Interesting themes to explore in Tetsuwan Atom series

Talk about all things Astro Boy!
Prettywitchiusaka
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Postby Prettywitchiusaka » 12 years ago

Actually, I think Astro's inability to age could make for an interesting story, if you looked at the human element in his life. After all, Astro may not age, but others around him (not including his family obviously) will. It's something he will have to learn to accept at some point. And if handled well, it could make the basis for a good story.

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Toshio
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Postby Toshio » 12 years ago

It's troublesome for Atom having the ability of growing since he would not look an elder if he got 60 years old.

So, if Reno was 80 years old for example, then Atom would look like 20 years (though he was actually 60).

That's something troublesome to add in a series about robots with feelings.

I thought about that issue in the fanfic "Eternal Child", Dr. Ochanomizu would tell Atom that even if he was able to grow up, he would not able to get aged like Dr. Ochanomizu himself and Atom's friends would also not able to outlive him.

The issue of acceptance about not growing up is a pretty interesting theme to be explored.

Anyway, I would like to see Atom teaching how big brothers should behave.
That would be cute and specially if Uran was proud of him for also helping human brothers who don't treat well their younger siblings and need a lesson.
Last edited by Toshio on Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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AprilSeven
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Postby AprilSeven » 12 years ago

. . . then how does one explain Atlas from the 1980's anime?? Osamu Tezuka had a direct hand in that decision.

Atlas began as a "little boy" and ended the series as an "adult."

Atlas was "still himself" . . . he obviously rebuilt himself as an adult so he could relate to Livian as her "boyfriend" (she appeared to be significantly "older" than he before). In fact, he turned from "evil" to "good" as a result of "maturing."

Although the 1980's anime doesn't appear to take place over many years (which the 1960's version apparently does) - Astro and Atlas were "activated" at about the same time, so they are both about the same "age."

AND ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF THE FLAWS IN YOUR REASONING...
There is the grandfather character in the 80's episode (which Tezuka also was part of) who was actually a robot, and able to power the train that saved the children from the storm. Everyone thought he was a human . . . and an elderly human. So your argument does not fit logically.

You can decide you don't like to read about robots becoming "adults" or "old" . . . but it's NOT impossible (they just need to have their AI shifted to other bodies).
Last edited by AprilSeven on Thu Feb 07, 2013 5:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Toshio
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Postby Toshio » 12 years ago

The issue is about their decision of accepting themselves as they are.
We got the fact that Atom decided to keep himself in his normal body, than be replaced in an adult one.

Also, who knows if the electronic brain may be damaged over time after constant changes of bodies?

Even if he keep changing bodies, he'll don't die of old age like his friends, so no matter what, he still can't have the same life span as them.

Nobody knows if a robot would like to change a younger body to oldman body when his friends would die from old age anyway.

Having contantly body changes could even affect a robot with feelings, since is too much to deal.
We can imagine that it could be something painful since is a very long journey.
Even changing bodies, Atom would not keep up with his friends who grow up every day.

Even if he get a eldery body, we would still last longer than any of his friends since the body would only shapped like an elder and yet good as new.

The issue of Kid Atlas was vague, we don't even know how he managed to make himself adult without a necessary knowedge of robotics.
And he got mutilated following his attack against Walpurgis.
So, it's difficult to image how he would redesign himself.

He was a naive child without much knowedge of the world and there was no explanation how he got such knowedge and specially with the fact Walpurgis survived the attack.

And no offence for you, my friend...

But, as Atom is a robot, it's too much for him try keep changing bodies when his friends will always grow up naturally and become eldery people.

They'll accept him as what he is, because they know how much he would suffer to try keep in check with them who'll don't have the same life span as him.
Last edited by Toshio on Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:22 pm, edited 6 times in total.

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AprilSeven
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Postby AprilSeven » 12 years ago

We got the fact that Atom decided to keep himself in his normal body, than be replaced in an adult one.


Not exactly.

Those new bodies were offered IF he agreed to join forces with Tenma or Atlas.


Also, who knows if the electronic brain may be damaged over time after constant changes of bodies?


Nobody said anything about "constant" changes. And why would it even have to be "moved?" They could DOWNLOAD the memory . . . as they did in 03 anime and in the 09 movie.

Having contantly body changes could even affect a robot with feelings, since is too much to deal.


Wrong again . . . it wasn't "too much" for Atlas to adjust. It's just a larger body.

still last longer than any of his friends since the body would only shapped like an elder and yet good as new.


He already lives with that situation as a "child" -- all his human friends can be physically hurt or sick, but Atom is always as good as new.

They'll accept him as what he is, because they know how much he would suffer to try keep in check with them who'll don't have the same life span as him.


