Tenma Appreciation thread

[Shychick]

WOW, I haven't posted on here in years.

Anyway, here is something I really wanted to get off my chest for awhile.

Tenma is my absolute FAVORITE character. The fact that I find him quite sexy ASIDE, never before in any fiction or literature have I ever encountered a more complex, tragic, mysterious, and misunderstood character... in these regards, he really rivals Severus Snape. A black-and-white dude, he is NOT. He is often shrouded in mystery, hidden in the shadows, and his motivations always seem to keep you guessing! He is just... FASCINATING; I've always found him so intriguing. A huge question we have to ask is: Although Temna is highly intelligent, was he really driven to insanity, or did his powerful grief and guilt- combined with his introverted nature and mad obsession with robots- just cause him to become incredibly mentally/emotionally unstable, perhaps to the point where he himself is confused over what he really wants (in both v. 20 of the manga and in the 2003 series, he really did a 180-degree switch from wanting Astro to be ruler of all robotkind to just wanting him as his son again)?

And for the longest time (mainly while Astro originally lived with him), he was indeed confused and tortured; you get the impression that he really began to believe the robot was the real Tobio, but then reality slapped him hard when it became glaringly obvious that he is only a robot after all (failing to physically grow like a human, unintentionally causing chaos with his still-new strength and lack of social skills... the latter being his fault in the 80s series, as he was determined to hide "Tobio" from the world for both their sakes as a family), and his wounds opened and freshly bled because he finally realized that the real Tobio was gone for good... and I believe a good part of the anger he took out on "Tobio" was directly at himself for feeling like he dishonored his late son by daring to think he could ever replace him.

I do NOT consider Tenma evil by any means, merely very unstable, somebody who has made a series of mistakes in a course he believed was right at the time (selling/disowning/shutting down Astro when the 'problem' was always Tenma, trying to destroy the Space People, torturing that past-summoning 3rd Dimension boy, trying to force Astro to become King of the Robots by forcing his harsh views and expectation on him, etc), only to end up suffering further guilt and shame upon realizing how his actions only made Astro suffer (emotionally and/or physically). I believe that Tenma did finally come to grips with the fact that although Astro is NOT Tobio, but his own person, he is still his son in the end... but there are also times when, due to his grown instability, he gets confused again when his original pain over Tobio resurfaces, and he finds himself again caught between major feelings of pride/love-hate for Astro; this could be the reason for his sudden change of heart in Vol. 20 of the manga and towards the end of the 2003 series, and I also believe it was why Tenma put Astro through his paces so severely and seemingly cruelly in the anime... he believes in Astro/Tobio strongly, and wants him to rise up to be the best ('tough love'), but it's like that other part of him also wants him destroyed. (I mean, I've watched the 2003 series and I've thought "CRIPES, Tenma, that is essentially Tobio; would you do that to the real Tobio?!") Again, while he had finally come to terms that Astro is not Tobio, he still occasionally has a very hard time even looking at him without being reminded of what he lost.

Even before Tobio's death, he was unintentionally selfish, which is what started it all in the first place... and he continued to make selfish choices which would hurt both him and Astro. And it often seems, especially in the manga (namely v. 15, 19, and 20) that he tries to control and force his will on Astro, as if thinking "What does it matter? After all, he is the robot and I am the creator! How dare he disobey me?" And I think it is during these times, in his fierce desperation to achieve what he's setting out to do (because, let's face it, when Tenma is determined, he doesn't care about anything else; this, as evidenced when Tobio was still around, has always been a part of him), that the previously-mentioned conflict sets in again. And he purposely hardens his heart to alleviate the old pain.

He is just... intriguing. And you can't help but notice how all his negative/questionable traits and mindsets really surface after Tobio's death in truly unhealthy and frightening ways, continuing to bring out the worst in him. Yet, he is NOT a bad person, and it IS evident that he loves Astro... for HIM, not as the son he knows is never coming back, although he will never forget about Tobio and never stop missing him terribly. He tries to watch over and protect him as his secret ally, too ashamed for his past misdeeds to reveal himself (unless it became absolutely necessary, such as when he stepped in to increase Astro's strength to 1000,000 HP), and he tries so hard to make up for what he's done, but then just when we think we have him figured out, he seemingly turns back into a selfish, control-hungry lunatic. And I can't help but feel so sorry for this long-suffering character. His story really is a tragic and complex one.

