"jeffbert" wrote:[QUOTE=Xenops;120527]
Probably my biggest qualm is...Astro's outfit. *ducks as fellow members pelt her with nuts and bolts* I much prefer him in "civilian clothing". In the 1960's anime it doesn't matter because he never is off duty, but in the 2003 anime he goes about his business in his trunks and boots. :d oh: If you're in society, dress like appropriately. I'm not bothered by him showing "skin", but nothing says "Robot! Here!" than him dressing differently from the humans.
I also think that it would have been better for the '03 to properly clothe him in other episodes besides SPACE CAMP & VOLCANO ISLAND.
Several have said that Atom's parents were somewhat superfluous, that they were pointless, etc. But Tenma made him to replace Tobio, & that means he came complete with the need for parents, or, at least a papa. What good would a robot be, if it only bore a physical resemblance to Tobio? Atom looked to Tenma for approval, just as Tobio did. Tenma is shown smiling at him, and such, and Atom was apparently positively affected by Tenma's contentment with him. When Tenma realized that this robot could not possibly replace Tobio, he drastically changed his treatment of Atom, & Atom was very saddened by this.
As for him wanting parents after Ochanomizu had taken him in, check this page:
Astroboy's Parents
I add that the Black Lux story both opens & closes with a child finding comfort on mama's lap.
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AH HAH! I have been waiting for this moment for awhile now! *Cracks dusty old debating knuckles.*
While I don't mind too much the fact that Dear Atom has robotic parents, and the reason can make sense, as Atom was for awhile kinda like one of those orphans who wish nothing more than foster parents. And given the way Tenma had poorly treated him and how much better off he was with Hoshie, it can be even more understandable.
...But, I sometimes have to wonder if
robotic parents were really the right direction. The advantages to him having robotic parents is, as robots, they could relate to each other better and be better accepted by each other, during a time where humans and robots were not fond of each other. Even then, you still have humans from time to time who greatly like, respect and support robots, Ochanomizu not being the only one.
But then again, to also be presented with parents literally out of nowhere. Them being given to you with a mere "Here are your parents, kay thanks bye." is just... It's just much, and largely unnatural. Of course all robots are 'unnatural', but this really seems to stick out a sore thumb. If I were to be taken in by 'parents' who were literally created solely for me, I would actually feel offended. I would rather be taken in by a couple with more of a history behind them, because having something 'living' created only for me would be creepy, whether it was a human being, a robot or whatnot. Atom readily accepted them, but sometimes I even wonder if perhaps robots would feel the same as I would about the subject.
Many children are adopted by single caretakers, and accept them for what they are. Atom had no problems accepting O'Shay as his father-figure. And in the mean time, Tenma was fighting for him as well. Atom was having enough 'family'-problems at the time, and I don't think having robotic parents added to the mix would have helped it.
Even then, the main focus with the 2003 series was the human-robot conflict. The other series had multiple themes and moral-of-the-day, whereas the '03 series wanted to focus more on the one theme that Tezuka seemed to focus on the most with his sci-fi works, human vs another race. In that sense, perhaps the 2003 series could very well be more accurate than what it may appear to be. Either way, many things were not included in the 2003 series because of that.
But in the end, what matters most is that Atom is happy, he is happy having a single caretaker who the two have viewed each other as father and son. I can't help that some of this might be fueled by nostalgia, which I can completely understand. I have clung onto nostalgic feelings for the dear life of me as well.
