I
Am Robot & Proud
Robots, Cyborgs & Androids
in the Manga of Osamu Tezuka
Audio-visual presentation delivered at the Australian Centre
for the Moving Image, Melbourne 2003 as part of their Lounge
Critic series
Summary
Osamu
Tezuka’s Astro Boy is his most famous creation, spanning
manga, anime and marketing since its inception in 1951.
Less known to western audiences is the broad range of robotic,
mechanical and neural beings which populate the 400-plus
manga produced by Tezuka up to his death in 1989. Cute robots,
sexual cyborgs and angst-ridden androids are detailed in
numerous astounding titles like Metropolis, Glass, Microids,
Ambassador Magma, Black Jack, Song Of Apollo, Tiger Books,
The Crater and many more.
This audiovisual presentation that traces Tezuka’s
family of disenfranchised post-humans. In stark opposition
to the European model of Frankenstein and his ‘workshop
of filthy creation’, Tezuka typifies an entirely opposed
merger of humans with non-humans. In Tezuka’s world,
the nursery breeds psychosis and the tomb unleashes ecstasy,
as his replicants, clones and simulations exude a refreshingly
amoral non-religious celebration of artificial life.
Notes
Incomplete
notes/comments for slide image log
Introduction
Astro Boy = Tetsuwan Atomu
ABc02 Astro Boy 1956 -
Action Cover – Created by Prof. Temma in the image
of his son Tobio who is killed in an accident; Tobio is
stolen and sold to the circus – but is rescued by
Prof. Ochanimzu who rears him.
ABc03 Astro Boy 1964 -
Action Cover – with Uran
Robot feelings
Astro Boy = Tetsuwan Atomu
ABBR01 Astro Boy: Biggest Robot On Earth 1964 Pluto
Action Astro Boy fights Pluto
ABBR02 Astro Boy: Biggest Robot On Earth 1964 Pluto
Action Astro Boy mourns Pluto & the other robots
ABLM01 Astro Boy: Lightning Man 1955 Astro Boy, Prof.Ochanamizu,
army
Action Lightning Man is destroyed – Astro Boy mourns
Robot family trauma
Astro Boy = Tetsuwan Atomu
ABBK01 Astro Boy: The Blue Knight 1965 Blue Knight,
Maria, Tonto
Action Flashback by Ross: Blue Knight mourns his wife Maria
& son Tonto killed by Brug
ABBK02 Astro Boy: The Blue Knight 1965 Blue Knight, Maria,
Tonto
Action Prof.Ross & Prof.Ochanamizu conclude: Blue Night
reveals …
ABBK03 Astro Boy: The Blue Knight 1965 Blue Knight, Ross,
Prof.Ochanamizu
Action … he contains Maria & Tonto inside him
as designed by Ross using their heads!
ABBK04 Astro Boy: The Blue Knight 1965 Blue Night, Ross,
Prof.Ochanamizu
Action Overview of Prof.Ross’s design
Ambassador Magma = Maguma Taishi
AMc02 Ambassador Magma 1965 -
Action Cover – Magma is created by Earth in preparation
for Goa who millions of years ago prophesized his take-over
of the planet.
AM01 Ambassador Magma 1965 Magma, Mamoru
Action Magma arrives & takes Mamoru’s camera;
transforms into jet then departs
AM02 Ambassador Magma 1965 Earth, Magma, Mol, Gam, Mamoru
Action Earth introduced Mamoru to Magma & his wife Mol;
Gam is made to look like Mamoru
AM03 Ambassador Magma 1965 Gam, Mamoru
Action Gam transforms to jet and takes Mamoru
The creation of life
Astro Boy = Tetsuwan Atomu
ABF01 Astro Boy: Frankenstein 1952 Frankenstein
Action Frankenstein is created
ABF02 Astro Boy: Frankenstein 1952 Frankenstein, Astro Boy
Action Astro Boy Battles Frankenstein
ABR01 Astro Boy: Resurrection 1966 Astro Boy, Prof.Ochanamizu,
scientists, priest
Action Prof.Ochanamizu discusses resurrection plans
ABR02 Astro Boy: Resurrection 1966 Astro Boy, Prof.Ochanamizu,
scientists
Action Astro Boy is resurrected
The Devil Garon = Garon
DGc01 The Devil Garon 1960 -
Action Cover – Garon’s heart is a separate being
– both hit earth from two meteorites from another
planet.
DG01 The Devil Garon 1960 none
Action Satellite hits earth and is dug up and shipped onto
truck ….
DG02 The Devil Garon 1960 Professor & assistant
Action …. A professor who starts sorting out all the
parts.
DG03 The Devil Garon 1960 Professor & assistant
Action He builds Garon.
DG04 The Devil Garon 1960 Professor & assistant
Action With electrical voltage, Garon comes to life.
