THE ANALYSIS OF HUMANISM AS REPRESENTED IN THE

ANIMATION SERIES “ASTRO BOY”

Abstract: This journal will discuss the topic of humanism as a subject brought by the
genre of science fiction—specifically in the animated series Astro Boy. The social
and psychological commentary of the idea given that, if an intelligent life were not
human, would you and others treat it the same way? It is depicted in Astro Boy
through still and moving images to tell a story about people and humanity. It is
expressed in a neat and concise way as to be understood by all audiences from every
background. It’s the reason why the series is so popular worldwide, even to this day.

Keywords: Humanism; Intelligent Life; Science Fiction

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction...................................................................................................................1
Methodology.................................................................................................................3
Result............................................................................................................................5
Discussion.....................................................................................................................7
Conclusion....................................................................................................................9
References...................................................................................................................10

● VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022

Introduction smartphones and the internet, how as

As a series, Astro Boy has had a result it makes people more

multiple remakes. From the original desensitised to cruelty in the world.

manga by Osamu Tezuka, to the True artificial intelligence is getting

animation in 1963, to the adaptation in closer day by day, we can see such

1980, another remake in 2003, and a progress of realistic robots being

3D animated movie in 2009. Time and proven through the Ameca, a robot

time again, we tell the story of Atom capable of mimicking human-like

and his friends. But the question is, emotions in extremely advanced

why? Although there are slight detail. If we don’t learn to be decent

differences between the stories and people to even each other as humans,

the way it is presented tonally, why what will happen to the man-made life

re-tell it within every generation? we create with our own hands? Atom,

Other than the fact that it’s Japan’s or more popularly known as Astro

most iconic anime and can be Boy, has his original origin story

recognisable worldwide, it tells a very about him being built in the image of

human story about a not so human his creator’s son, who unfortunately

robot and the people he encounters. passes away due to a car accident. In

As history repeats itself, it is a his grief, Dr. Tenma creates a perfect

constantly growing ever-present replica of his son, only this time

relevant story about our humanity inhumanely strong and unkillable.

through the increase of technology, Even though he tries, Dr. Tenma starts

teaching a lesson in a rapidly growing to notice that Atom doesn’t age like

world and told in a digestible manner. normal children do (as he is a robot)

