CAPRICA: the series that takes Tenma's idea to an extreme

[jeffbert]

When I 1st watched the pilot on DVD some time ago, I knew that this series had taken the idea of building a robot in the image of a deceased child to an unsettling extreme. In short, the girl's 'avatar' survived the demise of her (Zoe's) body. Her papa used it as the basis for the AI in the robot that is the prototype for the CYLONS. So they juxtapose the tender young girl and the chrome plated warrior robot to show the dual identity. Though it is cold steel, it is the girl's personality that animates it. I could add details, but they would not be relevant to my point.

Skip to the last episode of 2010's season: Papa's subordinates decide to offer this technique to customers! They produce an advertisement to sell the idea to him; the episode ends. We must wait to see how far this extension of MEMORY DAY goes. I can hardly wait.

MEMORY DAY is a story in the Mighty Atom manga & B&W series. Check my page for it:
http://tezukainenglish.com/?q=node/286

[Dr. Jerk]

Wow, wouldn't surprise me if this was heavily inspired by Atom...

Show was on Space (Canadian sci-fi channel I watch) for some time, but I think the series ended.

[Androids101]

Caprica was airing on 7mate in Sydney a couple of weeks ago. Can't believe I could have missed that :d oh:

[jeffbert]

SCIFI is at this moment airing the last 5 episodes; apparently, it has terminated the series. Chris Beveridge says that the network will proceed to further BSG series, though CAPRICA ends here. While SCIFI usually runs repeats during the midnight hours, I cannot find any listed. So, this is it, catch it if you can, as I am sure that there will be a few more elements that relate to Atom & his world.

http://www.mania.com/caprica-tv-series-concludes-tonight_article_127465.html

Anyway, this took me by surprise because I expected the series to air new shows only during prime time, yet my DVR schedule indicated it would record starting at 6 pm. I was almost certain these would be repeats, & was about to modify my recoding schedule, as the information on them did not indicate they were new.

[Alittleacorn]

Complete Astro Boy rip off.

I just saw a few trailers for it and I'm not impressed, the daughter is just too normal. They should've made her look a little more robotic and done a U-turn on that personality, cause she comes off as an average teenager x_x a real annoying one anyway.

Still, guess some of it looks interesting but...ah, something is just a big switch off for me >_< can't put my finger on it.

[ASTROBUDDY]

Okay guys, let's not get carried away! While "Caprica" does contain elements that are reminiscent of Tezuka, let's not forget that "Caprica" is a prequel of the reimagined version of "Battlestar: Galactica" and therefore had reworked elements that can be found in general science fiction and not just in Tezuka. Given that if the writers and producers of "Caprica" are the right age to have seen and been influenced by Tezuka's work, one can say that the similarities are more than coincidence.

Jeffbert you must have the same cable system as I, as I almost missed the marathon because my DVR also did not list the episodes as "new", but as being produced in 2010 which made it appear as if they were repeats, instead of never before aired episodes. Luckily for me, my brother had noticed that the Syfy channel which was airing them had advertised the marathon as "all new" episodes. (You must also be on the East coast as only here did the marathon begin at 6:00 pm. I missed the first half hour because I thought the marathon was going to begin at 7:00. Luckily each episode began with a recap of the previous episode aired. And yes, the episodes were being aired as a marathon because the series has been cancelled and these are the last five episodes.)

All in all I thought the series was pretty good, but unfortunately not as good as its source material, the revamped "Battlestar: Galactica!

I

[jeffbert]

As long as it is sufficiently different from that to which it bears a resemblance, I am o.k. with it.

Edit: oops, I posted before refreshing the page.

ASTROBUDDY, I live in PA, & buy my potato chips from the UTZ factory store, but only if they are not on sale elsewhere.

Okay guys, let's not get carried away! While "Caprica" does contain elements that are reminiscent of Tezuka, let's not forget that "Caprica" is a prequel of the reimagined version of "Battlestar: Galactica" and therefore had reworked elements that can be found in general science fiction and not just in Tezuka. Given that if the writers and producers of "Caprica" are the right age to have seen and been influenced by Tezuka's work, one can say that the similarities are more than coincidence.