DG05 The Devil Garon 1960 Professor & assistant
Action Garon destroys the laboratory and kills the Professor.
DG06 The Devil Garon 1960 Professor & assistant
Action Flashback: the Professor’s assistant plays
back the Professor’s tapes and discovers the heart-shaped
hole in Garon.
DG07 The Devil Garon 1960 Professor & assistant
Action Garon’s ‘heart’ is found and takes
residenced inside Garon.
Paternal love objects
Pinocchio = Pinokyo
PNc01 Pinokyo 1952 -
Action cover
Black Jack = Buraku Jaku
BJi01 Black Jack 1980 -
Action Black Jack & Pinoko puppet
BJc01 Black Jack 1979 -
Action Cover – Black Jack is a renegade doctor who
does operations for cases no-one else will touch. He lives
as an outsider to the medical fraternity and humanity. Black
Jack bears a deathly part of his being and psyche as noted
by the scar that lines his dead (blue) flesh). He has made
Pinoko out of body parts: she is his nurse/daughter/fgirlfriend.
BJBQ01 Black Jack: Black Queen 1976? Black Queen
Action Black Queen performs amputation
BJBQ02 Black Jack: Black Queen 1976? Black Queen, Rock
Action Black Queen loses her nerve when she has to operate
on her lover Rock
BJBQ03 Black Jack: Black Queen 1976? Black Jack
Action Black Jack reconstructs Rock’s leg
BJE01 Black Jack: The Encounter 1977? Megumi, Pinoko
Action Megumi tells Pinoko
BJE02 Black Jack: The Encounter 1977? Megumi, Black Jack
Action Flashback: Black Jack operates on Megumi –
sex change?
BJE03 Black Jack: The Encounter 1977? Megumi, Black Jack,
Pinoko
Action Flashback: Black Jack operates on Megumi –
sex change?; Black Jack interrupts
BJE04 Black Jack: The Encounter 1977? Black Jack, Pinoko
Action Pinoko snuggles into Jack; Megumi leaves on ship
Dororo = Dororo
DRc01 Dororo 1969 -
Action Cover – Hyakki-maru’s father sacrificed
his about to be born child’s 48 body parts to 48 demons;
the child is born a blob of flesh and set loose in river;
Hyakki-maru grows up after doctor makes him artifical limbs;
he embarks on quest to kill the 48 demons; Dororo is a parent-less
child thief whom he befriends.
DR01 Dororo 1967 Hyakki-maru, doctor
Action Hyakki-maru moves toward the doctor
DR02 Dororo 1967 Hyakki-maru, doctor
Action The doctor starts to make artificial limbs for Hyakki-maru
DR03 Dororo 1967 Hyakki-maru, doctor
Action Doctor starts sewing everything into Hyakki-maru’s
body.
DR04 Dororo 1967 Hyakki-maru, doctor
Action Hyakki-maru’s body is complete; he takes his
first steps.
DR05 Dororo 1967 Hyakki-maru
Action Hyakki-maru attacks with a rage carving up his enemies’
bodies.
DR06 Dororo 1967 Hyakki-maru
Action Hyakki-maru has blades within his fake arms.
DR07 Dororo 1967 Hyakki-maru
Action Hyakki-maru slices up a demon.
DR08 Dororo 1967 Hyakki-maru
Action Hyakki-maru can also shoot acidic water from his
legs.
Tiger Books: Glass Brain = ?
CM01 Glass Brain 1971 -
Action After a baby survives a huge train accident, she
goes into a coma; widely televised on TV, a young boy sneaks
in to visit her, and believes he can wake her by kissing
her. He does this for over 15 years …
CM02 Glass Brain 1971 Boy, girl
Action One night during a huge electrical storm, he kisses
her – and she awakens.
CM03 Glass Brain 1971 Boy, girl
Action He is assigned to be her carer, and though in a teen
woman’s body, she behaves like a baby.
CM04 Glass Brain 1971 Boy, girl
Action They both grow up and marry – but only in time
for her to die in his arms on their wedding night!
Replication of Self
Astro Boy = Tetsuwan Atomu
ABM01 Astro Boy: Moeba 1955 Astro Boy, Prof.Temma
Action Prof.Temma shoots replicant Prof.Temma
ABM02 Astro Boy: Moeba 1955 Astro Boy, Prof.Temma
Action Prof.Temma dodges hovering manifestation of Moeba
The Adventures of Rock = Rock
AORc01 Adventures of Rock, The 1952 -
Action Cover – also known as ROCKHOME’S ADVENTURES.
Dimon – a similar planet to Earth – has become
Earth’s new moon. Rock visits it and discovers the
Luborooms who are slaves to the birdlike Epooms. Rock works
with both of them to eventually establish harmony.
