Unveiling Netflix's Epic Anime Masterpiece: A Standalone Series That Exceeds All Expectations

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The Netflix series, Pluto, airing this month, is based on Usamu Tezuka's Astro Boy. However, prior knowledge of the classic manga is not necessary to enjoy this reimagining. While the story of Pluto begins with familiar elements, it quickly expands into its own unique world, paying tribute to the original manga without relying on it entirely. This eliminates the need for viewers to feel obligated to binge-watch a decades-old story.

Pluto takes the "Greatest Robot on Earth" storyline from Astro Boy and transforms it into a captivating murder mystery filled with unexpected twists and turns. Characters like Atom, Ochanomizu, Tenma, and others make appearances without much introduction. Despite this, both the manga and upcoming anime version of Pluto can be followed easily, even for those unfamiliar with the familiar faces from Tezuka's work.

Pluto Stands On Its Own, Without Astro Boy

In Pluto, the characters from Astro Boy have been transformed to fit the new story, adding to the enjoyment of the reimagining. Some plot twists in the story cleverly exploit the assumed knowledge of Tezuka fans, making it seem like familiarity with "The Greatest Robot on Earth" or the previous Astro Boy stories is necessary to truly appreciate Pluto. While reading those stories may enhance the surprises, Naoki Urasawa ultimately takes inspiration from his predecessor's work and creates a brand-new narrative.

A notable improvement in Urasawa's version is his treatment of the characters as fully developed individuals. In the original Astro Boy, many of Pluto's targets were merely used as means to showcase Pluto's menace before his confrontation with Atom. However, in the new story, these characters are depicted as veterans who have lived full lives, only to have them brutally cut short. One character in particular, Gesicht, exemplifies this transformation. In Astro Boy, he was just another "powerful robot" with a detective gimmick. But in Pluto, Gesicht takes on the role of the main protagonist—a solemn and dedicated investigator haunted by nightmares and memory problems as he unravels the mysteries behind the killings.

Pluto's unique approach of rewriting only a single portion of Astro Boy enables them to function as standalone entities. Unlike reboots that feel obligated to include references to everything and everyone, Urasawa opted to incorporate just enough from the original to create an intriguing mystery thriller. Pluto goes even further by introducing entirely new elements, like a fictional war between two nations, which becomes a crucial piece of the puzzle. While it maintains a connection to its predecessor, Pluto is not merely a rehash, allowing viewers to appreciate its individual strengths rather than fixating on borrowed components.