In 1964, “The Greatest Robot on Earth” arc from Astro Boy, manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka’s masterpiece, earned great popularity. In 2003, this classic story was revived as PLUTO (published by Shogakukan Big Comics), created by manga artist Naoki Urasawa, author of massive hits like 20th Century Boys, Yawara!, Monster and more, and produced by Takashi Nagasaki. 

This refined suspense drama takes place in a neo-futuristic world where humans and high-functioning robots live in harmony. The globally acclaimed manga won numerous awards, including the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and the Intergenerational Award at the 45th Angoulême International Comics Festival, an event that is often called the “Cannes of the manga world,” and has become a mega hit with over ten million copies sold across the globe. 

PLUTO was adapted for the stage in 2015 and once again in 2018. In addition to shows in Japan, the production also went on a European tour, holding performances in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium.

In 2023, marking the 60th anniversary of the broadcast of Astro Boy which was the first anime to be shown on TV in Japan, PLUTO will finally be brought to life by Masao Maruyama, a veteran animator who founded top animation studio MAPPA and also served on the production staff of the the first Astro Boy animated series.

A story about memories of love and hate, for viewers across the globe.

In an age of turmoil, what does the world look like through the lens of PLUTO?