Anyway, addressing your comments: I do not see any relevance to the issue, though I am open to explanations for it. Whether or not Caprica is BSG's prequel, the only relevant issue is that because of BSG, we know what Zoe's clones will become, & their affect on that series' plot.

Let me restate my initial post, & add some clarification.

1. Caprica whether or not influenced by AB, has elements that appeared some 60 years earlier. Also note that Atom was based on an earlier fictional robot.
2. The MEMORY DAY story featured in both manga & B&W series features robots made in the likeness of deceased loved ones (see my review). Caprica, as far as I have seen (I still lack the last 2, & missed the 7 pm one), appears to be offering the robots made in the likeness and having the memories (assuming the deceased spent many hours playing that game) of the dead.

Given these facts alone, regardless of BSG, it is apparent that there are similarities not only to AB in general, but to the plot of a specific episode.



Moving on, Though I missed the 7pm episode, the 8pm one featured Lacy in the STO stronghold, & (avoiding spoilers) she gave an order to a Cylon that then obeyed her. She suspected that this was because all cylons inherited Zoe's (who was her best friend) memories or personality. If they had wanted this element from the start, they would work backwards & make the Zoe -> avatar->inherited by all chain of events. Thus, the similarity to Atom may be pure chance, though I doubt it.

The offering of robots to replace deceased family members may likewise have been developed independently of any knowledge of MEMORY DAY, though seeing that TRSI began selling the B&W series on DVD 3 or 4 years ago, it may indeed be an influence.

But seeing that Tezuka freely took inspiration from literature & films, there should hardly be cause for complaint. Just read GOD OF COMICS, & you will agree.

[ASTROBUDDY]

You live in Pa.! Have you lived there long and do you live in the section of Pa. where WTGI-channel 61 used to air "Astroboy" in 1986? More importantly did you watch the series when it actually aired back in the Eighties?

As for your other points, I was not complaining, merely pointing out what you yourself already stated in your last post. Like you said Tezuka himself was influenced by other sci-fi authors. Yes it is fun to point out similarities between the plot elements of "Caprica" and "Astro Boy"! I watched the series and had not made the connections you mention! So yes I can see your points. If you reread my previous post that was all I was saying. (Except I do not really see the resemblance to "Memory Day" as only the Graystones were interested in the avator that was their daughter, but I do concede that you may have a point again.)

Any way I did enjoy the series as well as your comments.

I

[jeffbert]

You live in Pa.! Have you lived there long and do you live in the section of Pa. where WTGI-channel 61 used to air "Astroboy" in 1986? More importantly did you watch the series when it actually aired back in the Eighties?

I have been here for about 4 or 5 years now, & though I have been to both York & Harrisburg, I am very unfamiliar with them.

As for your other points, I was not complaining, merely pointing out what you yourself already stated in your last post. Like you said Tezuka himself was influenced by other sci-fi authors. Yes it is fun to point out similarities between the plot elements of "Caprica" and "Astro Boy"! I watched the series and had not made the connections you mention! So yes I can see your points. If you reread my previous post that was all I was saying. (Except I do not really see the resemblance to "Memory Day" as only the Graystones were interested in the avator that was their daughter, but I do concede that you may have a point again.)

Any way I did enjoy the series as well as your comments.

I

As I mentioned, the last episode shown in 2010 had one of Graystone's employees construct an advertisement for a product or service that would make death a thing of the past. I think the 6pm episode also made reference to it, with a man saying no robot could replace his child. Memory day or perhaps memorable day has people-- just read my review, see link in 1st post! While no mention of the commercialization of these robots is made, it may be assumed. Even if not, there still remains the factory production of such robots; though I suspect cyborgs might have been included, if the series had no been canned. I recall something about making death obsolete mentioned in the 6pm ep.

[ASTROBUDDY]

Unfortunately the 6:00 pm episode was the one I missed half of.

I don't remember the episodes as well as you do, but I believe you are right in some of what you said as it does sound vaguely familiar. So, there does seem to be some similarity in elements of "Caprica" as related to the Astro Boy episode, "Memory Day"; another of my favorite episodes.

I