Pluto, Astro Boy and the lasting legacy of Osamu Tezuka

Pluto has landed on Netflix, bringing a beloved story inspired by one of the most iconic manga of all time to the small screen and introducing a new generation to the world of Osamu Tezuka.

The anime is based on the manga of the same name, which was co-written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa as a reinterpretation of one of the story arcs from Tezuka's Astro Boy.

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Focused on the creation of Atom, Tezuka's titular hero, the story charts the investigation into a slew of mysterious deaths involving humans and robots.

Astro Boy is, arguably, the most important piece of work in the Japanese manga industry, as is its creator Tezuka whose legacy has endured for decades for good reason.

How Astro Boy redefined the manga and anime industry

Manga was first created in Japan in its early stages in 1814 following the boom of ukiyo-e paintings, with the name "manga" first being used to describe Japanese comics towards the end of the 18th century. But it was Astro Boy that helped define what modern manga could be.

Astro Boy, or Mighty Atom as it is named in Japan, tells the story of the boy robot who is created by scientist Umataro Tenma following the death of his son Tobo, and who fights evil-doers after being adopted by Professor Ochanomizu who rescued him from a life in the circus.

The A.I. is attuned with human emotions, and so also tries to live a normal life whilst going on adventures and taking on enemies like Pluto, the villain whose name is used for Urasawa's manga.

Astro Boy was first created in 1952, and the original manga was published until 1968. It was then serialised in a newspaper from 1967 to 1969, and later had two more manga series published from 1972 to 1973; and 1980 to 1981.

First launched in Japan in the aftermath of the Second World War, Astro Boy was created as a means to give children hope for a brighter future.

With Western forces occupying Japan, the influx of American and European culture helped influence the way in which manga was made and produced, namely Disney's Mickey Mouse. Astro Boy represented one of the first big hits of this post-war era and earned Tezuka the title of the Godfather of Manga.

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The robot and his ability to harness nuclear power were a reflection of Tezuka's experience and the impact the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki had on him, and the nation.

By reflecting on atomic power through a character as charming and whimsical as Astro Boy it helped lessen the terrifying nature of it, which was particularly prevalent with the Cold War threat looming large.

Through Astro Boy the boy superhero was also born in manga, a base character that has gone on to be a defining feature of the Shonen genre (manga aimed at young boys) ever since.

The first anime adaptation of Astro Boy also redefined the anime industry, because it was the first instance where a manga was brought to the small screen to huge success — proving the popularity and lucrative nature of making anime based on manga.

This may seem surprising now when the industry is dominated by manga to anime adaptations, with original anime being few and far between.

Osamu Tezuka's lasting legacy

Tezuka is known as the Godfather of manga because of his prolific work and for the huge influence he has had on the manga industry and how manga is made.

While Astro Boy is his best known work, Tezuka also created beloved series like Princess Knight, Kimba the White Lion, and more adult-oriented work like Buddha and Black Jack.

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As well as make manga, Tezuka began his own animation studio Mushi Productions which adapted Astro Boy for the screen in 1963. The anime became the first to be translated into English and shown to Western audiences, thus kick-starting the dominance of anime in the West.

The techniques used in the animation have gone on to be the defining model for how anime is made, and they are still used to this day.

So popular was the series that it continues to be one of the most famous works out of Japan, and Tezuka's death from stomach cancer in 1969 sent shockwaves around the country. In his hometown of Takarazuka a museum was built in his honour.

Pluto and Naoki Urasawa's best works

Naoki Urasawa reinvented Astro Boy's "The Greatest Robot on Earth" arc as a murder mystery in 2003, bringing his grittier, more adult style to his favourite story from the original.

The character's birthday is 7 April, 2003 which is why Urasawa intended to adapt Tezuka's work for a new generation and celebrating its creator. He co-wrote the story with Takashi Nagasaki.

Pluto centres on the investigation of Europol agent Gesicht after mysterious deaths of humans and robots, with Astro Boy coming into the picture over the course of the narrative.

Urasawa is an influential manga creator in his own right, having worked on important pieces like 20th Century Boys and thriller Monster.

Pluto is out now on Netflix.

Watch the trailer for Pluto: