Atom's Parents

[Satus]

I liked the robot parents, even though they were behind Atom in school they still had interesting personalities. I viewed Ochanomizu as more of an uncle to Atom for some reason.

Overall, I like Tenma the best. In the 1980s series I don't think he was a bad guy, just someone trying to be a good father but having a bad day. The 2000s version of Tenma is a different story.

[jeffbert]

As I recall, Fred Schodt wrote that the real kids were quite pleased with the idea that Atom's parents were in a lower grade than he was. I think there are many kids like Ralph Philips, who dream of the day when the roles will be reversed, and the kids send the parents to bed without supper.

In this is seen the absurdity & thus, the humor of the situation. Some people take these things far too seriously! Mighty Atom was 1st drawn with tween boys as the intended readers.

In regards to his parents in general, the Chronicles provide the definitive explanation. had forbidden to associate with other robots, because they were robots, while was a special robot, more human than machine. But had no friends; he wanted someone like himself; perhaps a human child may have sufficed, but made no reference to that possibility. & Nuka, for that matter, wanted a robot friend, companion, & playmate. Once that sad episode was over, & began to realize that he had harmed the thing he lovingly designed to take Tobio's place, he absconded with the robot parents & shaped the mother to resemble in all ways, Hoshie (his late wife).

Atom would always be a kid, & the mama robot would always be mama, etc.
165 A Great Fuss Over Babies leaves us not knowing which robot baby the royal couple adopted, nor if they would come to regret choosing a robot instead of a human child. If had made a spin-off series about them, I can only imagine it would show the folly of such a choice. Infancy is a phase, not a permanent condition; but humans who adopt a baby shaped infant will soon wish it would grow up.

Atom's robot parents would never regret Atom being a robot, never wish that he would grow, never strike him because he did not grow. They would not curse him because he was not human enough. They would be the ideal parents.
Robot & Robots, Humans & humans.

[AprilSeven]

Wow

Jeffbert - I feel like a real doofus for not putting the pieces together as you have! :d oh:

WELL DONE and THANK YOU!! That makes perfect sense, and now I actually don't feel as upset about his parents as I did before (I used to think Atom was being unappreciative of Dr. O by not wanting HIM to be his "new" father). But yes, following the canon set forth, the robot parents do make perfect sense, and the "corny" aspect that I tend to find a put-off is simply some of Tezuka's humor, which could be a little at times!

- Thanks Jeffbert. For a human, you're pretty darn cool!

[Juanita]

That does make a lot of sense. Like I said, I'm not too fond of his parents, but I can understand why he'd want them.

[jeffbert]

Thanks for the appreciation, AprilSeven.

[Earthshine]

I understood why Tezuka gave him the robotic parents in the first place through reading of the history and such, but I still prefer Ochanomizu just the way he is. I have a thing for single-fathers in media because it's usually the other way around. I was very pleased with the 2003 anime when the writers decided to not include the robotic parents.

I never found the robotic parents funny or amusing or at all relevant (then again I was born in 1988 with a 1990s 'brain', not a baby-boomer's mindset of the whole thing) but my mom sure found them hilarious when she was watching the 60s version with me (that was sure an interesting experience, she was 7 when Astro Boy was playing in the US).

I don't think that they are BAD characters, just overall not necessary for Atom's enrichment.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

I guess they made sense for the '63 and MAYBE the '80 version of Astro, but not for the 2003 version. In part this was also due to the presence of the darker Tenma being in the story. I also think that in many of the missing 89 episodes Atom's siblings and parents were depicted as more of a family than in the episodes as seen in the US. (based on the clips from Jeffbert anyway).