Pluto: murder most robotic, in new Netflix anime (trailer).
Hold onto your sockets, fellow humans! In a world where robotic heroes wear capes and villains have rusty bolts, Netflix is set to stream Pluto, an anime that draws you into a murder mystery with a stainless-steel grip. Starting October 26th 2023, Gesicht, the zeronium-bodied investigator with the expressive face of a retro toaster, is on a mission to unravel a crime that has left both man and machine aghast.
Our dashing robotic Europol detective Gesicht, German for “face” (just in case you had the audacity to think it meant “hard-boiled sleuth”), delves into a world where robots are as amiable as a cup of herbal tea. They follow laws, guide mountain tours, and even raise human children (because who needs human parents when you can have built-in Wi-Fi?). But then – gasp – a murder occurs, and a human is killed in a manner most creative, with horns made of miscellaneous objects. Is it art or assassination?
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill Whodunnit; it’s a Whodunnit with extra nuts and bolts. Gesicht stands at the crime scene, files buzzing in his hard drive, only to find that there’s no trace of human involvement. Could it be that the world’s most friendly robots have gone rogue? And if so, where can we get one to do our laundry?
As Gesicht pieces together the puzzles, he crosses paths with a motley crew of robots that would make even the Transformers seem underdressed. There’s Mont Blanc, a Swiss mountain guide robot who met his tragic end (cue mechanical tears). North No. 2, a Scottish bot with six mechanical arms (because who wouldn’t want to play the bagpipes while doing the dishes?). There’s Brando and Hercules, the wrestling duo, who remind us that even robots need a good body slam now and then. Epsilon, the peace-loving Aussie bot with a heart bigger than his RAM. And Atom, the boy robot, because every story needs a cute character to sell the merchandise.
The story is based on a manga, which in turn is based on Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy’s “The Greatest Robot on Earth” arc. As layers of metal and plot unravel, the mystery deepens into an abyss of darkness so impenetrable, even Gesicht’s high beam headlights can’t illuminate the path. He uncovers a force of hate so vile, it makes Darth Vader look like a malfunctioning Roomba.
PLUTO doesn’t just reimagine a classic story, it twists the bolts and tinkers with the wiring to create a gripping, riveting (pun intended) anime experience. It’s got conspiracy, robotic camaraderie, and deep existential questions like, “Do robots dream of electric murder weapons?”
For those who prefer their anime with a dash of circuitry and a sprinkle of existential crisis, PLUTO is your prime-time pixelated paradise. Just remember: In Gesicht’s world, if you commit a crime, there’s no escape – because he probably has GPS. Tune in to Netflix this October 26th, and remember to thank your Roomba for its loyal service, just in case.
