Saturn is a reoccurring villain from the Osamu Tezuka Star System. He is an enormous strongman with a penchant for being brutal. Saturn was one of Tezuka's earliest characters but is best known for his appearances in Astro Boy.
Appearance[]
Saturn's first appearance (1948)
Saturn was originally created in 1948 for Tezuka's manga Magic Mansion. Here, he was known as the Great Devil, and designed to embody everything Tezuka found frightening as a child[1]. He has sharp, exaggerated features, piercing eyes, and enormous muscles. Saturn is also visually reminiscent of early American cartoon villains, such as Bluto from Popeye, and of European fairy tale characters[2].
Saturn's Star System roles are limited outside of the Astro Boy franchise[3]. He is most known for his consistent appearance in the Astro Boy story, "Robot Land".
Manga[]
Saturn made his debut in the Astro Boy series in the 1962 manga chapter "Robot Land". He is a robot built by a corrupt businessman named Dr. Hydo. He was created to serve as the boss and brutal foreman over the other fairy tale robots in the Fairytale section of Wonder Island. Saturn was designed to be chivalrous towards humans but cruel towards robots, which Hydo hoped would make most humans look the other way.
However, one night, a robot swan princess named Princess Odette flies to Astro's house in search of help. Saturn arrives on a robot dragon to pick up Odette, and Astro tries to give Odette refuge, until Dr. Hydo informs Professor Ochanomizu that Astro is - technically - illegally harboring his property. Saturn then returns to Robot Land with Princess Odette in tow.
Professor Ochanomizu and Astro visit Wonder Island and are startled to find the theme park is a cover for an illegal weapon manufacturing operation. All the other robots at the park are providing the manual labour to make artillery, with Saturn ruling over them as the foreman. When Saturn and Hydo realize they are cornered, Saturn knocks out Astro out. Hydo attempts to convince Ochanomizu and Higeoyaji to destroy Astro, but it foiled when Kenichi and Astro's classmates step in. The other kids revive Astro, and he is finally able to destroy Saturn for good, while the park's other robots capture Hydo for the authorities.
Anime[]
Saturn on his robot dragon
The chapter "Robot Land" was adapted for both the 1963 and 1980 anime series. The titles and much of the story are the same, but the technology and character designs vary between versions. In the 1963 series, Saturn appears in an additional two episodes via Star System casting.
1963 series[]
Episode appearances[]
- 9: Hullabaloo Land
- 81: Mystery at Amless Dam
- 95: The Might Mite from Ursa Minor
2003 series[]
In the Astro Boy 2003 anime series, Saturn plays a human named Gordon. He works for Acetylene Lamp, a shady businessman and political speaker, as his go-between and backup muscle. He becomes the captain of Lamp's robot trafficking and reselling operation.
Episode appearances[]
- 26: The Blue Knight
- 37: Atlas Strikes Back
- 42: Battle of Steel Island
Gallery[]
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Other appearances[]
Early Astro Boy merchandise often included Saturn among the character group shots, or even as or figurines. His most recent appearance was in Astro Boy: Edge Of Time on an in-game trading card.