Photo/Illutration “Paidon,” a story created with Osamu Tezuka AI, was published in the Morning manga magazine. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

In “Tetsuwan Atomu” (Astro Boy), the iconic manga series created by Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989), the eponymous protagonist is born of a tragedy that befell Dr. Tenma, a scientist.

Upon losing his beloved son in a traffic accident, the grieving doctor creates an android in his son's exact image and names him Atomu.

But Atomu would not grow. The doctor’s frustration mounts over time until one day he shouts, “This isn’t my boy! It’s just a doll.”

Driven by anger, he sells Atomu to a circus owner.

I was reminded how Atomu was born when I read the manga magazine Morning, which published a work created by Tezuka Osamu AI, artificial intelligence software that has learned his artistic style.

The protagonist is a homeless man who has “special powers,” and the plot seems to fit with what Tezuka would have conceived.

The way a scientist and a villain are portrayed is reminiscent of what we saw in his works.

However, as a longtime Tezuka fan, I must say something just doesn’t feel quite right.

Just like Dr. Tenma, I feel like shouting.

“You aren’t Tezuka Sensei!”

According to the magazine’s explanation, artificial intelligence was employed for creating characters and determining the basic plot, among other things. Still, much was done by human artists to complete the work.

It appears this AI cartoonist is still a novice.

Tezuka inspired many top-tier manga artists, such as Shotaro Ishinomori and Fujio Akatsuka. Early works of Fujio F. Fujiko and others were very similar to Tezuka’s cartoons.

Even these big-name artists were probably a bit like Tezuka Osamu AI early in their careers. That means we should perhaps welcome this AI as one such newcomer.

Atomu learns the workings of the human heart and mind in the manga. Will Tezuka Osamu AI also evolve like Atomu?

I half look forward to its next work. But frankly, the jury’s still out.

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 17

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.