Tezuka, the character has since appeared in many of his other works. He serves as a guardian to Astro, and sometimes also a...
(Dr. Elefun) and adopted. Professor Ochanomizu gave Astro Boy a family with a robotic mother, father, sister (Uran/Astro Girl) and brother (Cobalt/Jetto). As head of the Ministry of Science, Professor Ochanomizu often calls on Astro Boy to help resolve situations involving humans, robots and (on occasion) extraterrestrials.
1980s series
Astro appeared in the show of the same name as its major protagonistProtagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
. He was originally built by Doctor Tenma
Doctor Tenma
, whose real name is and is also known as Dr. Nagamiya Tenma, Dr. Boynton, and Dr. Balthus, is the father/creator of Astro Boy in the anime and manga series of the same name created and animated by Osamu Tezuka....
after his original son, Toby, died in a tragic car accident. Built in Toby’s image, Tenma is nearing the completion of a child robot with jets and weapons that he sees as his son however his coworkers are afraid of the danger that such a robot may bring. While the robot is almost finished, the villain Skunk manages to steal copies of its plans and give them to count Walpur Guiss (his boss), who plans to built a robot equipped with the Omega Factor (which gives his robot the ability to lie and other negative qualities) to “rule the world
Cybernetic revolt
Cybernetic revolt or robot uprising is a scenario in which an artificial intelligence decide that humans are a threat , are inferior, or are oppressors and try to destroy or to enslave them potentially leading to...
”.
Doctor Tenma raises Astro as if he were his dead son, teaching him to speak and eat (which Astro has the ability to perform). While being alone, Astro learns to fly but accidentally touches electric wires. His destroyed clothes appear to be the only consequences, but not very long afterward the robot has a malfunction and his eyes flashing red. Tenma calls Honda, who tolds him the robot might have a short-circuit (although the real reason is the activation of Atlas, Skunk’s robot). Soon, the news that Astro is alive gets out, and Tenma, fearing that the secret is out, decides that he and Astro shall go to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
On the cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
, Astro fails to master his powers, and has caused a lot of damages such as breaking a tap and ripping away his father’s suit. As a result, Tenma forbids him to go to the dinner with him, but changes his mind at the request of a passenger who want to meet his son. However when it is noted that Tobio is a robot, people all around the dinning room are upset. Following another goof up by Tobio, Tenma expels him, refusing to acknowledge him as his son anymore and calls him a robot. While outside, Tobio is approached by a man called Hamegg who comforts him. A cruel, unforgiving ringmaster for a robot circus, he wants to use Astro for basic backstage work and asks Astro to sign a contract. Astro, not knowing what the contract means, signs the contract and now he is a possession of Hamegg.
Skunk, meanwhile, brings Atlas with him for his next plot, which is to cause icebergs to sink a ship and have Atlas recover the gold transported by the ship. Astro foils the plan by attacking the icebergs. He meets Atlas and they both realize that they feel they already met each other in the past without knowing how, then fight. Astro is drained out of energy and falls unconscious at Atlas’ feet. About to destroy him, Atlas forgives him. Hamegg soon finds Astro and locks him in his trunk. Tenma, now feeling remorse, calls for his robot son, but no-one answers.
Astro wakes up at the circus surrounded by Hamegg, Kathy, his employee, and Tornado, the robot star of the circus. Astro is given daily chores and performs a clown act in the show. Misunderstanding the instructions he is given and not yet in control of his amazing power, he commits one mistake after another, drawing Hamegg’s fury. By then, Hamegg is already doubting his decision to bring Astro to his cirus.
Dr. Elefun is in town and watches the circus, where Astro catches his eye. Suffering from bad maintenance, Tornado misses his circus act and is destroyed. Losing the owner’s confidence, Hamegg is in danger of losing the circus. Confident in Astro’s abilities, Kathy convinces Hamegg that she can teach him Tornado’s dangerous act, which involves him jumping through two spinning rings filled with electricity, which would save the circus. Toby trains while the circus moves to another city, leaving Elefun, who has finally recognized him as Dr. Tenma’s missing robot. Elefun finds him right as Toby is about to perform the trapeze act. Toby makes it, and then saves the crowd from the elephant robots that have become mad after Hamegg overpowered them.
