List of Astro Boy characters

Mighty Atom / Astro Boy (dub) (アトム, Atomu)

The robot boy fashioned after the deceased son of Dr. Tenma, the head of the Ministry of Science in the year 2000. Aside from possessing the strength of 100,000 horsepower (later 1,000,000, though these numbers often fluctuate between stories) and the kind personality of a child, he has what are called his "seven amazing powers": jet-powered flight, multilingualism, analytical skills, headlight eyes, super-sensitive hearing, hidden weapons in his back, and the ability to tell if a person is good or evil.[1] In addition, he has a built-in Geiger counter and shortwave communication system.

Dr. Hiroshi Ochanomizu / Dr. Packidermus J. Elefun (1963, 1980 dub) / Dr. O'Shay (2003 dub) (お茶の水博志博士, Ochanomizu Hiroshi-hakase)

The present head of the Ministry of Science and a fearless campaigner for robotic rights, who believes that humans and robots can co-exist peacefully, unlike most other human characters in the series (particularly Tenma). He is the adoptive father figure and mentor of Astro Boy, whom he recognizes as unique from other robots, following his abandonment by Tenma[2] and is physically characterized by portly stature and cartoonishly large nose, with his English name being an allusion to the latter.

Ochanomizu is responsible for the creation of Astro's sister Uran and his brother and predecessor Cobalt (who only appears in the first animated series). Somewhat eccentric by nature, he tends to be excitable when faced by a scientific mystery, particularly when his opinions are questioned by his scientific colleagues.

The name "Ochanomizu" translates to "Tea Water", and is also a neighborhood in Tokyo. In Atom: The Beginning, Hiroshi Ochanomizu has a sister called Ran, while in the manga Pluto he is shown to be a widower with a granddaughter. The character was voiced by Bill Nighy in the English-language film.

Dr. Umatarō Tenma / Dr. Astor Boynton II (dub) (天馬午太郎博士, Tenma Umatarō-hakase)

The former head of the Ministry of Science, who lost his only son, Tobio Tenma, to a traffic accident. Overcome with grief, he vowed to recreate his son as a robot: Astro Boy.[3] Once he activated Astro he was seemingly mentally better, but grew frustrated with the fact that, as a robot, Astro did not grow physically. As a result, he sold Astro off to a circus and disappeared.[1]

In the original manga, Tenma later regrets his rejection of his creation in light of Astro's heroic feats, but knows he can never truly make amends for them, only occasionally reappearing to assist him, such as by constructing robotic parents for him and aiding him in his conflicts with Pluto and the Blue Knight. In the first animated series, Tenma is not heard from again after the first episode until Episode 97, where it is suggested that he has either been institutionalized or committed suicide, while in the 1980s version he does not outright reject Astro, who is instead kidnapped by the circus owner Hamegg.

In the 2003 series, Tenma takes the role of the main antagonist, with his abandonment of Astro being triggered by the latter rebelling against him in light of his cold and destructive treatment of other robots. Upon seeing Astro's heroic acts, Tenma comes to see his creation as a twistedly messianic figure whom he ultimately concludes will lead the robotic population to overthrow humanity. In order to spearhead Astro's development to this end, he constructs a mysterious new robot named Shadow, whose true appearance is eventually revealed to be identical to Tenma himself. The series ends with Tenma being rejected by Astro Boy yet again even after resetting his memory, attempting suicide as a result, but being saved by Astro before being imprisoned for his crimes.

In the 2009 film, the character is given the first name "Bill" and is voiced by Nicolas Cage. It is the only version where Tenma both comes to accept Astro Boy as a true son and successfully makes amends with him.

Uran / Astro Girl (1963 dub) / Zoran (2003 dub) (ウラン)

Astro's robot sister with a shown adoration towards Astro; she is a superhuman robot with a naive, tomboyish personality. Constructed by Dr. Ochanomizu as a "gift" for Astro, Uran is an extremely mischievous little girl who constantly lands her older brother in trouble. While lacking Astro's weaponry and propulsion systems, she is extremely powerful (50,000 horsepower) and regularly accompanies him on various missions (or attempts to).[4] Like Astro, she is fully capable of experiencing human emotions - though being somewhat less 'mature'. In the 2003 anime Uran has the ability to communicate with animals. Her name is based on uranium, a metal used to power nuclear reactors.

Cobalt / Jetto (dub) (コバルト, Kobaruto)

Astro's robotic brother. His origins differ in the continuities of the manga and anime versions. In the manga, he is an inferior copy of Astro created as a replacement by Dr. Ochanomizu when he was missing and presumed scrap. In the anime version, he was a defective prototype of Astro built by Dr. Tenma, then sealed within the Ministry of Science archives and later released.[5] Cobalt has abilities comparable to his brother's, but lacks Astro's intelligence and common sense. Clumsy, accident prone and gullible, he is a constant source of trouble for Astro's family (and everyone else who crosses his path). Despite these problems, Cobalt is often shown to be extremely kindhearted and loyal. In addition to the abilities that were copied from Astro, he also shares a kind of telepathic link with his brother that gives him the ability to sense when Astro is in danger and home in his location. His name is based on Cobalt-60, an isotope used in nuclear reactors. Physically, he resembles Astro, but is taller and thinner.

