Astro B.O.Y.D.!

"Astro B.O.Y.D.!" is the fifty-fifth episode of DuckTales. It premiered on May 2, 2020 and is the sixth episode of the third season.

Plot[]

Launchpad is leading the Junior Woodchucks when Huey tries to show the proper way to make a s'more. He is mocked by Bully Beagle and the rest of the campers for trying to stay accurate to the guide book's directions. B.O.Y.D. approaches him and compliments his accuracy and the two end up getting along well. When Huey refers to themselves as being part of a "rare breed", B.O.Y.D. suddenly begins to malfunction and burns down the campsite. Huey takes him to the lab where Fenton takes him to Gyro, who reacts in shock and terror upon seeing B.O.Y.D. He reveals that he helped create him with his mentor Dr. Akita. He tells him that B.O.Y.D.'s inherent programming is destruction and that they will have to go back to his old lab in Tokyolk in order to fix him.

The group arrive in Tokyolk where Gyro is immediately accosted by Inspector Tezuka who believes that he is still in league with Akita, despite not having seen him in years. Lil Bulb distracts her while the group make their escape. They arrive at what is left of Akita's old lab and hook B.O.Y.D. up to a computer to dig through his memories (revealing that Mark Beaks found him in a garbage dump as opposed to creating him himself as previously implied). Gyro refuses to believe that B.O.Y.D. is capable of genuine emotion and steps out to replace Lil Bulb's bulb. Huey does not want B.O.Y.D. to only be used for destruction, so Fenton suggests taking him out to fight crime, which luckily for them one is happening right now. As they leave, Akita, in a secret base, discovers that they have broken into his secret lab.

Huey, B.O.Y.D. and Fenton discover a robbery in progress with a couple (identified as Clown and Capsule) taking off on motorcycles. Fenton, as Gizmoduck, takes off after Clown while Huey and B.O.Y.D. take off after Capsule using a rented bike. Fenton captures Clown, but Huey and B.O.Y.D. end up letting Capsule get away when they realize that they do not know what to do. As Fenton heads off to catch Capsule, Huey and B.O.Y.D. realize that they are lost. They decide to make the best of it by traveling throughout Tokyolk and seeing the sights. Back at the lab, Gyro realizes that everyone has left, much to his anger. Fenton runs into Tezuka, who captured Capsule, and he learns what actually happened with Gyro and B.O.Y.D. in the past.

Akita leaves his secret base to reacquire B.O.Y.D. Tezuka and Fenton arrive and about to arrest B.O.Y.D, with Fenton asking Huey to stay away from him, because he doesn't know what he is capable of. Huey comes to his friend's defense and tells them that he saved him with his rocket feet, while he fell from the tower. Gyro confronts them, saying that it's weapons systems are back online, the city is doomed. Dejected and heartbroken, B.O.Y.D asks them why can't they see him as a definitely real boy as Gyro shows him his iPad, where he was created and he attacked the city after losing control, before Tezuka took him down, much to his horror. Unfortunately, Akita arrives and programs him to be a killer machine once again, much to the others' horror. Fenton becomes Gizmoduck to battle him. Huey looks at B.O.Y.D.'s core memories and discovers that B.O.Y.D. core programming was altered. A young, optimistic Gyro had made B.O.Y.D. to be Tokyolk's protector, treating him as his own son, but Akita overrode the program to make him a destructive robot, tricking Gyro into thinking it was his fault.

Appaled at how he rejected his own "son" and furious by what his mentor put him through, Gyro confronts Akita and he is arrested by Tezuka.

Gyro, finally accepting that B.O.Y.D. is still the child-robot he cared about, manages to get through to his programming before the robot can harm Gizmoduck further, and he reverts to normal, reconciling with a hug. Huey convinces B.O.Y.D. that he can be his own person which he does by changing his acronym (Be Only Yourself, Dude). Gyro, in turn, realizes that Fenton's mistakes were similar to his own and finally ceases calling him Intern and makes him a full time employee under him and in the process gives him a doctorate and Fenton gives him a hug. Huey and B.O.Y.D. want to explore Tokyolk more, but Tezuka asks them to leave, which they do so by flying back home.