Elefun attempts to convince Hamegg to let Toby go with him, but Hamegg will not hear of it. Meanwhile, Kathy plots to make it look like Toby was destroyed in an explosion. Hamegg is convinced after watching what seems like Toby’s parts scattered around, and rips up the contract. Kathy then secretly brings Toby to Dr. Elefun, who is going to bring him back to his native country. Elefun explains that Toby is an atomic robot, and Kathy decides he needs to bear a special name: “Astro Boy”. And thus, back in Japan, the adventures of Astro Boy begins.
The later episodes could be described as “free-standing”, having no or little relation with each other, although they all involve Astro saving the day, and he would eventually make himself one of the World’s Strongest Robots and also hero of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
2003 series
Astro re-appears as the protagonist in the 2003 series; an android with the ability to think and reason ('Kokoro', or Japanese for 'heart and soul'). Astro was created by Doctor TenmaDoctor Tenma
, whose real name is and is also known as Dr. Nagamiya Tenma, Dr. Boynton, and Dr. Balthus, is the father/creator of Astro Boy in the anime and manga series of the same name created and animated by Osamu Tezuka....
as a ‘replacement’ for Tobio, his deceased son. Tenma, overcome with grief, decided to make an identical robot copy, which he will raise just like his own. Tenma, however, during the project lost the trust of his fellow scientists, who had thought that he has been overcome with grief and longing for his son as as a result went insane. Tenma, who was indeed displaying signs of insanity at that point, finished his project and named the robot after his son. Unfortunately, things got out of hand as soon as Astro was led into the basement full of broken robots (including Nora) and Astro (doing the same thing Tobio has done) asks for Tenma to fix it. After Tenma refuses, Astro rebels against him (the same thing Tobio has done) and as a result Tenma shuts Astro down.
Before long, Tenma well and truly went insane, and burnt down the lab of the Ministry of Science and resigning his position as minister . The robot, though, was found by Tenma successor (O'Shay
Professor Ochanomizu
is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Astro Boy, as well as all of its many adaptions, including the 1980s series, 2003 series, and the film. Created by Osamu Tezuka, the character has since appeared in many of his other works. He serves as a guardian to Astro, and sometimes also a...
) who attempted to bring it back to life and succeeded. The robot was renamed Astro, and O’Shay brought him up as a child and he eventually became the hero of Metro City.
O’Shay then made him as human-like as possible through means of allowing him to go to school, interact with friends and even gave him a robotic sister (Zoran), which he is very protective of. O’Shay also acts like a father to him, and also in the household is the nanny-bot Nora. Despite at time acting and behaving like a normal human boy, when duty calls he often fights and defeats evil robots, humans and on occasion aliens. Strangely, another villain is Dr. Tenma, who is deeply unsure if he wants Astro back or if he wants to kill him, as he is still insane. Astro cares about his true father, even when Tenma tried to explode them both, followed by the event where Tenma risked everything to kill himself. Astro started to foil the attempt, but after a while, he was unable to succeed (in other words, he failed). It looked just like Tenma was actually dead, but he survived it, later shown in jail.
Feature film
Astro re-appeared in the feature filmAstro Boy (film)
Astro Boy, also called in Japan, is a 2009 computer-animated film loosely based on the long-running Japanese series of the same name by Osamu Tezuka. It was produced by Imagi Animation Studios, the animation production company of TMNT. The studio announced the project in September 2006...
made by Imagi Animation Studios
Imagi Animation Studios
Imagi Animation Studios is an animation studio that was established in 2000 by Imagi International Holdings Limited , a listed company on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.-Background:...
in 2009. He is shown to be older (13 instead of 9) and meets a host of entirely new characters, but also those that he has previously met, such as Elefun
Professor Ochanomizu
is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Astro Boy, as well as all of its many adaptions, including the 1980s series, 2003 series, and the film. Created by Osamu Tezuka, the character has since appeared in many of his other works. He serves as a guardian to Astro, and sometimes also a...
. In the movie, Astro was, once again, made as a replacement for Toby after he died, although this time it is because he got vaporized by a robot. Tenma, overcome with grief, makes a robot which reminds him of his son, and yet this plan backfires because, due to the difference in personality between Toby and Astro (even though Tenma uploaded all of Toby’s memories into Astro), only reminds him that Toby is gone. Tenma does not want him any more, but Elefun comforts him, saying that he will find his purpose in life. After staying with Cora’s clan for a while, he is returned to Metro City. As Tenma removes Astro’s energy, he says that he is sorry. Astro replies that he is sorry to, as he could have been a “better Toby”.