Especially today, in the year 2022, we and acts hardly anything like his son,

can see how much technology has realising nothing can ever replace a

grown, with things such as human life that is his son and that it

VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022 ●

can only create something new, he
sells away Atom to a robot circus.
Even with a simple origin story, it
touches so much on grief and the
emotional distance one can have
towards something man-made, even
as an intelligent life who could feel
emotions. This doesn’t even touch
upon Atom’s experiences with hatred,
harassment, and bigotry from other
people besides his creator, it being a
big part of the series.
Astro Boy’s legacy has
spanned decades, with it being
considered the first ever anime series
since its release in the year 1963. Since
then, there have been countless
remakes and movies retelling its
stories. Even throughout it all, the
series’ main focus is to tell a story, and
besides slight differences in iterations,
it mostly stays the same. The idea of
an ever-growing world full of
technology, something made available
for our convenience, and the overall
betterment of humankind. How that
gives us improved lifestyles as we
embrace technology, but so much so
● VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022
that we forget when to draw the line. A
lot of technology lets us distance
ourselves emotionally and physically,
beginning to take its negative hold on
people as we become colder towards
humanity as a whole. Now the
question begs to repeat, if we as
humans can be cold towards even our
own kind, then what would happen if
we were to have the capabilities of
creating life artificially? Where would
the balance be, and would there be
room for humanism, an idea in where
we be good to ourselves, and to others
for the greater good simply for the idea
of it being good. All this can be
discussed in a fun animated sci-fi
series called Astro Boy.
Does Astro Boy critique how
people act towards differences in a
fictional setting as a metaphorical way
of delivering the moral? And while its
tones are mostly for all audiences, is
that for the benefit or for the detriment
of the series? The purpose of this
research is to further the knowledge of
people’s understandings on empathy
and how, even when different, we can
relate to each other and show kindness
to one another. Although it is told
through science fiction as a lense, it
heavily holds true to us with different
ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and
ideals. How we treat those of us who
are also flesh and bone, and what that
answers for us as people. What
symbolisms and representations of
humanity can Astro Boy give as an
animated series for all ages, and how
does it show?
Methodology
The journal will be followed
through in a step by step process
method, starting from gathering
research data through primary and
secondary means, which is via
watching the series itself throughout
the years and collecting the opinions of
other people, what they have to say
about the entire aspect of the story and
what they’ve gathered as a lesson from
the story itself. After that, the data
collected will be picked apart and put
selectively in categories of research,
on which sections does something
particularly apply to an aspect or point
being made. Through the proper
categorisation of the data now
collected, in-depth analysis can be
made by looking through each of the
now made points and create something
that is extensive in detail. With all of
the things that have been researched
and analysed above, the research
journal can reach its proper conclusion
and tie everything being said together.
With all this being said, for ease, it will
be concised to a flow chart as shown
below.
For the ability to understand
the series in different lenses, research
must be done on varying topics about
the series to get a better picture of
what messages the show brings on as a
whole. What type of story it’s trying to
tell, and how it resonates with different
people. The series’ timeline from its
VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022 ●
creation to present day, how it’s
changed throughout the years, what
messages have changed through the
years and yet what still remains the
same despite the years. This section of
the article will go further in-depth with
the methods of what it’s researching
and the data it will be collecting.
The primary data, being the
main data this research article will be
taking from is the Astro Boy series
itself. It doesn’t lend itself short to lack
of content, being that it has multiple
remakes over the decades, with each
adaptation never being too short to
have a discussion on and also being
different enough to warrant its own
section for each adaptation. The reason
for this being that there is so much that
can be said with the story and narrative
provided in and of itself, being able to
look in closer detail at its symbolisms
and find meaning through it all, having
a deeper understanding of what
humanism means in Astro Boy.
The secondary data used will
be gathered through other articles and
journals researching similar topics on
● VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022
humanism, science fiction, and
artificial intelligence. Although the
series itself serves sufficient
information on the discussion, it is
always good to have backup data and
different opinions regarding the
subject matter at hand. With the
multiple ideas, thoughts, and opinions
that can be collected, a more consistent
narrative in the research can be
formed, giving way to a solid journal
that can rely not just on personal bias,
but also a general understanding.
The method of research will
mainly be through qualitative means,
this by definition is collecting data
through discussions and opinions, not
graphs and numeric surveys. The
reason behind this being that for the
topic of humanism, it will require more
than just mere numbers on a yes or no
question, there needs to be engagement
with what is being researched and the
