During Anime Expo, I spoke with Masao Maruyama, producer of Upcoming Netflix Astro Boy– anime inspired, Pluto. We talked about the pressure felt by his studio adapting one of the most acclaimed and best-selling manga of the 2000s, as well as his reflections on how the types of the machine learning technologies prophesied in the original manga might actually have an impact the anime industry.
Plutocreated by Naoki Urasawathe legendary manga author behind Freak, 20th century boysAnd Yawara!is a futuristic anime inspired by mangaka Osamu Tezuka’s trainer robot series, Astro Boy. Similar to Astro Boy, Pluto takes place in a world where humanity and high-level robots live in harmony. It is, until a detective named Gesicth is hired to solve a murder allegedly carried out by a robot. While searching for the killer robot, Gesicth discovers that the murderer could also challenge seven robots, including the titular Pluto, for the title of ultimate machine life form.
Talk with Kotaku via an interpreter, Maruyama said Pluto ostensibly serves as an anime remake of Tezuka’s magnum opus.
“Astro Boy relates to a robot while In this show, we make it more modern. We’re talking about the coexistence of humans and robots, so we have a contemporary kick,” Maruyama said. Kotaku.
Why is it a good time for a Pluto anime
Although Pluto is considered a masterpiece among manga readers, its critical acclaim never leads to an anime adaptation after the series ended in 2009. Masayura thinks now is the perfect time to Pluto receive an anime adaptation as today’s technologies have evolved, in some cases even surpass the machinations in Plutoit’s manga.
“Robotics has evolved and we have AI and I think things are getting more real or real as a story in this time and age,” Masayura said. “[Astro Boy] was introduced more more than 60 years ago and the story of Urasawa was presented more than ten years ago. I think these artists, these visionaries, see things forward [of time] and I think time has finally caught up with them.
Learn more: The Absolute 10 Best Anime on Netflix
It’s not lost on Masayura, an industry veteran who helped found acclaimed animation studios like Mappa, Madhouse and Studio M, WHO work with Tezuka and collaborated with Urasawa-san on projects like Yawara!, Freak, And Master Keaton, This the prestige of Astro Boy And Pluto put “enormous” pressure on Studio M2 to make an anime that lives up to expectations.
“I’ve been in animation for 60 years but [Pluto] had the most volume for our production because an episode is about 60 minutes long and we had to work on eight episodes,” Masayura said. “When we looked at the production process, it was very hard and difficult.”
Starting from the beauty of the fast-paced action sequences, the stunning futuristic citycharming landscapes and character designs are in Plutothe teaser and the official trailer for , it’s definitely a good thing that Studio MS put more work into about the anime, which was originally slated to debut in 2020 after news of its production made the rounds in 2017.
Pluto Producer’s thoughts on AI technology And anime
Masayura’s remarks on how today’s technology, machine learning technologies in particular, have caught up with the machinations featured in Astro Boy And Pluto asked what the longtime producer thinks about the rise of AI in anime. Recently, creators like horror author Junji Ito have expressed concerns about The AI apes its art style.
Other creations such as Castlevania director Samuel Deats expressed his displeasure with the studio Corridoror digitalthe claim that artificial intelligence technique they used to make their own anime”democratized the animation industry.” Dead tweeted this Corridor method, which nourished the art of fantasy animated film Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust In their Stable Diffusion AI modelwere not “a step towards true creative freedom”, claiming that they were just “lazy thieves spitting on an entire art form”.
“If you use [AI] wisely or correctly, I think humans can use it in a good way. I think AI would be very handy,” Masayura said. Kotaku. “However, depending on the situations or the way things are going, I feel the sense of crisis or danger where humans can be taken over or dominated by artificial intelligence.”
Pluto premieres on Netflix on October 26.
Kotaku covers everything at Anime Expo 2023, including big announcements during panels and exclusive one-on-one interviews with the industry’s top creators. Whether you are a seasoned anime fan or a beginner, you can follow all things Anime Expo 2023 here.