Pluto: Netflix's Hidden Anime Masterpiece That Critics Can't Stop Prai

Pluto

With the recent spike in AI-generated creative works, I often found myself and others talking about an impending clash between humanity and robots sometime in the far future. It goes without question that such thoughts were heavily influenced by movies, TV series, games, and media in general, but the way things stand, it’s not all too surprising. With daily reports of new creations, discoveries, and breakthroughs, it seems inevitable that we will eventually reach a futuristic metropolis akin to what we've witnessed on screen. Reality, as we know, will be so different by then, so how would you react to a sudden occurrence in such a setting?

“Pluto” is an 8-episode ONA series that aired on October 26, 2023. It was produced by Genco, Tezuka Productions, Netflix, and NetEase and brought to life by Studio M2. It targeted the seinen demographic with genres like action, mystery, sci-fi, and suspense, along with detective and psychological themes. It had a total runtime of 1 hour and 1 minute per episode, receiving a rating of PG-13 for teenagers 13 years or older.

The series is based on the same manga title, “Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka.” It ran for eight volumes from the 9th of September 2003 until the 1st of April 2009 and was serialized in Big Comic Original. It is the work of authors Tezuka Osamu and Urasawa Naoki, the latter of whom also functioned as the artist. This creation came about as a form of celebrating the 50th anniversary of Osamu Tezuka's “Tetsuwan Atom,” where mangaka Naoki Urasawa entered into a collaboration with Tezuka Productions to create an adaptation of the “The Greatest Robot on Earth” story arc. This work shifted the spotlight from the existing protagonist to Gesicht to ground the tale in realism. Thus, Pluto won the ninth Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize, the Excellence Prize in the Manga Division at the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival, and the 41st Seiun Award for Best Comic in 2010. It was then published in English via VIZ Media under the VIZ Signature imprint from the 17th of February 2009 until the 6th of April 2010. Regardless, the parent story was “Tetsuwan Atom,” more commonly known as “Astro Boy,” which aired a total of 193 episodes back in winter 1963.

As stated earlier, the ONA series focuses on Gesicht as the protagonist, an android police detective based in Europol, and he is tasked with tracking down the mysterious murderer of Montblanc, a renowned retired war hero robot. On the surface, it seems like only a robot could have possibly committed this heinous crime, but the consequent murder of a renowned robot rights activist begins to cast doubts on this theory. The only hint he has, strangely, lies in an isolated and unexplained incident that transpired eight years prior, where robots that are usually programmed to be incapable of killing humans proved otherwise.

As things stand in the present, the sheer lack of human evidence at the crime scene and the similarity in the modus operandi lead Gesicht to suspect that there might be only one killer, whether man or robot. The situation gets worse when another retired elite war robot is eliminated, allowing our protagonist to notice a pattern in the murder victims: both murdered robots used to belong to the group of seven most powerful war machines ever spawned. Gesicht thus sets off to stop the criminal from destroying the remaining five veterans, and for this goal, he enlists the aid of Atom, a cutting-edge android that resembles a human boy. Determined to hunt down this rogue murderer before their goals are met, the duo must also ensure that the very foundations of their society don’t suffer irremediable damage.

The premise of this anime is undeniably intriguing, set in a futuristic world where robots and humanity coexist after the 39th Central Asian War. As you should expect, the story itself is very complex and convoluted, sometimes even becoming messy, which can be good or bad depending on you. The story sometimes struggles to establish its rhythm and pattern, exhibiting erratic transitions between various locations, scenes, themes, and subplots. But it's unfair to call this unfocused; they knew where they were going, but the path can be winding. The highly convoluted narrative can become confusing and even disorienting if you don’t pay close attention, but trust me, all the brain cells you use on the way will be graciously rewarded by the final episode when everything falls perfectly into place. I will say that they should’ve spent more screen time building the foundation and atmosphere of this world because we are expected to accept what is presented on a platter.

At one moment, things will go down in Germany alongside a thriller or psychological vibes before suddenly jumping into Australia, surrounded by action or adventure vibes. This landed a hit on the immersion and tension for me, but it is in no way a deal breaker. Pluto is not above the cliché anime tropes prevalent in the mecha series, either. The idea to make the episodes 1 hour long does more good overall in terms of pacing, but there were exceptions. You’re in for quite an enriching story as long as you piece together this fragmented tale in your head while you watch. Conversely, you’ll just be sitting there scratching your head and most likely won’t enjoy the narrative as much.

The character department is expertly handled, especially regarding the leading duo of Gesicht and Atom. The subtle method of using character interactions and dynamics to shape your views on the complex relationship between robots and humans is genius. I cannot commend the writing here enough. Gesicht is not your typical detective, and the case he's investigating is far from a simple pursuit; he becomes deeply entangled in a complex conspiracy that could lead to his downfall. Does the situation stop him? Absolutely not. To match his presence, the main antagonist, Pluto, is constantly lurking in the shadows but ready to act at any moment. I’ll leave it at that to avoid spoilers.

The Art and Animation department is very unique. While the art style stays entirely faithful to Urasawa-sensei’s oddly realistic vibe, the animation takes a different turn that didn’t exactly appeal to me. The use of CGI felt out of place alongside the artwork, making the backgrounds and scenery appear inorganic. There were moments where these artificial backgrounds even distracted me from what I should have been focusing on, especially in moments where I overly relied on them for no apparent reason. The character designs are distinct and memorable, portraying something significant about the character. The production quality is still up there but contrasts with the gruff '90s anime style, creating a unique blend.

The Sounds and Music department falls a tad short of the rest, but isn’t terrible either. The series doesn't primarily focus on music, which is a fitting choice. The piece "Clues to the Truth" by Yugo Kanno was used for Episodes 1 to 5, while "Zeal for Life" by Yugo Kanno was employed for Episodes 6 to 8, both of which suited the vibe but won’t be making their way into many playlists. The OSTs are also easily forgettable but blended seamlessly with the show and robbed nothing from it. Voice acting is superb for all the main cast, and I recommend the sub over the dub.

For those willing to devote their entire attention to the series, Pluto is an awe-inspiring work. Pluto's mastery lies in its complexity and subtle details, and if you don't piece together some of the pieces yourself as the show progresses, the finale won't have the same impact. Urasawa-sensei is renowned for crafting and developing mysteries full of suspense, and this series is a testament to his ability to make things more intriguing with every passing episode. The anime is undoubtedly a project handled with passion and effort, so kudos to everyone involved for making such a solid adaptation. I recommend this series to anyone willing to spare the brain cells, but at the same time, I advise anyone who wants a chill watch to stay away.