Astro’s weapons in the movie have been changed or altered when compared to the other series. Astro has machine guns on his backside like in the 1980s series, however this time they fire actual bullets, instead of lasers. His finger lasers “digibeam” is absent. Instead of the arm cannon in the 2003 series, it is changed to full arm blasters in both arms. Also, his arm rockets are absent, although his arm cannons can also serve as a means of propulsion. In the 1980s series, Astro’s eyes act as lights, while in the 2003 series they allow him to analyze things. However, in the film, they are also lights, although they can see through skin or tissue intimidating skin, much like a X-ray. Also, Astro retains his super hearing and strength, as well as rockets in his feet.(super hearing excluded in video game)
Another difference is Astro’s source of power. In the original series, he is powered by atoms (hence his Japanese name), but yet in the film he is powered by the Blue Core Energy, made out of pure positive energy. It is unknown as to why the writers changed his power source. Also, this is the first time that Uran does not appear at all.
Powers and Abilities
Astro Boy has several capabilities and abilities, as well as weapons, to aid him on his adventures. Note that these powers differ slightly from series to series. They include:- The ability to translate more than 60 languages (excluding 1980, 2003 , film and video game)
- Strength equivalent to 100,000 horsepower (75 MW)
- The ability to fly using jets in his legs and arms
- Amplification of his hearing up to one thousand times(excluding video game)
- Guns deployed from his posterior (excluding 2003 series)
- Invulnerability to most forms of physical injury
- An electro-heart that can discern people's criminal intentions (excluding 2003, 1980 and film)
- Bright eye-lamps to assist his vision (references to additional x-rayX-rayX-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
ability in the film and 60's series)(excluding video game) - Laser guns in his finger tips (Exluding film)
- Laser cannons in his arms (2003 series and film only)
- An extremely accurate electronic brain
Despite his abilities and work for good, Astro is often ostracized by the human race for being a robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
, mostly out of fear. Since he is not officially considered a citizen, he often has to deal with the prejudice of humans against robots. In turn, in some episodes the robots eventually also rebel against the humans. The majority of the series contains an story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
which concerns robot rights.
Other Appearances
As part of the Osamu Tezuka's Star SystemOsamu Tezuka's Star System
Over the course of his career, Osamu Tezuka reused the same characters in different roles in different stories. The way that Tezuka used the characters in his "star system" can be seen as somewhat analoguous to a film director frequently casting members of a regular "stable" of actors in different...
, Astro has appeared in several of the artist's works (although he is not always identified as "Astro Boy").
List of Astro Boy's appearances
- "Astro Boy" in Captain Atom - 1951
- "Astro Boy" in Astro Boy - 1952
- "Conference Participant" in The Adventure of RockThe Adventure of Rockis a manga by Osamu Tezuka that began serialization in 1952.-Plot:In the year 19XX, a new celestial body has been discovered in the same orbit as Earth. Dubbed "Planet Deimon" after its discoverer, Doctor Deimon, the planet's orbit soon slows, coming into close proximity with Earth...
- 1952 - "Sergeant Ichinotani" in X-Point on the South Pacific - 1953
- "Ryoichi" in The Destroyer of the Earth - 1954
- "Captain Larry" in My Memory - 1959
- "Astro Boy" in Shikuoyamaengi Picture Scroll - 1962
- "The Mask" in Robot Labor Union Leader - 1964
- "Astro Boy" in Gachaboi's Record of One Generation - 1970
- "Astro Boy" in Lion Books: A Hundred Tales - Chapter of GoldLion Books (manga)was a 1950s Japanese manga series published by Shueisha into the Omoshiro Book as a supplement. The same company would publish Lion Books II into Weekly Shōnen Jump in the 1970s, which would commonly be referred to as "The New Lion Books"...
- 1971 - "The Mask" in Bakaichi - 1971
- "The Mask" in Japanese People in 1972 - 1972
- "Flying Man Competition Spectator" in Black Jack: Man BirdBlack Jack (manga)is a manga written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka in the 1970s, dealing with the medical adventures of the title character, doctor Black Jack....
