Uran

Uran is a major recurring protagonist in the Astro Boy series, she is Astro's younger sister. She was created by Dr. Ochanomizu and was presented to Astro as a birthday gift or New Year's gift (depends on which version). She often finds herself getting into trouble and causing trouble for Astro. She possesses a part of Astro's strength but none of his powers, but in the 2003 series, she was given the ability to talk with animals. She's emotional and caring like her older brother as she was based on his design. She has the closest relationship with Astro. She is cheeky and yet loyal to her brother.

Appearence
Uran looks fairly similar to her older brother, but with black hair with spikes pointing symmetrically at either side. In many series, Uran has been mistaken for Astro, or at least a smaller version of him, whenever she dresses like him. Usually, Uran wears brightly-coloured dresses. Some series have her in short, frilly dresses and Minnie Mouse-style bloomers.

Personality
Uran is very self-spoken and independent. She hates being left behind or having people think she's weak. Uran idolizes Astro and loves tagging along with his adventures, and she is often interested in mysteries.

Uran loves art and nature. She tends to hang out with animals and in forests. Uran is very empathetic to the point where she can even sense what others are feeling or thinking.

1963 Series
Uran (named Astro Girl) was first introduced in the 1963 series. She was presented as a birthday present to Astro, who rejoiced claiming he had always wanted a sister. She proves to be a handful, teaching Astro what it actually means to be an older brother.

1980's series
Formally introduced as Uran, she was presented as a gift to Astro on New Year's Day as a thank you for all his hard work. After showing her new family she could dance, Uran already causes Astro trouble only hours into his New Year. By the end of the day, Astro and Uran realize that this is the start of a beautiful bond, as long as Astro keeps track of her. Uran often accompanies Astro on his adventures and acts as a sidekick when she isn't the main cause of the problem. Astro looks out for Uran and in turn, she does the same, the best she can.

2003 series
Renamed as Zoran in the English dub she was created to teach Astro responsibility and to possibly test Dr. O'shay's skills. Astro accepts her with open arms, excited to have his very first relative. Once learning what a handful she is, Astro apologizes for treating her childishly but requests that she does everything he says.

In the series she is given the ability to talk to animals, befriending a bird that she named Pikora, which even helps solve a mysterious case with the famous detective. She is often jealous of Astro's fame and power but loves and looks up to him none-the-less. She accompanies him on a few trips and plays a major role in the story of Pluto: Strongest Robot in the World. However, she is usually only seen now and then in Dr. O'shay's house where she and her brother reside.

Pluto
Uran appears in Naoki Urasawa's manga titled Pluto, based on the storyline "The Greatest Robot in the World" where she is also given the ability to speak with animals.

Tetsuwan Atom (Famicom)
Uran appears in the Famicom Tetsuwan Atom game as an NPC with one sprite that flips back and forth, you save her from a frozen cave and later her, Higeoyaji, and Dr. Ochanomizu get into a rocket to escape an impending threat.

Tetsuwan Atom (Super Famicom)
Uran appears in the Super Famicom game Tesuwan Atom.

Astro Boy: Omega Factor
Uran appears in the game Astro Boy: Omega Factor.

Abilities
Uran has 50,000 horsepower and is considered extremely powerful for her size. She has super strength and can easily lift heavy things. Uran is also a high level empath and can communicate with animals, and in Pluto, even detect human emotions.

In the 1980 series, Uran briefly had the power to split into two separate copies of herself. However, these copies split her original strength, making either of them only 50% the strength of the original Uran.

In the Pocket Jeunesse series, Uran has super-speed and the ability to literally bounce off the walls. She has this power in contrast to Astro's ability to fly.

Origin
In the opening to manga chapter 38, "Uran", Tezuka describes through his cartoon self how he no longer remembers the exact inspiration for Uran's creation. She had been in the series for so long and in so many versions that, by that point, Tezuka speculates Uran's origins may never be known. The chapter opening then explores different possibilities of Uran's origins. A lot of these are references, such as Higeoyaji saying she was retrieved from the bottom of the ocean, which is a reference to Roppu-Kun, and Cobalt saying she was found in a trash dump, which is Cobalt's origins in the TV show, but not in the manga.

However, what is known for certain is that Uran is the basis for Miri. from Jetter Mars. Miri is the responsible older sibling to the mischievious Jetter, a contrast to Uran and Astro.

Gallery
See Uran/gallery