TV-Series
Description
The character referred to as Obokaman is formally named Obotchaman, an android who appears in the anime Dr. Slump & Arale-chan as a significant figure introduced partway through the series. He is built by the villainous scientist Dr. Mashirito using the plans for Arale Norimaki, the series' little girl robot protagonist, though his design is male. Obotchaman takes the form of a thirteen-year-old boy and is roughly the same height as Arale, with large blue eyes, no visible pupils, and short black hair that ends in two conical points resembling devil's horns.
His initial purpose is hostile. Upon activating him, Dr. Mashirito designates him Caramelman 004 and tells him that Arale intends to take over the world and must be destroyed. Obotchaman makes repeated attempts to carry out this mission, but he cannot bring himself to harm her because she does not seem evil to him and he finds her genuinely endearing. This struggle between his programmed orders and his own emerging feelings shapes his early appearances and prevents him from ever acting as a true villain.
In personality he is almost the direct opposite of Arale. Where she is wild, energetic, playful, and lacking in common sense, Obotchaman is dutiful, well-behaved, sincere, and unfailingly polite to everyone he encounters. His courteous and gentle nature makes him likable to the people of Penguin Village and makes his intended role as a destroyer increasingly unsustainable.
His key relationship is with Arale, whom he initially regards as an enemy but gradually comes to care for deeply. Over time he becomes one of the major characters of the series and develops a romantic bond with her, eventually serving as her love interest and being identified as her husband in later material depicting the characters' future. His relationship with Dr. Mashirito is also central, as he repeatedly disobeys his creator's commands out of loyalty to his own sense of right and because of his attachment to Arale.
As an android constructed from Arale's own blueprints, he possesses superhuman physical abilities that allow him to challenge her in combat, and he was created specifically to oppose her. His development traces a clear arc from obedient weapon built by a rival scientist to trusted friend and romantic partner, showing that his gentle disposition ultimately overcomes the destructive purpose he was designed for.
His initial purpose is hostile. Upon activating him, Dr. Mashirito designates him Caramelman 004 and tells him that Arale intends to take over the world and must be destroyed. Obotchaman makes repeated attempts to carry out this mission, but he cannot bring himself to harm her because she does not seem evil to him and he finds her genuinely endearing. This struggle between his programmed orders and his own emerging feelings shapes his early appearances and prevents him from ever acting as a true villain.
In personality he is almost the direct opposite of Arale. Where she is wild, energetic, playful, and lacking in common sense, Obotchaman is dutiful, well-behaved, sincere, and unfailingly polite to everyone he encounters. His courteous and gentle nature makes him likable to the people of Penguin Village and makes his intended role as a destroyer increasingly unsustainable.
His key relationship is with Arale, whom he initially regards as an enemy but gradually comes to care for deeply. Over time he becomes one of the major characters of the series and develops a romantic bond with her, eventually serving as her love interest and being identified as her husband in later material depicting the characters' future. His relationship with Dr. Mashirito is also central, as he repeatedly disobeys his creator's commands out of loyalty to his own sense of right and because of his attachment to Arale.
As an android constructed from Arale's own blueprints, he possesses superhuman physical abilities that allow him to challenge her in combat, and he was created specifically to oppose her. His development traces a clear arc from obedient weapon built by a rival scientist to trusted friend and romantic partner, showing that his gentle disposition ultimately overcomes the destructive purpose he was designed for.