Before I forget- I think what makes the 'Tobio/Atom' conflict all the more powerful is that, depending on the version, he also has his personality and memories. (In the manga story 'Ambassador Atom', it was mentioned that the robot boy was alike to Tobio in personality, mannerisms, and intelligence, so I have always just considered this as general canon; while in the 2003 series and the 2009 movie, he had all that, PLUS Tobio's actual memories).

[Dante69]

I approve of ALL of this.

[Shychick]

I also like to think that, in the 80s series, he felt more grief and guilt than ever when Tenma and Astro got tragically and permanently separated; not only did he lose his son a second time (I always believed that Tenma assumed he ran away after disowning him), and not only was it his fault again, but he ultimately failed his poor, late Tobio and dishonoured his memory... because it was his son's dying wish for him to raise and love the robot boy as he always did him, in his image and with his name, because he didn't want his dad to be lonely.

[MrsEclipse]

Great character analysis! That pretty much sums up what I've been thinking about him all this time.


The thing I liked best about the 2009 movie was that Tenma finally got to reconcile with his son and keep him in his life. I kind of saw that as the culmination of every single Astro Boy story and everything Tenma went through, in the comics and black and white series where he sold him away, in the 80s where he lost him, in 2003 when he lost his mind and drove him to become stronger against his wishes... and finally in 2009, where he learns to accept Astro for what he is and love him no matter what, like a father.

I also consider Tenma my favorite character, by leaps and bounds. I especially like him in the 2003 series that puts him through the paces as a classic "anime villain" and still keeps the layers of complexity we've come to expect from him. And of course that's the series that gives us that beautiful hug from the last episode, that's so amazing that even a butchered dub, a replacement music track, and trimmed animation can't make it anything less than amazing.

Most of my fan projects revolve around Tenma so far- the drawings, the cross-stitch, the music video... even the first Gag Dub I chose specifically because it was the only other English episode to have "Dr. Boynton." I also have three unfinished stories about him, but they're all depressing.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Except for a story arc following the blue knight episode I don't think Tezuka ever portrayed Tenma as a mad scientist in the manga. I never envisioned him that way. I wish he had made another appearance in the 1980 anime after the first few stories. Maybe if that series had gone on for another few seasons they would have brought him back as they did in the 1960's.

[Prettywitchiusaka]

Holy hannah, I'm surprised I never thought to do this kind of thread. Considering that Tenma is also my favourite character.

He's just so tragic, and yet so human that I find it kind of unbelievable he is not as well remembered as you might think he is. But hey, at least he is remembered, just not as much as I feel he probably deserves.

As for Tenma suddenly switching his plans for Astro at the end of the 2003 series, I'll admit that I thought the same as you did when I first watched the series. But the more I went back and thought about it, the more I realized that it was less of Tenma switching plans, and more about keeping himself involved in his son's life.

Yes he wanted robots to rule over the world, but he also wanted Astro to be King of all Robots. But why? Well mostly because its his son; he wants his son to see things his way, to take his "rightful" place as King because in his mind he not only thinks its right but also because he thinks this will reunite them together. Why else would he have been asked to be assimilated? Yes it's partially due to wanting to be a robot himself, but he's also looking for a way to atone of his sins. Since he views robots as perfect beings, he thinks he'll be free of his human imperfections if he does so. Then he and Astro can spend a lifetime forever being father and son again.

So while I will agree that Tenma is mentally unstable, I also feel that his plans didn't just shift gears without some form of logical conclusion.

[Shychick]

Great character analysis! That pretty much sums up what I've been thinking about him all this time.


