AIs are becoming increasingly present today, and many related topics are important. Older movies and series have often dealt with this theme. A Netflix anime from 2023 also addresses robots and AIs and reminded MeinMMO author Nikolas Hernes of the masterpiece Blade Runner.
Pluto is originally a manga by the renowned author Naoki Urasawa. He is also known for works like Monster and 20th Century Boys. Pluto is originally his reinterpretation of an Astro Boy story.
The robot Montblanc and the human Bernhard Lanke are both killed. Both were important figures for robot rights and popular among the global population. It then turns out that an unknown person is hunting the 7 most powerful robots in the world. Inspector Gesicht is also among them and is trying by all means to find the enemy.
What rights should robots have?
Pluto poses a similar core question as Westworld or Blade Runner: How human are robots and what rights should they have? What I particularly liked was that alongside actively posed questions, subtle matters were also addressed. Robots adopt children, marry, and want to go on vacation. I often found myself asking: Is this a human or a robot?
Very human emotions are also depicted. Hercules is a robot who participates in fights against others. He feels pride and rivalry. Atom not only looks like a child but also experiences great curiosity and joy in going to school.
At first glance, it all sounds unremarkable. One aspect that captivated me directly was the concept of guilt. The 7 robots are connected not only by societal relevance but also by their past in the 39th Central Asian War. In this case, the states of Thracia invaded Persia to eliminate illegal weapons of mass destruction. In Pluto’s case, the robots are the weapons of mass destruction.
The 7 most powerful robots were also involved and had a role in the war. As the series progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that the robots regret this war and even feel guilt. An emotion that a robot shouldn’t feel in order to fulfill its task. The post-war period and guilt are themes that gain importance within the confines of the sci-fi story. These weighty themes continuously captivate the viewer throughout the approximately 8 one-hour episodes.
Pluto is an exciting sci-fi thriller
Pluto deals with Gesicht and his investigations for the majority of the time. These are exciting from the start, as Gesicht represents all the previously mentioned themes and is simultaneously a good investigator who one enjoys following.
The big question in the murder case is whether a robot has killed the researchers and robots and how that is even possible, as robots cannot kill humans. It has only happened once in the history of robotics, and since then that robot has been in prison.
Similar to The Silence of the Lambs
, Gesicht talks to this robot to gain insight into the possible perpetrator. Moreover, there seems to be a hidden story in Gesicht’s past as well.
Although robots are celebrated as heroes by most people, robot opponents also exist in the world, providing a good subplot.
Pluto often made me think. With the current AI topic looming over me, I pondered about my attitude toward robots. The robots are human-like, do good things, and have been heroes for humanity. But if we make robots and AIs increasingly human-like, then we also have to live with the possible negative aspects. Pluto works both as a sci-fi thriller and a philosophical anime about robots. Anyone looking for a slightly more serious anime should definitely check it out. You can find more adult anime series here: Anime for 18+ – These 5 series are not for children
