From Tobio to Astro

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Just how closely did Tenma model Astro after Tobio? In the manga Tezuka used both characters in his Star System in different roles. What appears to be Astro played a role in an episode of Blackjack, but if you look closely you can see that it was really Tobio. The difference was in the way he drew the hair. Tobio's hair is drawn with many lines to represent the individual hairs, and those cowlicks don't come to a sharp point. Astro's "hair" doesn't look like hair, it's almost painted on. Of course Tezuka was limited by the 2D drawings he did, this was before CGI and ray tracing software.

In the Astro Boy movie they made the same distinction between Tobio and Astro. Also Tobio's hair is actually dark brown, while Astro's is black. Note that Tezuka drew Tobio's hair with the tuft hanging down between his eyes as a sort of third cowlick. Both Astro, and the movie Tobio have this feature as an unrealistic widow's peak. (A widows peak is a feature of the hairline growing downward on the forehead, it is NEVER that exaggerated in real life. In the movie Tobio looks like Eddie Munster!)


Rear view of Tobio on the left.

The difference in the way Tobio's and Astro's hair is rendered was Tezuka's way of showing the reader/viewer that Astro was a robot and that that Tobio was the human boy. To the characters IN the manga or the Anime this distinction wasn't supposed to be visible, in many cases (as in the movie) people didn't know Astro was a robot. Hamegg figured it out when Astro walked by his EMF meter.

[jeffbert]

Though there is that distinction, I believe Tobio is merely a human version of Atom. That is, as actors go, there is no Tobio. I think there are a few others who also have robotic versions. Uran portrayed 's daughter in one BJ story, though I do not recall if she was depicted with human hair.

As a character, Atom was created 1st. In Ambassador Atom he was merely a rather than the main character, & though I have not seen that story, I am certain that Tobio only came into being when Tezuka rewrote it to put the emphasis on Atom.

BTW, the Unit 7 manga reprints has a story whose title is Space Travelers, & even incates, as I recall, it is based on Ambassador Atom. As such, I belive that Schodt / DH erred in using the title Capt. Atom.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Uran portrayed 's daughter in one BJ story

I don't recall that one. Was that in the manga, anime, or both?

They did make some 'actor casting' changes from the manga to the anime version of BJ. For example, in the episode "The two films" Tenma and Tobio were NOT in the manga, but were 'cast' in the Anime. Hoshie was even in it at the very end.

I don't think the "You did it" episode of BJ, which had a human version of Atom (he was drawn closer to Atom with just the cowlicks changed a bit, as opposed to the way Tobio was drawn in the 63 anime "metal men" episode) was ever made into an Anime episode.

[jeffbert]

It is

144, Money! Money! Money! (vol. 17)

Dr. Tenma is competing for the directorship of the Kanto Medical Association, & needs to borrow money to have a chance of buying influence & votes. But only Black Jack has enough to finance his victory, & Tenma fears being associated with him.

But Kasumi (Uran) is jealous of his attention, and whether accidentally or not, falls from the balcony of their apartment. Only Black Jack can save her, but Tenma again, fears any dealings with him. Tenma: Tenma

Here is my cast list:

Uran: Kasumi

Butamo Mackeru
Hyoutantsugi

Count Burg: Rokushika

Kin Sankaku

Dr. Hanamaru: Yamadano

Tonensheppei
Sasaski Kojiro

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

I think that might be the last volume collected by Vertical.

[jeffbert]

Without checking, I am sure there were at least 18 volumes.

[Earthshine]

Wasn't there already a thread like this?

Oh well.

I really think that, at least in my own head-canon, that the physical similarities between Atom and Tobio are almost identical and the differences (such as the pointy hair) were just displayed so that the viewer can tell instantly who is who. This is done in many other series where there are instances of identical twins, even though they are supposed to look identical the author makes some sort of distinction so that we can tell who is who at a glance.

[Dante69]

I really think that, at least in my own head-canon, that the physical similarities between Atom and Tobio are almost identical and the differences (such as the pointy hair) were just displayed so that the viewer can tell instantly who is who. This is done in many other series where there are instances of identical twins, even though they are supposed to look identical the author makes some sort of distinction so that we can tell who is who at a glance.

Agreed.