Also known as 鉄腕アトム (Tetsuwan Atomu)

Astro Boy

Astro Boy, the story of the boy-robot with 100,000 horsepower is, without a doubt, Tezuka's most well-known creation. Originally published in Shōnen (少年 ) between April, 1951 and March, 1968, the series has spawned a number of animated television series, feature films, and several video games and other associated works.

Sub-Sections

• Astro Boy (Manga)
• Astro Boy (Anime)
• Astro Boy (Other Works)

What it's about

In the "near future", the robot known as "Astro Boy" is the created by the genius roboticist Dr. Tenma after his young son Tobio is killed in an accident involving his robotic car. Dr. Tenma, then head of the Japanese Ministry of Science, is determined to recreate Tobio, and marshals all the considerable resources at his disposal to create the world's most advanced robot - one capable of thinking and feeling like a human.

At first the project seems like a success, and Astro Boy lives peacefully with Dr. Tenma.  However, it soon becomes apparent that Astro cannot simply replace Tobio.  Enraged by the robot's limitations to imitate a human child, Dr. Tenma abandons Astro Boy to a fate as a slave performing in a robot circus. Abused by the harsh ringmaster, who has no idea that he has acquired the world's most sophisticated robot, Astro is eventually rescued by the kindly Dr. Ochanomizu. The new Minister of Science, replacing Dr. Tenma after he becomes wanted by the police for abusing his power and creating Astro, Dr. Ochanomizu rebuilds and restores Astro Boy.

Acting as a surrogate father figure, Dr. Ochanomizu teaches Astro to love and respect both human beings and robots, and he becomes somewhat of an ambassador between the two. However, the fugitive Dr. Tenma continues to consider Astro Boy to be his property, and believes that the robots will inevitably rise up against humanity, with Astro as their leader.

What you should know

Astro Boy is set in the near future, where robotic technology has become so advanced that it is threatening to radically transform human culture. Not only has the loss of many human jobs to robots led to social upheaval, but the robots themselves have become so sophisticated that mankind must begin to recognize them as another sentient species. In Astro Boy, Tezuka uses robots as an allegory to explore issues of prejudice and racial intolerance. The robots (and the humans who support them) often face a fierce political and social struggle to secure robot rights against humans who, fearful of change, often offer violent resistance. However, possessing the world's most sophisticated and human-like computer brain, Astro Boy serves as a bridge between humans and robots, fighting to defend both races and establish peace and friendship between them.

Many of Astro Boy’s adventures are simple science-fiction stories; including an expedition to Mars, encounters with aliens, and saving humans from all sorts of dangers. However, amongst these adventures, there are also stories with political overtones, including; Astro Boy protecting the first robot who tries to register to vote, serving as the bodyguard for for world's first legally elected robot president, or negotiating with robot revolutionaries who are trying to stage a revolt against their human oppressors.

Astro Boy is one of the finest examples of Tezuka's ability to write literature which introduces children to important and serious life issues - with a hero so noble that even those who prefer anti-heroes and charismatic villains find themselves, for once, rooting for the good guy.