Chiitan (チータン)

Astro Boy's baby brother created by Dr. Ochanomizu and seen primarily in the last season of the anime.[6] Created primarily as a comic relief character. Main characteristic is his loud bawling, which can shatter things. Chiitan's name is a pun on Titanium, as in Japan, it is cute to replace "t" sounds with "ch" sounds, thus making Chiitan's name pronounced similarly to "Titan" in Japanese.

Phosphorus & Ethanol / Mama & Papa (リン & エタノール / ママとパパ, Rin & Etanōru / Mama to papa)

Astro's robotic parents. Phosphorus is depicted as an idealized 1960s housewife, and she is sweet, kind and nurturing. She is entirely trusting of her son's impeccable nature, knows he would never deliberately lie or harm another being.[7] In contrast, Ethanol is portrayed as something of a well-meaning blowhard, often jumping to conclusions and losing his temper over minor incidents. In some versions Phosphorus is modified to resemble Dr. Tenma's wife who had died of a heart condition shortly after Astro was sold to the circus. Their names are based on chemical elements of the same name.

Shibugaki / Dinny (1963 dub) / Alvin (1980 dub) / Abercrombie (2003 dub) (四部垣)

Astro Boy's friend, a loudmouthed bully.[8]

Tamao Ōme / Specs (1963 dub) / Theodore (1980 dub) / Alejo (2003 dub) (大目玉男, Ōme Tamao)

Astro Boy's friend, a robotics enthusiast who immediately welcomes Astro into his class and as his friend.[8]

Shunsaku "Higeoyaji" Ban / Mr. Edgar Percival Pompous (1963 dub) / Daddy Walrus (1980 dub) / Wally Kisaragi (2003 dub) (ヒゲオヤジ / 伴俊作, Higeoyaji / Ban Shunsaku)

Originally introduced as a private investigator, Higeoyaji played several roles in the Japanese strip series, including school teacher and martial arts expert.[9] Like Dr. Ochanomizu, Higeoyaji serves as a surrogate father for Astro and Uran, providing guidance and advice when necessary. While gruff and comically short-tempered, he harbors a deep admiration for Astro, seeing him as the son he never had, and even stands up to the formidable Inspector Tawashi in the boy's defense. In both the original comic strip and the 1980s Japanese series, he was Astro's school teacher (in Naoki Urasawa's Pluto he has apparently been promoted to principal), and his nickname was Mr. Mustachio or Daddy Walrus. In the 2003 remake, he is notably absent from Astro's school, working full-time as a private eye and is also the uncle of Dr. Ochanomizu's assistant, Yuko Kisaragi.

Inspector Tawashi / Inspector Gumshoe (dub) (田鷲警部, Tawashi keibu)

A highly placed police detective with an innate distrust of androids and robots (the reason to this is never explained in detail).[10] Due to his opposition to Tokyo's robotic population, Inspector Tawashi has a long-standing feud with both Dr. Ochanomizu and Higeoyaji and frequently engages in volatile arguments with them. While arrogant, cantankerous and, in some cases, downright rude, he eventually comes to respect Astro's courage and abilities, even calling for his assistance in particularly difficult cases. Often partnered with Chief Nakamura.

Chief Nakamura / Chief McLaw (dub) (中村警部, Nakamura keibu)

The chief of the police and the partner of Inspector Tawashi. Played mainly for comic relief, Nakamura was normally portrayed as fat, dim-witted and gullible; a stereotype "clueless flatfoot" of the period.[10] Nonetheless, he instantly recognized Astro's good side and frequently stood up for Astro against his bullying partner.[11] In the 1963 English dub, he has an Irish accent.

Tobio Tenma / Astor Boynton III (1963 dub) / Toby Boynton (1980 dub) (天馬飛雄, Tenma Tobio)

Dr. Tenma's son who died in a car accident.[1] His death motivates the creation of Astro.

Pluto

Pluto (プルートウ, Purūtō) is the central antagonist of the iconic The Greatest Robot in the World (地上最大のロボット, Chijō Saidai no Robotto) story arc. His creation was commissioned by corrupt sultan Chochi Chochi Ababa the Third to become the "strongest robot in the world" by killing all his competition in this field. These victims include Montblanc, North #2, Brando, Gesicht, Hercules and Photar, all of whom he destroys with ease while demonstrating himself as an emotionless killing machine, blindly loyal to his master and caring for nothing besides fighting. When fighting Astro Boy, his final target, Pluto begins to question his actions after being saved by his enemy. He also develops a soft spot for Astro Boy's sister Uran. During their final battle at a volcano, Pluto's creator reveals an even stronger robot named Bora, and Pluto sacrifices himself to destroy this enemy, save Astro and contain the volcanic eruption.[12][13]

In the 2003 series, Pluto was created by Shadow, Dr. Tenma's robot double, and sacrifices himself to defeat a copy of himself named Acheron, who is the series' equivalent of Bora.[14][15]

The story of Pluto is reimagined in an eponymous manga by Naoki Urasawa. This version of the character was originally Sahad, a peaceful Persian robot who was reprogrammed into an instrument of destruction after his creator, Dr. Abullah, became consumed with hatred due to losing his family in a devastating Middle-Eastern war and instigated a plot to destroy the world via an artificial intelligence based on himself before dying in the ongoing bombings. This plan includes the use of Bora, who in this version is a colossal robot embedded within the Earth and set to destroy it by tunneling into its core. Astro confronts Pluto after being implanted with what remains of Gesicht, who is initially the main protagonist of Pluto, and like in the original story, Pluto has a change of heart and sacrifices himself to destroy Bora after being spared by his opponent.