Yes, they'll accept him as he is but they do NOT know that he would suffer if he traded in his childlike body for an adult body.

I would respectfully argue that Atom should eventually become an adult-looking robot - but perhaps never become "elderly" looking. And I could see friends and family accepting that. We all know older people who are "young at heart" (I would say Dr. Ochonomizu is like that).
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Tetsuwan Penguin
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Postby Tetsuwan Penguin » 12 years ago

I've given some thought to the robot aging issue. First of all there were stories where a robot grew up by exchanging bodies with larger ones. The one I'm thinking of was from the '60's series with a robot who didn't know he was a robot. One day he caught his father disposing of his younger bodies.

As Astro and Uran have gone though life they've lived among human children who are growing up and they are aware of the changes humans go though, not only growing physically but mentally. Astro and Uran are probably maturing mentally as their brains absorb new experiences. There ARE humans that do not grow any larger than children, IE: midgets and dwarfs. They DO go through puberty and their bodies change in that way but they remain the size of a child. Astro and Uran would have a similar appearance in their later years. They COULD find a way to fit in. Finally consider the case of Pinoko. She is actually an eighteen year old in a body that can't ever grow (not a robot of course, but not quite a midget or dwarf either).

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AprilSeven
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Postby AprilSeven » 12 years ago

I don't see Astro and Uran being the same as "little people" - who do remain short in height, but their facial features mature (men grow beards), and they are fully functioning adult humans . . . just short (frequently shorter than many children).

If Astro were to intellectually and emotionally mature as the years went by, he'd end up being something like Baby Herman from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit!"

Storylines involved with Astro's inability to grow up are absolutely valid and interesting . . . but I have always - since childhood - sensed that he would eventually be "relocated" into a "grown up" version of himself. And I think that's also a valid story idea, and shouldn't be "shut down."
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Toshio
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Postby Toshio » 12 years ago

The major issue is that Atom would force himself a lot to get himself into a infinite amount of bodies.

There would be the technological and biological issue, his friends would not last longer as himself, no matter how many bodies he got.

And a infinite amount of bodies also meant too much money invested and specially with spare parts being made every month for emergency purposes.

Can you imagine how that could be troublesome?

Other robots who don't even have human appearance would not understand Atom at all.

If Atom accept that he can't grow up and that would be a much longer journey to keep himself changed to many bodies, then it's wise of him.

Children don't have short intervails to grow up and making mass produced aged bodies would also take too much time.

And the Science Ministry could not set their attention in that manufacturing of bodies every month.

In wrost cases, they could even go bankrupt.

There is many awfull possibilities for Atom forcing himself to keep in check with other children.

They grow up naturally when he would have to get the help of other people to build new bodies and exchange his mind.

And since Atom's friends learned a lot about robotics through him and other people, they would understand how would troublesome to keep himself changed to many bodies till a mature or eldery one.
Last edited by Toshio on Fri Feb 08, 2013 12:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

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AprilSeven
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Postby AprilSeven » 12 years ago

The major issue is that Atom would force himself a lot to get himself into a infinite amount of bodies.


Not an "infinite amount of bodies" - two bodies: his present one . . and an adult version. That's it.

Other robots who don't even have human appearance would not understand Atom at all.


He looks human already . . . and these robots don't have any trouble understanding him.

Children don't have short intervails to grow up and making mass produced aged bodies would also take too much time.

And the Science Ministry could not set their attention in that manufacturing of bodies every month.

In worst cases, they could even go bankrupt.


Read the first comment: TWO bodies: 1 as a child and 1 as an adult.

There's no need for the Ministry of Science to go bankrupt.

There is many awful possibilities for Atom forcing himself to keep in check with other children.

They grow up naturally when he would have to get the help of other people to build new bodies and exchange his mind.


Atom is going to be out-of-step with the friends he has because they are going to become adults, and THAT would be stressful.

I picture them transferring Atom to an adult body when he is between 18 and 20 years old. That's it. He IS a robot, so he will remain a youthful looking adult, but that is a LOT different than a child who appears to be 9, but is actually a 20 year old man, hanging around with his now grown up friends.

No wonder Tezuka crashed him into the sun if he felt he'd get complaints if Atom aged into adulthood! :rolleyes:

Well, hold on to your hat, Toshio, because actually I've planned out that Atom would eventually become a human - so he WILL age and become mortal and be the first person to live as a machine . . . and be the first machine to live as a human.

:astro: -- !!
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Postby Tetsuwan Penguin » 12 years ago

Tezuka hinted at that in the story "Astro's been stolen" (Dark Horse #10)


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