When one of the most popular modern manga authors sees one of his most iconic works adapted, it’s sure to be an event. That’s why it goes without saying that the animated series Pluto was eagerly awaited by subscribers of the Netflix platform!
This new original work is inspired by the manga Pluto, a short series of only 8 volumes (available from publisher Kana). Its genesis begins in the early 2000s, in anticipation of the commemoration of April 7, 2003 – the official date of birth of the famous Japanese manga hero, Astro Boy.
In 2002, the CEO of Tezuka Productions Inc. was approached by mangaka publisher Naoki Kurosawa. Their meeting focuses on a story draft that will revise the episode “The most powerful robot in the world” From the point of view of the secondary character, the robot cop.
A re-reading of the famous Astro Boy
Pluto’s story follows the investigation led by a German police inspector after the murder of Montblanc – a prominent robot veteran of the deadly war. New crimes uncover the trail of a serial killer targeting former robot soldiers who served in this global conflict…
The idea of offering a new version of the famous episode of Astro, which would be neither a parody nor a simple homage, but somehow an original story, immediately appealed to the CEO. The confirmed project was then able to begin its pre-publication in Big Comic Original magazine on September 9, 2003, a few months after Astro’s birth.
The approach to this news is not the only aspect that caught Tatayuki Matsutani’s attention. The latter was also impressed by the fame of author Naoki Kurosawa, who was successful at the time thanks to his Yawara! manga. and Monster (awarded the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize in 1999).
Deciding to revisit Astro Boy’s story with a more personal but also darker approach than the original manga, Naoki Kurosawa confronts the legend of Osamu Tezuka, the author of Astro and arguably the most influential manga author.
Story selection “The most powerful robot in the world” Brings back childhood memories. In the sequel to the manga Pluto, Naoki Kurosawa claims that this episode of Astro’s Adventures is the beginning of his calling as a cartoonist.
Between Blade Runner and Watchmen
Although it features “superhero” robots, the series plays all the codes of a thriller. Between Blade Runner (and the same question: do robots have consciousness?) and Watchmen (a series of murders takes the former heroes back in time), Pluto is the most mature work to be transferred into the pantheon of the greatest manga ever published. .
Despite the enormous pressure that rested on its shoulders, the animated series managed to command respect for the manga. Co-produced by Tezuka Productions (directed by Makoto Tezuka, Osamu’s son), the anime managed to stay true to Naoki Kurosawa’s story and artwork while giving the series an epic breath of synthetic imagery thanks to animation techniques.
A few failed CGI effects are amply compensated by the quality of the staging and the original soundtrack that vigilantly accompanies each of the program’s eight episodes. This successful adaptation of Pluto is certainly one of the best Netflix has offered this year.
While the platform also offers the entire Monster series (the manga is available from Kana), who knows, Pluto’s success might prompt Netflix to move more of Naoki Kurosawa’s iconic works into the series? As such, an adaptation of his manga 20th Century Boys would be an ideal candidate for the Stranger Things legacy…
The Pluto series is now only available on Netflix.
Discover the list of series currently available on the platform!
Source: Allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
