Pluto [Review]
Netflix is a tremendous hub for all manner of great television and film titles, but it’s often overlooked when it comes to its library of superb anime. Monster and Levius come to mind right off the bat, and I’m thrilled to share that Pluto joins the ranks as one of the best anime on the platform. I’d even go a step further and argue that it’s one of the most suspenseful and engaging sci-fi thrillers I’ve seen in some time.
Image Credit: Netflix Media Center
With 8 full 1-hour episodes, Pluto offers a meaty narrative. Adapted from Naoki Urasawa’s manga series of the same name, the story is centered in Osamu Tezuka’s legendary world of Astro Boy, where a series of murders targeting the Seven Strongest Robots (including Atom), as well as key human figures within the robot rights movement, baffles law enforcement the world over. Gesicht, one of the Seven Strongest, built to be the world’s greatest detective (sorry Batman), delves deep into the case, enlisting the help of Atom to get to the bottom of who the murderer is before they can fully accomplish their heinous plan.
With the manga originally running from 2003 to 2009, you would think an adaptation would have happened somewhere in the 14 years since Urasawa penned the final chapter, but it wasn’t until 2017 that an adaptation was even confirmed. The project then encountered a minor delay in the form of a -checks notes- global pandemic, and so we’ve finally arrived with an adaptation that is beautiful to behold, and faithful to its source material.
Image Credit: Netflix Media Center
The production value is certainly there, that much is obvious from the earliest scenes. There’s lush detail in the animated environments and spectacular nuance in the characters’ body language, engrossing you in the narrative. The soundtrack is solid as well, integrating classic Astro Boy songs which can quickly transport longtime fans back to the episodes of yesteryear.
More importantly, however, Pluto wrestles with compelling narrative themes throughout as it attempts to draw the line between humans and robots…and then delights in having the viewer re-evaluate that line over and over again.
Image Credit: Netflix Media Center
Each of the seven strongest robots have their own unique backgrounds, with many sharing a history of fighting in a not-too-distant war known as the 39th Central Asian Conflict. While robots are forbidden from killing or harming humans, robots are increasingly deployed for conflict, which means that these advanced robots are essentially super-soldiers, having dispatched thousands, if not tens of thousands of their own kind.
While they are not meant to harbor human emotion, following the war, many of them seek out a more “human” existence in their own way. Some build a family with children, others seek solace in nature, another finds joy in music…while Atom emulates the joy of a child enjoying a lavish dessert, or expressing interest in an exciting new toy.
Each of the Seven “play” at humanity, and this transition can echo the struggle of many veterans returning home from abroad. At the end of the day, no matter what sort of front they put on in regards to their humanity, are they really only weapons of mass destruction? Is there any hope for a peaceful life for them?
Image Credit: Netflix Media Center
The pacing of the narrative is fantastic - new characters are introduced (and exit) with care and purpose, and this is another testament to the faithfulness of the adaptation. Chapters from the manga are well-preserved, and the refinement of the narrative results in a story that can draw in a wide audience: even folks who don’t traditionally watch anime.
Overall, Pluto is a triumphant adaptation of an already amazing story. It just so happens that it came out shortly after I gushed about how much I love Urasawa’s Monster. Definitely check this out if you’re a fan of Urasawa’s work, Astro Boy, or great anime in general. You won’t be disappointed.
