Astro Boy (character)
Astro Boy is a male robot anime and manga character who features in Astro Boy.
Contents |
Biography
Original
Atom (Japanese: アトム, Hepburn: Atomu) was an artificial android that was the creation of Dr. Tenma. His creation stemmed from the death of the young Tobio Tenma's death on his 9th birthday where he collided with a speeding vehicle and died. The death devastated the boy's father Dr. Umataro Tenma who came to see a replacement for his lost son. Thus, he used his position as the minister of science to create a powerful android with artificial emotions in the place of his child. Thus, Astro Boy was created but soon afterwards Dr. Tenma came to feel disappointed at the actions of the android. As such, he decided to deactivate the robot and took him to Plant 7 of the ministry of science where inefficient robots were broken down to be used as spare pars for new models. This saw Astro Boy getting upset where he lashed out at his 'father' for his seeming 'hatred' of robots. This resulted in Dr. Tenma being rejected twice by both of his 'sons' and he deactivated Astro Boy as he began to fear that androids with emotions could take over the human race. This resulted in him destroying the previous prototypes of Astro Boy and leaving his creation abandoned.
1980 Series
Astro Boy was originally built by Doctor Tenma after his original son, Tobio, who was recently killed in a car crash. Built in Tobio’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, who plans to build a robot equipped with the Omega Factor to 'rule the world'. Doctor Tenma raises Astro as if he were his dead son, teaching him to speak and eat. 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 tells him the robot might have a short-circuit. Honda attempted to destroy the robot with a Robot Disposer, but it went out of control due Dr. Tenma's interference and it went attacking everyone of the city. The robot Tobio, who had been recovered, saved everyone and destroyed the rampaging Robot Disposer, dumping it into the sea.
Overview
Personality and attributes
Astro was created in the image of Tobio Tenma therefore he inherited his basic personality traits. As Tobio died a child, Astro came to inherit his same childlike innocence and naivety. Astro by nature had a strong sense of justice and for deciding what was right and wrong.
Mostly a pacifist, Astro did not stray from using force if he had no choice, although he always tried to solve situations diplomatically.
Astro was incredibly protective of family and friends and will often risk his own life to protect them from harm.
Astro's most complicated relationship was with his own creator Umataro Tenma. Although, he was treated with love and care by Tenma in the beginning, the grief left over after the death of his son Tobio took control causing Tenma to accept that a robot could not be an adequate replacement for his flesh and blood human child. Due to this realization, Tenma slowly begins to lose his sanity and in some adaptations resorts to drinking, he begins to treat Astro poorly and even becomes outright hostile towards him leaving him stuck in dangerous situations. In most adaptations Astro is eventually sold to Hamegg's Robot Circus by Tenma and although Tenma feels legitimate remorse for his actions, fails to reconnect with Astro who mostly tries to avoid him however, in some instances tries to forgive him which results in Ochanomizu typically going out of his way to stop such a reunion.
Powers and abilities
His robotic brain allowed him to speak 100 languages and solve tough math problems in seconds.
Astro's hearing was shown to had been amplified by 1000 times.
He could transform his feet into jets that he can use to fly at high speeds and even use to attack enemies.
For offense, he could turn his arms into cannons that fire giant laser.
It as said that he possessed a 100,000 horsepower engine making him among the most powerful robots. Some incarnations of him came to be upgraded to 1,000,000 horsepower.
The Blue Core Electro Heart was the main source of his power with this being being nuclear powered.
Notes
- Astro Boy was created by Osamu Tezuka where he featured in the setting of Astro Boy.
- In the words of Frederik L. Schodt, Tezuka had created Astro to be a, "21st-century reverse-Pinocchio, a nearly perfect robot who strove to become more human and emotive and to serve as an interface between man and machine."
- In Empire magazine, the character was ranked forty third in its 50 Greatest Comic Characters list and was the only Manga character on it.
- The character was noted to had been the inspiration in the creation of Mega Man.
- On 7 April 2003, the City of Niiza registered the character as an actual resident
In other media
Television
- In Astro Boy, Astro Boy appeared in the setting of the 2003 anime television series where he was voiced by Japanese actress Makoto Tsumura whilst English actress Candi Milo voiced him in the dub whilst Mona Marshall voiced the character in the pilot episode.
Films
- In Astro Boy, Astro Boy appeared in the 2009 film where he was voiced by Japanese actor Aya Ueto and by English actor Freddie Highmore in the English dub.
Appearances
- Captain Atom: (1951)
External Links
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