Astro's Struggle

[Atomars]

I'm just starting to notice now, (We'll, I've noticed before, but not REALLY) in the japanese 03 series, Astro NEVER hurt anybody. I was thinking that, after 14 episodes of basically the same thing, some people might be getting annoyed at Astro's main idea of a battle:
"Wait, don't shoot, let me talk to them!"
And that often worked XD
But in the American Manga version (You know... soaring high in the sky, the amazing Astro Boy. XD That one) He just goes and blows stuff up because 'they're robots'. When I considered this, I almost cried. X3 "No... Astro, why?? Why are to hateing on your own kind?!?"
I understand this was supposedly okay, since these robots didn't have Omega Factors.
BUT NEITHER DID THE ROBOTS IN THE 03 SEIRES!!!!
Sooo... Astro has an attack of evil in his third series, appearantly XDD

Also, in the movie, I think he should have tried harder to keep that battle from happening. It was like he just didn't want to fight because he thought he'd lose. >.>

I also noticed that, he almost never punched anyone in the 2003 series . But Ratom in Astroboy : Ravex does

[Androids101]

some people might be getting annoyed at Astro's main idea of a battle:

I got frustrated by the actions between Astro and The Blue Knight, which always started with the Blue Knight attempting to hurt a human, Astro stopping him, and then the Blue Knight would say "do you think that humans & robots can live in peace"? Then the episode ends. When Blue Knight said "if you're not on my side, then your nothing more than a traitor to me" I was relieved because finally the plot has moved on.

[avatargirl]

ASTRO BOY cares about both humankind and robotkind- apparently the BLUE KNIGHT DID NOT! That is why i love ASTROBOY and he has fans here who love him too- hugs

[Androids101]

I also agree with Astro a hundred per cent, however I thought that the storyline was becoming a bit repetitive.

[I-Am-Atom's-Sister]

I know what you mean, Androids. Even though all my receptors are denying it, 'cause I love him too much, he really needed a hater. X3

[AprilSeven]

I think our world could really benefit from an Astro right now. Because of the capacity of his IQ and extraordinarily broad knowledge base, he would be in a position to "wrap his mind around" circumstances that leave the rest of us frustrated.

Because he is physically armed to the teeth, he possesses a confidence most people don't have (he can "speak softy, and carry a big stick")

Because he is programmed to behave within robotic laws, he doesn't possess a prideful ego. He's focused on finding a solution without a thought to "what's in it for him."

Because he doesn't fear pain or death (although he tries to avoid the latter, most likely due to logic/programming), he is free to focus on problems in a very selfless manner. A lack of fear enables you to better harness your faith/confidence to solve problems.

I believe the reason Astro destroyed more in earlier incarnations has to do with US as a global society. Sixty years ago, we had just emerged from WWII, so the concepts of war, evil dictators, and "duels to the death" with our foes was accepted as "part of life." By the 1980's Astro's destructiveness was focused more on robots, because we (society) saw them as "just machines" - with Astro being different somehow.

By 2003 we LIVE with the real beginnings of artificial intelligence, so all of a sudden, we (as a society) can envision the reality of "robots with souls" -- that is a huge change from the 1950's. Now Astro has to face the problem with destroying ANY sentient being (organic or man-made). You can see the "problem" that some folks in Astro's 2003 world have with kokoro / AI robots (and a lot of people were angered by Watson beating humans on Jeopardy this past week, too!).

Finally in the movie, we see Astro possessing not merely "kokoro" but his human predecessor's memory to be integrated with his AI. And he is set in the crossfire between man/machine and the classes of man and machine (Okay to kill "dumb" robots at an arena, but not Astro who has a "soul?" Okay to leave millions of second-class humans on the poisoned surface of the earth, while the "elite" float in orbit above?)

So much of what we live with today has good AND bad components. A being like Astro would be a blessing, but I think that's our challenge -- to embrace our "inner Astro" and do our best to face the challenges out there. Not easy, but sometimes pretending to have 1,000,000 hp helps!

is my hero!!!!

[Atomars]

I think our world could really benefit from an Astro right now. Because of the capacity of his IQ and extraordinarily broad knowledge base, he would be in a position to "wrap his mind around" circumstances that leave the rest of us frustrated.

Because he is physically armed to the teeth, he possesses a confidence most people don't have (he can "speak softy, and carry a big stick")

Because he is programmed to behave within robotic laws, he doesn't possess a prideful ego. He's focused on finding a solution without a thought to "what's in it for him."

Because he doesn't fear pain or death (although he tries to avoid the latter, most likely due to logic/programming), he is free to focus on problems in a very selfless manner. A lack of fear enables you to better harness your faith/confidence to solve problems.

I believe the reason Astro destroyed more in earlier incarnations has to do with US as a global society. Sixty years ago, we had just emerged from WWII, so the concepts of war, evil dictators, and "duels to the death" with our foes was accepted as "part of life." By the 1980's Astro's destructiveness was focused more on robots, because we (society) saw them as "just machines" - with Astro being different somehow.

By 2003 we LIVE with the real beginnings of artificial intelligence, so all of a sudden, we (as a society) can envision the reality of "robots with souls" -- that is a huge change from the 1950's. Now Astro has to face the problem with destroying ANY sentient being (organic or man-made). You can see the "problem" that some folks in Astro's 2003 world have with kokoro / AI robots (and a lot of people were angered by Watson beating humans on Jeopardy this past week, too!).

Finally in the movie, we see Astro possessing not merely "kokoro" but his human predecessor's memory to be integrated with his AI. And he is set in the crossfire between man/machine and the classes of man and machine (Okay to kill "dumb" robots at an arena, but not Astro who has a "soul?" Okay to leave millions of second-class humans on the poisoned surface of the earth, while the "elite" float in orbit above?)

So much of what we live with today has good AND bad components. A being like Astro would be a blessing, but I think that's our challenge -- to embrace our "inner Astro" and do our best to face the challenges out there. Not easy, but sometimes pretending to have 1,000,000 hp helps!

is my hero!!!!

Astro is programmed In the 2003 series ? I though he has kokoro , because in the 2003 Japanese dub, Dr Ochanomizu said Astro is not programmed, he has heart (kokoro) and can think and act for himself.

[jeffbert]

Good point, Astroboy_Addict. If Atom were programmed as we understand the word, would he have any initiative at all? Still, it does seem that some fixed programming is assumed:

1. you are a little boy
2. you must not harm humans, etc

These and other basic parameters establish the framework upon which the AI will build his personality, just as human instincts, though few, do for us.

[I-Am-Atom's-Sister]

Well said, April *applase*

[AprilSeven]

Thank you! Thank you!!!