Dec 29, 2023

M2 Founder Masao Maruyama on "Pluto PLUTO" film adaptation: "I couldn't kick the bucket until I made this."

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that MAPPA by Masao Maruyama was the producer of "Pluto". The show was produced by M2.

M2's new series "Pluto" is one of the most exciting anime debuts of 2023 and was praised by viewers when it premiered on Netflix in October. The series received a 94% viewer score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 88 "Universal Acclaim" rating on Metacritic.

This month, Netflix released an interview with the artists and technicians who worked on the series, as well as Masao Maruyama, founder of M2 and MAPPA and executive producer of Pluto:

I felt I didn't want anyone else to do it. Knowing that the film was based on Urasawa's and Tezuka's work definitely influenced our decision: ...... The content was difficult to animate, and the sheer volume of the series made it impossible for a Japanese studio (at the time) to take on the project. After a while, we thought it would be possible to make an animated pilot version. When we were making the pilot version, Mr. Urasawa said he was not satisfied with the quality and would not approve it. So I was on fire to prove Mr. Urasawa wrong. When the pilot was finished, it was surprisingly a great success.

Based on Naoki Urasawa's award-winning manga of the same name (a reinterpretation of Osamu Tezuka's classic "Astro Boy"), the series takes place in a neo-futuristic world where humans and robots coexist and are often indistinguishable on the surface.

"Pluto PLUTO" has all the aesthetic qualities one would expect from a topical anime released in 2023, but retains some of the classic aesthetic appeal of the "Astro Boy" franchise, which dates back to the 1950s. It also does an excellent job of blending story elements that feel fresh to modern audiences while remaining true to the timeless themes that made Tezuka's work so special.

Maruyama, who is still involved with M2 despite being 82 years old, says that the desire to complete "Pluto PLUTO" energized him and gave him the energy to continue working. Maybe this is because I knew I couldn't kick the bucket until I made this. That's probably what gives me the energy and drive I have now. So I feel like I owe a lot to the "Pluto" series.

Urasawa, the author of "Pluto PLUTO," joked in his own interview that Maruyama used his death as a trump card to get the show made:

I had no idea when or where it would air. Maruyama insisted on making it anyway. His enthusiasm really surprised me. I can't die until I make Pluto. We don't have that much time left, so we have to hurry." He was in very good health and I called it a scam.

According to Maruyama, one of the most fascinating aspects of Pluto's manga and series is that its universal themes can be easily adapted to the present day. While the new series raises existential questions about AI, the franchise's anti-war sentiments remain. In his opinion,

there is no need to stick to the original material. New teams can take over old teams. If this tradition is carried on, it can be thrilling, engaging, and just plain great. The profession of animation would become more rewarding and fulfilling.

Urasawa agrees, adding that if they did their job right, Pluto will help introduce future generations to the iconic work Tezuka did 70 years ago:

I think it is our duty to pass the baton to the next generation. If Pruitt can help spark an interest in Tezuka's original work, I couldn't be happier.