- 1973 - "Isao" in Black Jack: Son of ShivaBlack Jack (manga)is a manga written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka in the 1970s, dealing with the medical adventures of the title character, doctor Black Jack....
- 1974 - "Black Jack's Client" in Black Jack: You did it!Black Jack (manga)is a manga written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka in the 1970s, dealing with the medical adventures of the title character, doctor Black Jack....
- 1975 - "Person in Framed Painting" in Black Jack: Teruteru BozuBlack Jack (manga)is a manga written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka in the 1970s, dealing with the medical adventures of the title character, doctor Black Jack....
- 1976 - "Astro Boy" in The Three-eyed One: The MagicianThe Three-Eyed Oneis a romance SF manga by Osamu Tezuka. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 7 July 1974 through 19 March 1978 and was later published into thirteen tankoubon by Kodansha....
- 1976 - "Passerby" in Black Jack: Black Jack Saves his SaviorBlack Jack (manga)is a manga written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka in the 1970s, dealing with the medical adventures of the title character, doctor Black Jack....
- 1978 - "Astro Boy" in Osamu Tezuka on American Comics - 1979
- "Person in Painting" in Unico: Shogaku-Ichinensei VersionUnicois a manga and anime character by Osamu Tezuka. Unico is a baby unicorn with white fur, a pink mane, and little cinnamon bun-shaped ears, who was born with the very special gift of making all living creatures lighthearted and happy....
- 1980 - "Face of Jinnai" in Princess Lumpenela - 1980
- "Jimmy" in Rainbow Parakeet: House of DollRainbow Parakeetis a manga series created by Osamu Tezuka dealing with the adventures of the eponymous phantom thief. Collected in seven volumes, it has been published in France by Asuka.- Plot :...
- 1981 - "The Mask" in Rainbow Parakeet: Forest of FossilRainbow Parakeetis a manga series created by Osamu Tezuka dealing with the adventures of the eponymous phantom thief. Collected in seven volumes, it has been published in France by Asuka.- Plot :...
- 1981 - "Black Jack" in How the World of Anime will look in the 21st Century - 1982
- "Astro Boy" in A word from the parent who bore you - 1982
- "Jimmy" in Golden Bat - 1982
- "Astro Boy" in Rabbit House 2001 - 1982
- "Person in Painting" in This is what's going to happen in 1983 - 1983
- "Astro Boy" in Dream cars & cars of the future - 1984
- "Astro Boy" in Atom Cat - 1986
- "The Mask" in Fuku-chan in 21st Century - 1986
- "Adam" in Undersea Super Train: Marine ExpressUndersea Super Train: Marine Expressis a made for TV anime movie created for the Nippon Television Network's annual 24-hour charity program, "Ai wa Chikyu wo Suku", which roughly translates to "Love Saves the Earth". The movie contained a veritable "Who's Who" of Tezuka's notable characters. Each one had an important role, and many...
- 1979 animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons.... - He also make several cameos in Black Jack TV
- "PlutoPluto (manga)is a manga series by Naoki Urasawa published in Shogakukan's Big Comic Original from 2003 to 2009. It has been licensed for release in English by Viz Media, under the name Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka. Takashi Nagasaki is credited as the series' co-author...
" Chapter 9 - Astro has also made a cameo in two episodes of Kimba the White LionKimba the White Lion, known in the United States as Kimba the White Lion, is an anime series from the 1960s. Created by Osamu Tezuka and based on his manga of the same title which began publication in 1950, it was the first color animated television series created in Japan. The manga was first published in serialized...
Reception
Astro was listed on Empire magazine'sEmpire (magazine)
Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
50 Greatest Comic Characters list ranking forty third on the list. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Chris Mackenzie also ranked Astro Boy as 2 on the list of the top anime characters of all time.
See also
- List of Osamu Tezuka anime
- List of Osamu Tezuka manga
- Osamu Tezuka's Star SystemOsamu Tezuka's Star SystemOver the course of his career, Osamu Tezuka reused the same characters in different roles in different stories. The way that Tezuka used the characters in his "star system" can be seen as somewhat analoguous to a film director frequently casting members of a regular "stable" of actors in different...