Atom the Beginning Episode 6 Review: Lab 7`s Annihilation!

Hanging around trash will get you dirty

I have no doubts that Moriya will turn from a mischievous enemy to a trusting ally (I hope) but until then he will do anything he can to convince his sister that her love for Ochanomizu is a fleeting nonsense and to dissolve Lab 7 before they threaten his own beloved Lab 1. Episode 6 of Atom the Beginning was as cute as it was thrilling.

Japanese Title: 7研壊滅す!

Plot

Episode 7 of Atom the Beginning used a few flashbacks and a couple’s fight between Tenma and Ochanomizu to cover some backstory and highlight one of the main themes of this series: the role of advanced AI. Both are geniuses and they work towards a common goal. To provide a robot with an ego-consciousness that will allow it to have what we call ‘free will.’ Tenma wants to improve A106’s strength by giving him 10,000 horsepower but to do that he has to dismantle him. Ochanomizu is not very happy about that and leaves crying.

The episode then goes to the usual first half of info and comedy and second half of action and retribution. We learn more about how the two met each other and decided to work together. I was a little disappointed that we haven’t had the chance to see how they started touching each other’s nose, but the scene where that was the sign that everything was back to normal was very touching. Having a weird nose myself, I can see how empowering that might feel.

Having a heart means being kind

Episode Highlights

Maid Army: Atom the Beginning knows how to employ the best of its moments to create new opportunities for comical scenes. It was just an episode ago that we met Motoko’s trusting head-maid. Now she comes with an army of maids to help her convince Tenma to force reconciliation between the two nosey friends. From fake money and food porn to outright blackmailing, Tomoko’s insistence was incredible. And Ran is such a cutie in her introspective shell.

A105: What the hell is wrong with that robot? What could be so embarrassing that Tenma and Ochanomizu would go to such great length to hide it from the world? I think it’s the color. They made a pink sex robot. I can’t think of anything else right now.

Fallin’: There was no doubt that Motoko and Ran would escape the clutches of death, but wasn’t the falling scene intense? Tenma and Ochanomizu are a great scientific couple and their rescue attempt just reinforced the main theme of the episode: they are two friends who are working towards the same goal but with a different vision.

Robo Wrestling: At last, we are finally going to see A106 battling some robots Real Steel style ((is it a coincidence that the robot in the movie is called Atom?) I’ve been waiting for this moment from the first time I’ve seen the trailer. As a huge fan of Plawres Sanshiro, I’m rooting for A106 all the way. GO A106.

Themes & Trivia

Manga History: MANGA.TOKYO recently published three amazing Otaku Travel articles about the birthplaces of anime, and of course, Osamu Tezuka and Astro Boy are include. Follow us as we take the Seibu Ikebukuro line to Nerima Ward; we visit Tokiwa-so, the modest apartment building that is famous as the birthplace of Japanese manga culture; and see Namiki House in Zoshigaya, where Osamu Tezuka moved in after living Tokiwa-so.

Robotics: It’s weird that I haven’t mentioned one of the main themes of the show until now, but I guess that robotics is such a broad subject that I wouldn’t know where to start. I still don’t and that’s why I will point you to the extensive Wikipedia article.

The First Robot: The first mention of a robot appears in an ancient Chinese text (before third century BCE) called Lie Zi. It tells King Mu of Zhou and the artificer (mechanical engineer) called Yan Shi. Yan Shi created for the king a life-sized humanoid figure that could move on its own. There you have it. The first robot was Chinese.

Selfish Proclamation: It’s always refreshing to see shows parodying some of the most common anime clichés. One of them is what I used to call ‘Who the frak are you talking to?’ It usually occurs when a character is talking to no one in particular about a plan that he has in his mind or the steps he is going to follow later in the story. Having Ran questioning the cliché is like pointing the obvious. On the other hand, according to science, talking to yourself might be good for you.

Comments

This was an amazing episode but I am more concerned with my list of what-I-want-to-see-now:

A106 in the arena.
I am a filthy hypocrite who advocates against unnecessary fan service and yet I find myself not minding a beach episode with Tomoko. NO, I HAVE TO RESIST.
Who the frak is that tsundere chick. Bring her back. She has awesome style and an amazing robot. We want more.

Ran is amazing as a narrator and her insights are always relevant. I wonder what role she is going to play later in the series.

Heart or Strength?

That’s the dilemma that separates our two favorite scientists. Where do you stand? Are you with Ochanomizu in his quest to create a robot that can react to our feelings and help us with whatever we may need or do you support Tenma in creating the strongest robot ever created?

Did you like Episode 6 of Atom the Beginning? Let us know in the comments below by using either the forum or the Facebook tab! Join us in our new forum and let’s talk about our favorite series! Also, don’t forget to check the rest of our episodic anime reviews for Spring 2017.

NEXT TIME: Ran and Princess Teru (蘭とTERU姫)