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Pluto (anime)

Pluto is a Japanese eight-episode original net animation (ONA) released on Netflix in 2023.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Pluto is a Japanese eight-episode original net animation (ONA) released on Netflix in 2023. It is based on Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki’s manga Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, itself a reimagining of Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy story arc “The Greatest Robot on Earth.”

Premise

Pluto is a sci-fi mystery series centred on a wave of killings targeting some of the world’s most advanced robots and the human advocates connected to robot rights. The investigation is led by Gesicht, a robot detective from Europol.

Source material

The anime adapts Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, a manga by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki. That manga reworks Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy arc “The Greatest Robot on Earth” into a darker murder mystery.

Production and release

Pluto was released on Netflix on October 26, 2023, as an eight-episode ONA. It was produced by Genco and Tezuka Productions, with animation by Studio M2.

Themes and reception

The series is widely described as exploring anti-war ideas, AI rights, trauma, and what it means to be human. Coverage of the anime often highlights its serious tone and its status as a high-profile adaptation of a celebrated manga.

Key facts

  • The series follows Europol robot detective Gesicht as he investigates murders involving robots and humans.
  • It is set in a future where humans and robots coexist under a tense social hierarchy.
  • The anime adapts a manga that reinterprets a classic Astro Boy storyline as a mystery thriller.
  • The series consists of eight episodes and was released as a Netflix original.
  • Its themes include artificial intelligence, war, discrimination, grief, and the ethics of coexistence.
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Canadian context

The series is available on Netflix in Canada, making it accessible to Canadian viewers as part of the platform’s anime catalogue.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pluto anime based on?
It is based on the manga Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki, which reimagines Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy story arc “The Greatest Robot on Earth.”
How many episodes does Pluto have?
Pluto has eight episodes.
When was Pluto released?
It was released on Netflix on October 26, 2023.
Who is the main character in Pluto?
The central investigator is Gesicht, a Europol robot detective.
What genre is Pluto?
It is a science-fiction mystery anime with thriller and drama elements.
Is Pluto connected to Astro Boy?
Yes. It is an adaptation of a manga that reinterprets an Astro Boy story arc.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto_(anime)
    Supports: Release date, episode count, format, production companies, animation studio, and basic premise.
  2. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto:_Urasawa_x_Tezuka
    Supports: Manga source, authorship, serialization dates, and connection to Astro Boy.
  3. The Conversation — https://www.theconversation.com/pluto-netflixs-anime-masterpiece-explores-how-robots-feel-when-humans-exploit-them-217593
    Supports: Premise, themes, and the series’ focus on robots and human exploitation.
  4. Digital Spy — https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a45640426/pluto-netflix-anime-review/
    Supports: Eight-part Netflix release, Astro Boy connection, premise, and setting.
  5. Slashfilm — https://www.slashfilm.com/1430310/pluto-review/
    Supports: Production details, episode count, Netflix distribution, and adaptation context.
  6. The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/feb/18/pluto-astro-boy-spinoff-netflix-provocative-political-drama
    Supports: Story focus, episode count, and Netflix availability in major markets including the UK, US, and Australia.