people themselves who are all unique
individuals with different thinking
processes, opinions on the topic would
greatly benefit as the question of what
it means to be human and artificial life
would vary from person to person.
Creating an impersonal experience
when collecting the data of Astro Boy
will just lend itself flat and not to its
benefit due to the fact that the research
question is that of a more
philosophical nature. In a way, this
method of research also relays with the
research topic at hand, with human
connections and people being the main
driving force of this discussion, even
creating more possibilities of said
discussion on the topic at hand
between people. There needs to be a
person behind the answers, therefore
what it means and how the subject
matters to them, not just statistics.
Result
The results for this research is
as follows. It is apparent that
humanism is represented in the
animated series Astro Boy through the
humanisation of robots. This is the
case because of how, instead of mere
thoughtless and unfeeling inanimate
objects, they are able to think, feel, and
understand like human beings would.
They are self-aware and capable of
free thought. You sympathise with
their plights and their hardships, their
struggles are made real and to be
rooted for, even when they physically
aren’t human themselves. If they are
capable of all this, then they should be
treated with equity, even if they are
different. But are they? There’s
difficulty in some characters adjusting
their world view and not just seeing
the robots as mere objects. Sometimes
too, they can be seen as while still
having the same rights as humans do,
their value of life is considered much
more replaceable than that of a
human’s, is that true? Is their life
worth less than humans because of the
fact that they are made with an
artificial conscious? If a human life is
a human life, then what is the life of a
robot. Astro Boy teaches us that even
if something is not human, you should
be able to treat and value it the same
way as you would a human if it were
free of having its own thoughts and
emotions, not tied down to a control of
VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022 ●
any kind other than the mind itself.
Even then, we know that there is a lot
of inequality in this world of our own,
mistreatment of people, animals, and
even plants, so would the world be
able to fair with one more major
species in the category without it
exploding into a series of hate and
horrible actions that can be considered
as hate crimes? Astro Boy, being for
all audiences, can teach us that we
should treat everyone and everything
as with much respect and mutual love
as possible, through the symbolisms of
robots being presented as a minority
within their world itself, which can be
translated to real life too and can speak
to a large variety of people without it
sounding preachy or it trying to
hammer down any other lesson than to
be a decent person to all the living
beings around you. Some of the series
adaptations never touch on this matter
deeply or too seriously, so it is made
digestible and a good simple lesson.
Humans too in this world are
of different shapes and sizes, although
robots have their differences to
● VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022
humans and should be made clear and
acknowledged due to the fact that
while they are thinking and feeling,
much of their needs are not the same
as humans, and we should be able to
see that and treat that fact accordingly
but still treating robots as people, just
like how it is in real life with living
beings all having unique needs for
their own being to be able to live
comfortably. It shouldn’t be stopping
anyone from treating them as people
too. Differences should be celebrated,
not condemned or be straightened out
just to make them the same as
everyone else. While the robots are not
human, again, we can see how they
symbolise a minority group of people
capable of thinking and feeling like we
do, the message we receive from it is
how we need to be kinder to ourselves
and each other, despite our differences.
If we’re already cruel to one another,
then what would happen if the
hypothetical scenario of self-aware
artificial intelligence happens. Astro
Boy shows this in the simplest but
most effective ways, while presented
as digestible and made understandable
in a wide range, it can be taken deeply
as a part of the human condition, or it
can be taken face value still, to be kind
and help others, both ideas are correct
and both still speak to the idea of what
humanism is about. This actually
shows in the different adaptations of
the series, with the 1980s adaptation
being far more serious and how the
idea can be taken with and work really
well in a more intense science fictional
setting like with Naoki Urasawa’s
remake of one of the arcs in Astro Boy,
it being called Pluto. Pluto is a
re-imagining of Osamu Tezuka’s work
with the lense of it being an
exclusively adult fiction, portrayed as
dark and noir, with the core message
and themes of the story being taken
from the original, it still works really
well, hammering the fact that Astro
Boy can be interesting to all audiences,
even with the different ways it can be
presented and all. We tell the story of
Astro Boy again and again, time to
time, because it remains and will
possibly always remain relevant in a
now rapidly growing society with all
its technological advancements, it
reminds us to stay humble and have
compassion as humans towards
different people and beings, with Astro
Boy having yet another new adaptation
coming that’s currently in production,
we will be able to see how the remake
imagines the ideas of its creator in the
lense of the 2020s, our modern era.
Discussion
To start with, The topic given
of this research is to answer the
question of what humanism means in
the animated series Astro Boy and how
it is represented. Though there are
minor differences in each adaptation,
Astro Boy tells the story of a robot
named Tetsuwan Atom, he is the
creation of Dr. Umataro Tenma, a