AOR01 Adventures of Rock, The 1952 Rock, Luborooms
Action On Planet Dimon, Rock encounters Luborooms
AOR02 Adventures of Rock, The 1952 Rock, Luborooms
Action The Luborooms take on Rock’s form; he smashes
them/him!
AOR03 Adventures of Rock, The 1952 Rock, Luborooms
Action There are too many Luborooms; they take Rock to their
master
Metamorphosis
Big X = Bigu Ekusu
BXc01 Big X 1963 -
Action Cover - Akira is the grandson of Prof.Asagumo who
developed formula for enlargening cells for Nazis but hid
formula in his son Shigeru’s stomach. After Shigeru
dies from neo-Nazi League, Prof.Hanamaru passes on the formula
to Akira.
BX01 Big X 1963 Akira, Prof.Hanamaru
Action Prof.Hanamaru passes on the formula to Akira via
special injection pen.
BX02 Big X 1963 Akira
Action Alira is now enlarged into Big X.
I.L. = Aieru
ILc01 IL 1970 -
Action Cover – Imari Daisaku is an out-of-work movie
director. Count Alucard gives him a doll who can transform
into anything. Imari starts a business renting her out to
avenge bizarre psycho-sexual crimes.
IL01 IL 1970 Imari, Count Alucard, IL
Action Count Alucard give Imari the doll IL.
IL02 IL 1970 IL, industrialist
Action IL poses as the wife of an industrialist who is turned
on by moths!
IL03 IL 1970 IL, curator
Action IL poses as a hippy chick a curator of a skin museum
murdered!
The Amazing Three = W3 / Wanda Suri
W3c01 The Amazing Three 1965 -
Action Cover – Galaxy Patrol decides to destory Earth
because of the planet’s unending wars, etc. 3 members
of Galaxy Patrol – Bokko, Nokko & Pukkop - are
sent to Earth to blow it up one year later if they can’t
find reasons to save the planet. Transformed into a rabbit,
horse & dog, they are befriended by Shin’ichi
– whose older brother poses as a manga artists while
actually working for Phoenix – a peace organization
for mankind.
W301 The Amazing Three 1965 Bokko
Action Bokko is transformed into a rabbit.
W302 The Amazing Three 1965 Bokko
Action Bokko is transformed into a copy of Shin’ichi’
girlfriend Kanoko.
W301 The Amazing Three 1965 Bokko
Action ‘Kanoko’ is found by humans and presumed
to be a lost child.
Marvelous Melmo = Fushiga No Merumo
MMc01 Marvellous Melmo 1971 -
Action Cover
MM01 Marvellous Melmo 1971 Melmo
Action Melmo’s deceased mother visits her and gives
her the growth pills.
MMc01 Marvellous Melmo 1971 Melmo
Action Melmo takes one and grows up into a woman.
Robot love
Tiger/Lion Books: Distant Star = Haroka Naro?
DS01 Distant Star 1971
Action
DS02 Distant Star 1971
Action
DS03 Distant Star 1971
Action
DS04 Distant Star 1971
Action
DS05 Distant Star 1971
Action
DS06 Distant Star 1971
Action
Document of the Glass Chateau = Gurasu No
GSc01 Document of the Glass Chateau 1970 -
Action Cover
GS01 Document of the Glass Chateau 1970
Action
GS02 Document of the Glass Chateau 1970
Action
GS03 Document of the Glass Chateau 1970
Action
GS04 Document of the Glass Chateau 1970
Action
GS05 Document of the Glass Chateau 1970
Action
GS06 Document of the Glass Chateau 1970
Action
GS07 Document of the Glass Chateau 1970
Action
Reincarnation
….
Song of Apollo = Apollo
SOAc01 Song of Apollo 1970 -
Action Cover
SOA01 Song of Apollo 1970
Action
SOA02 Song of Apollo 1970
Action
SOA03 Song of Apollo 1970
Action
SOA04 Song of Apollo 1970
Action
SOA05 Song of Apollo 1970
Action
SOA06 Song of Apollo 1970
Action
SOA07 Song of Apollo 1970
Action
SOA08 Song of Apollo 1970
Action
SOA09 Song of Apollo 1970
Action
SOA10 Song of Apollo 1970
Action
Phoenix = Hi No Tori
PH5c01 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
-
Action Cover – centred on Reona & Chitoro
PH501 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
Action
PH502 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
Action
PH503 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
Action
PH504 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
Action
PH505 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
Action
PH506 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
Action
PH507 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
Action
PH508 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
Action
PH509 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
Action
PH510 Phoenix – Book of Resurrection 1986
Action
Conclusion …
Astro Boy = Tetsuwan Atomu
ABC01 Astro Boy with eyes - -
Action Cover – with UranX
