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The Big O is a typically atypical mecha series. Mecha shows usually fall into one of three categories. The first mecha was Astroboy (Tetsuwon Atomu, or "Mighty Atom"), the beloved creation of Tezuka Osamu. Astroboy is the story of a robot abandoned by his inventor-father. The story bears some resemblance to Pinocchio, but with a robot rather than a puppet yearning to be a human boy. This theme has become a popular one in anime, and such excellent works as Serial Experiments Lain, Metropolis, and Key, The Metal Idol are the direct descendants of Tezuka's original. Central to this form of anime is the question of just what does it mean to be human? How does a robot "become" human? What traits does a robot share with a person? Is the line between machine and man hard and fixed, or fuzzy and ever shifting? There is a haunting, poignant quality about protagonists like Key and Astroboy, self-aware, yet somehow hopelessly "other."

A second sort of mecha is found in the 1960's Gigantor (Tetsujin 28 Go), and the more recent Giant Robo. In this genre of mecha, the robot, usually of enormous size, is remotely controlled by a human, usually a young boy. Creations like Gigantor and Giant Robo are usually more an elemental force than a personality, and the spotlight shines brightest on the controlling human. Finally, there are mechas operated by humans inside, a concept first developed by Go Nagai. These mechas range from the battle armor of Gundams to huge, tank-like creatures such as Big O. Such mechas are really more analogous to airplanes than robots, and are generally of secondary interest to their human pilots In anime, the development of characters is paramount, so these humans, their relationships and private selves, are generally what the show is about.

Though Big O is a very big robot, towering over cars and people, the show is really about his master, the blandly named Roger Smith. Smith is a negotiator in Paradigm city, a post-apocalyptic megalopolis where 40 years ago, everyone lost their memory. As the name implies, negotiators resolve problems among the denizens of the city. Independently wealthy, Roger Smith is able to freelance, accepting clients that seem particularly interesting or worthy of his help. Smith is an intriguingly complex character: gallant, something of a snob, stubborn, aloof, with a weakness for a pretty woman or an underdog. He disdains firearms as barbaric, but frequently uses Big O to literally smash his recalcitrant opponents. The negotiator's rather life is complicated when a robot named R. Dorothy Wainright moves into his penthouse apartment. Their relationship, sometimes prickly, sometimes endearing, is one of those gems that anime throws up as frequently as a Rand diamond mine.

Dorothy is a robot in the Astroboy mold, her memories those of her inventor's dead daughter. Despite an emotionless metal exterior, her halting attempts to be like a human woman are ineffably touching. In some ways she stands symbol for all of Paradigm City, a city with no history, where the young grow up in a world without context, sundered from the past, and the elderly are haunted by memories forever lost. To be human is to be a part of a community, a society, a world. Like Dorothy, the citizens of Paradigm City are a sad and lost bunch, living a life that is a mere simulacrum of being human.

Visually, the series bears a superficial resemblance to the American Batman cartoon. The scenery and characters tend to be blocky and angular, the domed city dark and run-down like the mean streets of Gotham. Roger Smith is handsome and rich like Bruce Wayne, and even has an all-purpose Butler. But while the Japanese may borrow a form, like anime or Chinese characters, they refashion what they take into their own distinctive creations. Despite sharing the look and tone Batman, Big O is very much it's own rich and complex world. Supported by a smooth jazz score and a boffo opening song, Big O is an excellent series for children and adults alike.

The BIG-O is Copyright 1999-2000 Sunrise

• Studio: Bandai Entertainment
• Format: DVD
• Episodes in Series: 13
• Series Completed: Yes
• Number of DVDs: 4
  

• Audio Tracks: English, Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Genre: Mecha
• Age: 13+
• Cautions: Violence
• Reviewer: George
• Core Collection: Elementary 4-6, Middle School