The thing I liked best about the 2009 movie was that Tenma finally got to reconcile with his son and keep him in his life. I kind of saw that as the culmination of every single Astro Boy story and everything Tenma went through, in the comics and black and white series where he sold him away, in the 80s where he lost him, in 2003 when he lost his mind and drove him to become stronger against his wishes... and finally in 2009, where he learns to accept Astro for what he is and love him no matter what, like a father.

I also consider Tenma my favorite character, by leaps and bounds. I especially like him in the 2003 series that puts him through the paces as a classic "anime villain" and still keeps the layers of complexity we've come to expect from him. And of course that's the series that gives us that beautiful hug from the last episode, that's so amazing that even a butchered dub, a replacement music track, and trimmed animation can't make it anything less than amazing.

Most of my fan projects revolve around Tenma so far- the drawings, the cross-stitch, the music video... even the first Gag Dub I chose specifically because it was the only other English episode to have "Dr. Boynton." I also have three unfinished stories about him, but they're all depressing.

YES, that is definitely what made the movie so unique and refreshing, despite its MANY flaws! For the first time ever, Tenma actually TELLS Astro what we have always known him to eventually feel/believe in every version: "You may not be Toby, but you're still my son!" And what makes Astro his son is not the fact that he looks exactly like Tobio, not even so much the fact that he was programmed with so much of his son in him... but that he was created out of the love he bore so deeply for his son, even if it took a tragic accident to make him realize just how much he truly does love his son. Astro is not only a 'child of science', but more to the point, a child of love. And I believe that it is through that love, somehow, that he is so pure and innocent. So much love and care went into creating him, and this is why it always drives me nuts when (80s) Hamegg assumed that he was "thrown together over a weekend". And not only does he reconcile with Astro in the movie, but he actually stays with Tenma as his son... unlike in the manga or any of the shows!

And YES, the final scene in 2003 where Astro saves Tenma from killing suicide over all the grief and guilt (because every time he lost his son, right from the start with Tobio, it was his fault; he couldn't bear to fail him anymore, to further dishonour his late Tobio), and then finally accepting and loving Tenma as his true father- just like Tenma had always eventually learned to accept Astro for who he was- was SO unique and touching, and was even more of a 'closure' moment than in the movie. SO POWERFUL! What would've made that series end on a perfect note was if Astro and Tenma had stayed together, rather than having him spend the rest of his days in an insane asylum with nothing left of his son(s) but a pair of photos and a lifetime of regrets. STILL, it would surely help to heal Tenma- both mentally and emotionally- that Astro had forgiven and accepted him.

[Dante69]

As much as I love Umataro, I keep a deep appreciation for the four main characters (Tenma, Atomu, Uran, Ochanomizu). I think of all of them as my favorite characters, there is no way I could chose just one. Sometimes I think a spent too much time thinking of Umataro, so I spent my time with the kids(I mean Atomu and Uran).

Every time I think about Tetsuwan Atomu, I get so sad. It's a good kinda of sad thought. The father-son relationship gets me every time. Even though I can't stand to see/think of them cry.

[Shychick]

Every time I think about Tetsuwan Atomu, I get so sad. It's a good kinda of sad thought. The father-son relationship gets me every time. Even though I can't stand to see/think of them cry.

OMG, THIS. ^^


YES. I can totally relate. There are so many times when I feel that this is truly the heart of the entire Astro Boy story/legacy.

[Prettywitchiusaka]

[QUOTE=Dante69;216564]

Every time I think about Tetsuwan Atomu, I get so sad. It's a good kinda of sad thought. The father-son relationship gets me every time. Even though I can't stand to see/think of them cry.

OMG, THIS. ^^


YES. I can totally relate. There are so many times when I feel that this is truly the heart of the entire Astro Boy story/legacy.[/QUOTE]

I can safely say that I second that emotion. While Astro is at its core a story about race and over coming prejudice, I think that part of its appeal does come from the fact that many of the character share very strong familial bonds with each other. They care so much about each other that it's hard not to get invested in their struggles regardless of how functional or weird the relationship might be.