TV-Series
Description
Obotchaman is a male android who appears in the later portion of Dr. Slump. He was built by Dr. Mashirito using the technical plans for Arale Norimaki and redesigned as a boy, making him Arale's structural counterpart in both power and construction. He was originally designated Caramelman Number 4 by his creator and was given a single mission: to travel to Penguin Village, destroy Arale, and defeat her creator Senbei Norimaki. Dr. Mashirito, driven by an inferiority complex toward Senbei, told Obotchaman that Arale was an evil robot plotting to conquer the world and gave him a picture of a giant robot as her supposed likeness, so Obotchaman set out believing he was undertaking a righteous errand. His name is a playful variation on a Japanese term for a young master, which suits his refined manner.
Physically, Obotchaman resembles a thirteen-year-old boy and stands about the same height as Arale. He has large eyes with blue irises and no visible pupils, and his short black hair rises into two conical points that resemble horns. His outfit consists of a white shirt, a red necktie, blue suspenders, short blue pants, and yellow gloves and socks, giving him a neat, uniformlike appearance that matches his formal behavior.
His most defining trait is his extreme politeness. He uses the very formal first-person pronoun watakushi, addresses others with elaborate courtesy, and conducts himself with impeccable manners. He also has a strong sense of justice and is portrayed as one of the most levelheaded and commonsensical characters in the story. At the same time, he has a tendency toward delusional thinking and can carry his ideas to extremes, which often becomes a source of comedy.
When he first arrives in Penguin Village, he regards Senbei as a sinister genius and Arale as a danger to the world. However, once he actually meets them and observes their daily lives, he quickly realizes that the real villain is his own creator, and he abandons his mission. From that point he becomes a regular member of the village community and one of the major characters of the series.
Obotchaman's central relationship is with Arale Norimaki. He becomes her close companion and later her love interest, and the bond between them is one of the notable developments of the later story. Arale affectionately calls him Obotchiman-kun. He also comes to respect Senbei, his initial target, and treats the other residents of Penguin Village with the same unfailing courtesy. His relationship with his creator Dr. Mashirito remains that of an inventor and his creation, and he does not share Mashirito's malice.
In terms of abilities, Obotchaman is the equal of Arale in combat strength and physical capability, since he was built from the same blueprints. He runs on the same energy source, Robo-Vitan A, and his body is interchangeable with hers to a degree, as shown when Arale's head can be attached to his body. His great strength, combined with his courteous nature, makes him an effective fighter who prefers to act with restraint and good manners.
His development over the course of the series moves him from a deceived antagonist to a dependable ally. He retains his formal speech and strong moral compass throughout, but his experiences in Penguin Village reshape his understanding of good and evil, and his growing affection for Arale gives him a central place in the story's later chapters.
Physically, Obotchaman resembles a thirteen-year-old boy and stands about the same height as Arale. He has large eyes with blue irises and no visible pupils, and his short black hair rises into two conical points that resemble horns. His outfit consists of a white shirt, a red necktie, blue suspenders, short blue pants, and yellow gloves and socks, giving him a neat, uniformlike appearance that matches his formal behavior.
His most defining trait is his extreme politeness. He uses the very formal first-person pronoun watakushi, addresses others with elaborate courtesy, and conducts himself with impeccable manners. He also has a strong sense of justice and is portrayed as one of the most levelheaded and commonsensical characters in the story. At the same time, he has a tendency toward delusional thinking and can carry his ideas to extremes, which often becomes a source of comedy.
When he first arrives in Penguin Village, he regards Senbei as a sinister genius and Arale as a danger to the world. However, once he actually meets them and observes their daily lives, he quickly realizes that the real villain is his own creator, and he abandons his mission. From that point he becomes a regular member of the village community and one of the major characters of the series.
Obotchaman's central relationship is with Arale Norimaki. He becomes her close companion and later her love interest, and the bond between them is one of the notable developments of the later story. Arale affectionately calls him Obotchiman-kun. He also comes to respect Senbei, his initial target, and treats the other residents of Penguin Village with the same unfailing courtesy. His relationship with his creator Dr. Mashirito remains that of an inventor and his creation, and he does not share Mashirito's malice.
In terms of abilities, Obotchaman is the equal of Arale in combat strength and physical capability, since he was built from the same blueprints. He runs on the same energy source, Robo-Vitan A, and his body is interchangeable with hers to a degree, as shown when Arale's head can be attached to his body. His great strength, combined with his courteous nature, makes him an effective fighter who prefers to act with restraint and good manners.
His development over the course of the series moves him from a deceived antagonist to a dependable ally. He retains his formal speech and strong moral compass throughout, but his experiences in Penguin Village reshape his understanding of good and evil, and his growing affection for Arale gives him a central place in the story's later chapters.