Netflix's Best Sci-Fi Anime Ever Still Holds 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

Summary

• Netflix 's new sci-fi anime is an adaptation… of a reimagining… of a classic manga.
• It examines pressing ideas about robots, humans, and artificial intelligence.
• The show has been a huge hit with critics and audiences.

It's been more than two decades since Naoki Urasawa started publishing a manga based on a story arc from Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy. Urasawa changed many details in his reinterpretation, but his new version of the story has been capturing the public imagination since its first issue in 2003.

Now the reinterpretation has been interpreted again – as an animated series. And it turns out, it's really, really good.

So What's The Story?

Pluto takes place in the aftermath of a massive war involving both humans and robots. Now the world is at peace, and thanks to new laws (and programming) it's been eight years since a robot has killed a human. Robots are also now granted equal rights.

When a powerful, famous, and beloved war hero robot is found destroyed, Europol robot detective Gesicht is sent to investigate. As the bodies start piling up, Gesicht realizes that he may be on the trail of a massive conspiracy. The seven most advanced robots in the world are being killed off one by one, along with their human allies. There is no evidence of a human at the scene of the crimes – but how could a robot serve as a serial killer, and for what purpose?

The only clue left behind are horns attached to each victim, and a mysterious tornado spotted at the scene of every crime. With the trauma of the war still fresh for robots and humans alike, Gesicht is under huge pressure to solve the case before old wounds reopen.

A New A.I. Drama For A New A.I. World

In a world where AI is becoming an increasingly common tool, the ethics and complexities of these systems should be taken seriously. Pluto examines questions about how artificial intelligence systems should be treated, what our responsibilities are, and how we can live in a shared world.

However, it also asks the bigger questions about how we define consciousness, and whether the line between human and robot might ever become so thin that it is essentially invisible.

Pluto was directed by Toshio Kawaguchi, who cut his teeth on some of the most respected anime series of all time, including Akira and Neon Genesis Evangelion. The show is filled with loving homages to classic sci fi, including the works of Philip K. Dick (his story Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep later became Blade Runner) and Isaac Asimov (I, Robot). However, it also gives a nod to mystery thrillers like The Silence of the Lambs and children's stories like Pinocchio.

A Remarkable Achievement

There's been no shortage of excellent movies about robots and artificial intelligence, ranging from horror (M3GAN) to romance (Her) to thriller (Ex Machina). So it takes an awful lot to impress critics at this point.

And yet, Pluto has done just that. The series rocks an outstanding 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics saying things like:

'Pluto's adaptation is a strong contender for one of the best anime of the year, but it's also just one of the best new shows on Netflix, period.' – Polygon

'It may be easy to trace its influence, but thanks to its exceedingly specific touches and unique emotional tenor, it's hard to think of another work that comes together quite the same. Simply put, it's a masterstroke of science fiction.' – Paste Magazine

'...With impeccable animation and beautiful cinematography, you couldn't ask for more.' – Espinof

Pluto is available to stream on Netflix.