legendary robotics engineer who after
losing his son Tobio to an accident,
decides to make an exact robot replica
of his own son, only this time made to
be indestructible and unable to die, but
also unable to age.
VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022 ●
 From this backstory alone, we
can see that the very reason Atom is
created is through the grief and loss of
Dr. Tenma, who we can sympathise
for. Many people in real life have lost a
loved one and can be able to relate to
Dr. Tenma, many of whom would also
go through desperate means if it can
mean bringing back someone you care
about from the dead if given the
chance. Atom has the face of Tobio,
Dr. Tenma’s dead son, made to live as
a replacement as if Tobio had never
died in the first place. But although
Atom looks like Tobio and has his
memories, he is not the same. He is an
entirely new person created, even
having a personality of his own,
different to that of Tobio. This can
translate to real life scenarios of people
trying to replace the loved ones
they’ve lost in the expectation that
they would be the same, whether a
dog, a sibling, or child, but everyone,
every living thing is unique in their
own way and can never be replaceable
once they are gone, it is why you
cherish the time you do have with
● VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022
them. Once Dr. Tenma gets through his
denial and realises this, that he will
never be able to truly get his son back,
he rejects and throws Atom out, telling
him that he isn’t his son and sells him
to a robot circus, this is the scenario
that happens with many of the
adaptations. With the realisation that
Atom is not Tobio, Dr. Tenma no
longer sees Atom as his son or as a
person either, but only as a robot he
created, the value to him as a person
disappearing. But would that be valid,
considering that we see Atom being
capable of expressing how he feels and
thinking for his own. Whether he likes
it or not, Dr. Tenma has created a life,
even if by artificial means, which is
why it would be irresponsible to just
throw that life away to the side, simply
for it not being the exact same as
someone he cares about.
Although Dr. Tenma’s reaction
is understandable, the fact that Atom is
someone with self-awareness and
emotions, even if a robot, means that
he’s a life created and thrown away on
a whim. The contrast of Atom acting
human and being treated inhumanely
for the fact that he is not flesh and
blood, as if he was an object even with
his feelings, it shows. Throughout all
this, Atom stays good and kind
hearted. Like many people do, even
after they go through their own
hardships, not wanting people to feel
the same way as they did when they
themselves were mistreated by those
around them. If humanism stresses the
fact that there is value and the potential
to do good in all humans, that all
humans have their wants and needs,
and that we as an individual are able to
think and act on our own, then if
something acts accordingly to the
human condition, then wouldn’t they
also apply to those rules? If they do
then would they not also be obligated
to be treated as a person too?
Following the idea of humanism and
being treated with inherent kindness,
despite being different. This also
shows when humans treat other
humans who are different than them,
the robots in Astro Boy can be
presenting of this. The point of this
discussion being, even if Atom is a
robot and therefore considered an
object, while he isn’t human, he is still
a person. And that is how humanism is
represented in Astro Boy.
Conclusion
In conclusion to this article,
Astro Boy is an incredibly thought
provoking series when looked at
deeper, despite it being for all ages. It’s
a science fictional series that can speak
to the human condition and the idea of
humanism itself through the metaphors
and symbolisms of robots created in
the fictional world. The story of
Tetsuwan Atom, or Astro Boy, a robot
made from the grief and loss of his
creator, being made to think and feel
with free conscious, just like how any
other human being would. The idea of
humanism, the inherent goodness and
capability of people doing good,
regardless of who they are as a person,
they just need to be a person, it is
represented in Astro Boy with Atom
being able to be good and do good,
VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022 ●
helping those in need despite him not
being the same as them at all,
representing the fact that we can all be
different and still help each other, to be
able to create a better and warmer
environment in the ever growing
coldness that is the distance caused by
technology and its advancements, the
over-reliance on it that makes us forget
that everyone behind a screen is just a
person. Astro Boy reminding us that,
even through wires and metal, a person
is a person, no matter what. Robots in
real life can also be taken as minorities
that are living in this world who are
often being seen as inhumane to
certain people as well, it’s the fact that
everyone should be treated with equity,
acknowledging and celebrating the
differences of people, adjusting to their
needs, not just their equality, because it
is something that everyone should be
able to have access to, they all have the
right to be people.
All adaptations of Astro Boy
have their unique takes on the matter
of robots being able to think and feel
for themselves depending on the time
● VOL.1 NO. 01 APRIL 2022
period said adaptation was made, but
the core message stays the same. The
reason for this is that despite the
changing eras throughout the decade,
Astro Boy’s message remains the
same, they all remain important as it
ties down with the very definition of
humanity. And with the 2020s being an
era of rapid technological
advancements, robots looking more
and more realistic each day, its story
could not be more relevant than it is
today. Maybe one day, when true
artificial intelligence is created in the
real world, we can welcome it with
open arms as people, without
discrimination.
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