In recent days, the anime series Pluto has surprisingly surged in popularity across various rating boards, making it one of the standout titles of the Fall 2023 anime season.
Pluto is an animated adaptation of a renowned manga of the same name by Naoki Urasawa, which draws inspiration from the classic work Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka.
Specifically, Pluto adapts the story “The Greatest Robot on Earth” from Astro Boy, delving into deep psychological themes. The narrative is intense, with each arc presented uniquely based on source material.
However, one interesting aspect of Pluto that many audiences are unaware of is that the story was initially intended to be written by another author, rather than Naoki Urasawa. This detail was revealed during an interview with Macoto Tezuka, the son of Osamu Tezuka.
Interview with the Creator of Pluto
Urasawa and Macoto were interviewed while working on the manga Pluto, which was being reviewed by industry officials back in September 2003. Both shared their perspectives on the future of this manga. The interview details were later published in the first volume of the Pluto manga series.
To start, the interview revealed both creators’ sentiments regarding the original manga series, Astro Boy.
Urasawa mentioned that he first encountered Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy when he was just 4 or 5 years old. He even tried to emulate Tezuka’s artistic style and signature, which he managed to capture quite well.
On the other hand, Macoto expressed that he felt fortunate that Astro Boy was completed and created before his eyes, and he was one of the first people in the world to appreciate it.
Challenges in Creating Pluto Inspired by Astro Boy
The interview then shifted focus to Macoto, who shared his feelings when Urasawa contacted him regarding the adaptation of his father’s most famous work, a completely new rendition compared to the original Astro Boy.
Macoto began by praising Urasawa’s determination, noting that this project would be a direct challenge to his father’s legendary manga. He recognized Urasawa as a famous mangaka, so he decided to listen to him.
Afterward, Urasawa elaborated on his initial thoughts about using Atom (the main character of Astro Boy) as his own lead character. However, he later changed his mind due to second thoughts. Ultimately, he chose the character Gesicht to play the main role.
Pluto is Considered to be Written by Osamu’s Family Member
Macoto continued the conversation by mentioning that Osamu Tezuka’s work had faced many challenges because many talented mangakas were active at the time. He clarified that he never intended to participate in this challenge because he was not a mangaka.
Therefore, Macoto hoped that another member of Osamu Tezuka’s family would take on this challenge, but Urasawa unexpectedly appeared and willingly undertook this challenge himself. Macoto also praised Urasawa’s confidence and the overall transformation of the story, character names, and even the main character.
The discussion continued with Macoto elaborating on his career in film and anime, urging those who loved Astro Boy to read Pluto as it is a direct result of the original work.
Summary of the Content of Pluto
The setting of Pluto unfolds in a futuristic world where robots have become an integral part of society and where major political powers protect the rights of robots.
In this world exists Gesicht, an android working for Europol in the role of a detective. He is assigned a case related to the murder of a prominent figure, which eerily resembles the infamous Mont Blanc murder case, as both cases involve two simultaneous entities being drawn into the investigation.
This leads Gesicht to ponder the existence of a rogue robot following this incident, a robot named Pluto. He also realizes that this potential suspect is pursuing the strongest robot ever created, and Gesicht is one of the few remaining.
Now, Gesicht is in a race against time as he must uncover the truth while simultaneously trying to evade the deadly robot Pluto to maintain peace in society.
Source: Animesenpai
