Thursday, December 17, 2009

Who is the Anti-Astro?

Ok, here's an interesting question for everyone.

In the entire scope of anime, excluding Tezuka's own properties, who is the one evil character that you would like to see fight Astro Boy? What character would match up well against Astro and act as a counter-point or rival to him? Who is the Anti-Astro?

It could be an evil robot, an evil kid, an evil kid robot, a monster, or pretty much anything else, as long as it's from the world of anime and might make a good opponent for Astro. Classic anime is preferred but not necessary (no Pokemon, Digimon, or video game characters please). True villains only, no anti-heroes.

If you've been following what I've been up to, then you know why I'm asking this question. I'm in a bit of a bind and could use some help. Make your suggestions in the comments below!

17 comments:

X7 said...

I would suggest Warlock, the Master of Martian Magic,from Prince Planet or even Krag, from Kragmire. they would be pretty fierce foes for Astro.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Gero, he is not only intelligent as Astro but just as strong as him as well. Maybe even stronger.

sgupta said...

This isn't exactly anime (closest thing I can think of for a live action series), but I would suggest the Daleks (and possibly their leader Davros) from the Doctor Who universe. They would make a fearsome enemy for Astro, and aside from The Doctor, he's perhaps the only one I can think of who would have a chance. It would also be especially challenging for Astro as with only one exception I can think of (Dalek Sek), Daleks cannot be reasoned with as they're driven by pure rage/hatred, unlike most of his foes.

Anonymous said...

Maybe popeye..they could start as rivals then join forces to defeat an army of giant robot goons like the one's in the 'Ataque de Pánico!' video on youtube.

Guitzy said...

Atlas.... What?! It makes real sense! And I mean the Kid-version Atlas that are shown in the manga and in the colored version of the Astroboy TV series. In the series Atlas was created (or recreated in the manga) from the same mechanical design as Astro is. But with also the omega factor within Atlas which makes him rebel against humanity and his creators. He's technically the evil clone of Astro. If Imagi Studios would ever make that 2nd movie, I would really like to see what Atlas would look like in Imagi-style. :3

Guitzy said...

Wait.... You said excluding the Tezuka's own work right? Woops! sorry? ^w^;;

Manetoys said...

the 2003 Atlas is who I always saw as the Anti-Astro. Think about it. They're both reborn children who's fathers were neglectful. Atlas is what Astro would be if Astro didn't have his strong sense of justice.
That said, we all know who the REAL anti-Atlas is... Mega Man ;p

Ninjatron said...

Atlas is pretty much the obvious choice, but like I said, I'm looking for a character who wasn't created by Tezuka. So, perhaps there is another character who has a lot in common with Atlas. Or, alternately, it could be a character who is anti-robot. It's got to be an evil scum bag character though!

Sayonara.

Anonymous said...

Evil Emperor Zurg the father of Buzz Lightyear, he has theme parks with games like Astro Blasters!

FelipeOnodera said...

For me, the anti-Atom is Kikaider. Think about it:

1- Atom is the champion of justice, he never fails, he is a perfect hero. And also, he can see if anyone has good or bad intentions.

2- Kikaider is the extreme opposite of Atom, he is a tormented soul, he can do good or bad actions, because he don´t know exatactly what it means, much like Atlas. He doesn´t have a perfect conscience circuit and he can lie and even kill people, much like Atlas.

X7 said...

perhaps the comic and cartoon Kikaida is like that, but the live action Kikaida (the best one) is the "android of justice" and clearly knows right from wrong.

David

FelipeOnodera said...

Well, the live-action version is much more a family-friendly action series. And I think it´s pretty good too, but I prefer the Ishinomori´s vision of the story, because even the desing of Kikaider is a metaphor for its ambiguous sense of moral.

And the original manga is, in many aspects, a darker version of Atom by the hands of the great Shotaro Ishinomori. Kikaider and Atom are a very interesting contrast.

Mutant Sabu

Ninjatron said...

Well, I'm not going to use Kikaider because he's considered to be a heroic character. I could use Hakaider, but right now, I already am. I had Hakaider pegged as an adversary for Cyborg 009. So if I repurpose my idea and make Hakaider the rival to Astro, which I have ben considering, then it's Cyborg 009 that needs an opponent, and it can't be a character from Tezuka or Ishinomori (or a few other sources I won't mention right now).

Thoughts?

Sayonara.

FelipeOnodera said...

Huh... I think it´s strange to use Hakaider as a villain for 009, because Kikaider coundn´t kill Hakaider to preserve Komyoji´s brain, but he does not possess any advantage against 009. Also, Hakaider doesn´t have a acceleration mode.

Well, Kikaider appears as a villain in Inazuman manga, but he´s out of control because of the Yessir circuit that Professor Gill installs in him. With the yessir, he kills his own brothers and even Gill. When I suggested Kikaider, I think about of this evil persona of him.

I´m just thinking, but... if the Gill´s flute can cantrol Atom? Then Gill Hakaider will be a good rival for him. In the 2003 series, Atom have a Kokoro and the concept is very similar to the Jiminy of Kikaider, but there´s nothing about it in the manga or the 60~80s TV Series.

For 009, I can suggest Yomi from Babil NiSei. Why? Well, 009 has has many enemies with supernatural-esper-like powers and much of them called himselfs as gods, just like Yomi. Besides, he´s a really a great villain in the original manga, but his animated counterparts don´t do honor to it.

Manetoys said...

Ah, if we're specifically looking for non-Tezuka characters then how about Queen Vexus from My life as a Teenage Robot? Not an anime, but still kind works. They're both robots but;
Astro wants peace with humans
Vexus wants to enslave humans
Astro is a little boy
Vexus is an older woman

Astro fighting an army of Battle Android Troopers from GI Joe would be epic too.

Anonymous said...

I would suggest Pride, the homunculus from the anime/manga Full Metal Alchemist. A conflict between him and Astro would be interesting because they have this much in common: both are manufactured, nonhuman creatures that wear the form of a young boy, and both are supposedly without human souls. (I would debate that fact in regard to Astro, however, since I have my suspicious about the true nature of the blue core). Pride is pure evil in a child's form and very powerful. He'd make a ruthless and formidable adversary for Astro. Plus it would be a battle between alchemy and science. That could make for some truly interesting ideological clashes and for some truly epic battles. Since alchemy, in the FMA world, can transform objects into other objects, Astro could be in danger of being transformed; but perhaps his blue core energy could resist that, unlike every other robot in his world. So he could be a very dangerous adversary for Pride. I wish we could actually see this happen; it could be truly awesome.

Anonymous said...

How about Bender from Futurama? Seriously, I'd love to see Astro kick his shiny metal ass...