Netflix has unveiled seven new cast members for its upcoming anime series Pluto, a darker spin-off of Osamu Tezuka's iconic "Astro Boy" manga. The series is based on the manga by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki and explores the darker elements of a world where robots exist solely to serve humans. Netflix recently announced the new cast members, some of whom have previously worked on popular anime like Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Attack on Titan. Pluto is set to premiere on Netflix on October 26.
The character Dr. Ochanomizu, who was Astro Boy's friend and mentor in Tezuka's original series, will be voiced by Toshio Furukawa, known for his role as Piccolo in "Dragon Ball Z." Dr. Tenma, Astro Boy's creator and father, will be portrayed by Eizo Tsuda, who worked on "Fairy Gone." The robot Brau-1589 will be voiced by Hideyuki Tanaka, known for his role as Doflamingo in "One Piece." Helena's voice will be provided by Romi Park, who previously played Hange Zoe in "Attack on Titan." Michio Hazama from "Legend of the Galactic Heroes" will portray Duncan. Dr. Abra and President Alexander will be voiced by Kazuhiro Yamaji and Kenyu Horiuchi, known for their roles in "Psycho-Pass" and "One-Punch Man" respectively. Toshio Kawaguchi, known for his work on "Porco Rosso" and "Princess Mononoke," will direct the series at Studio M2.
Pluto, originally serialized from 2003 to 2009, is a retelling of Astro Boy's "Greatest Robot on Earth" arc. It follows the story of Pluto, who seeks to challenge Astro Boy to establish himself as the King of All Robots. However, a robotic investigator named Gesicht discovers that an unknown robot has committed murder, a crime typically impossible for robots to commit. As Gesicht delves into the mystery, he uncovers a larger threat looming over humanity.
Tezuka enthusiasts can also look forward to "Phoenix: Eden17," an adaptation of Tezuka's iconic "Phoenix" manga, which recently released a trailer on Disney+ Japan. "Phoenix" explores centuries of life and rebirth through various protagonists from different eras. "Eden17" focuses on Romi, the lead character of the "Nostalgia" arc, as she seeks refuge for herself and her newborn child on the titular planet. The series will debut on Disney+ worldwide on September 13.
"Pluto" is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on October 26, and Manga Monster publishes the English version of the "Pluto" manga.