Cast[]

• Danny Pudi as Huey Duck
• Beck Bennett as Launchpad McQuack
• Jim Rash as Gyro Gearloose
• Lin-Manuel Miranda as Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera/Gizmoduck
• Josh Brener as Mark Beaks
• Noah Baird as B.O.Y.D.
• Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Akita
• Tamlyn Tomita as Inspector Tezuka
• John Gemberling as Doofus Drake
• Eric Bauza as Bully Beagle
• John DiMaggio as Clown
• Laura Bailey as Capsule

Trivia[]

• The title is a play on the popular anime/manga series Astro Boy with Inspector Tezuka taking her name from its creator Osamu Tezuka. Tezuka was known for taking inspiration from Carl Barks and Floyd Gottfredson and struck up a friendship with Barks.
  • Co-producer Francisco Angones confirmed on his Twitter account that the episode was inspired by Astro Boy.^[1] Angones also said that he pitched the idea for the episode to Matt Youngberg while working on "Happy Birthday, Doofus Drake!".^[2]
• There is no theme song to this episode, instead the DuckTales title is shown written in Japanese.
• Noah Baird replaces Nicolas Cantu as the voice of B.O.Y.D. most likely due to the latter's voice reaching puberty.
• B.O.Y.D.'s real name, 2-BO, is also a reference to Astro Boy's real name Tobio.
• When B.O.Y.D.'s eyes begin to uncontrollably blast laser vision, Fenton applies red glasses on them to contain them. This is a reference to the Marvel Comics character Cyclops.
• When the gang arrive in Tokyolk, there is a girl in the foreground cosplaying as Sailor Moon. A toy of the character can also be seen in the form of an anthropomorphic rabbit, a visual pun on Sailor Moon's real name Usagi being the Japanese word for rabbit.
• Throughout the episode, an extra resembling Lupin III can be seen. Inspector Tezuka's costume design and poses also borrow from Inspector Zenigata.
• A bag of chips features an Osomatsu-kun inspired character doing the signature 'shie' pose.
• Gyro Gearloose gave Fenton Crackshell a doctorate and hired him as a full-time employee under him
• In the scene where Huey and B.O.Y.D. are in the train, a gray wolf in the foreground resembles Legoshi from the manga Beastars.
• During their exploration of Tokyo, Huey and B.O.Y.D. pose for a photo op as a cop and a robot. The robot loosely resembles Tetsujin-28.
• When Huey opens his journal with a map of Tokyolk on top of Tokyolk Tower, one of the landmarks is a robot head resembling a Gundam, a reference to the real world landmark of a life-size model Gundam on display in Odaiba at the Diver City Plaza shopping mall.
• When Gyro Gearloose is seen in his youth as Akita's intern, his appearance is that of his classic look from the original DuckTales, albeit with white hair instead of red.
• The episode takes place in March.
• Flintheart Glomgold makes a cameo on several billboards for an energy drink.
• It's revealed Mark Beaks found 2-BO and renamed him B.O.Y.D. prior to "Happy Birthday, Doofus Drake!"
• A character in the episode who is credited as Bully Beagle is loosely based on the Beagle Brats.
• This is the third episode that does not include the theme song and just have the title in the episode's background, since "Woo-oo!" and "What Ever Happened to Della Duck?!".
• Frank Angones has admitted to getting 'misty-eyed' over Gyro's role in the episode, and boarder Sam King admitted she cried while boarding Gyro and B.O.Y.D.'s reconciliation scene.^[3][4].

Goofs[]

• As Bully Beagle makes fun of Huey, the two-toothed Junior Woodchuck changes his beak, leg, and webbed foot color from orange to gray, from one scene to the next.
• Akita states he has been underground for at least 20 years. Frank Angones had previously stated that Gyro was younger than Della and Donald, who are both 35. If this had been the case, Gyro would have to have been younger than 15 years old in flashbacks, instead of a grown man.^[5] Whether this is a continuity error or Akita lost actual track of time underground is unknown.

International premieres[]

• March 19, 2021 (United Kingdom) (Premiere on Disney+)
• October 13, 2021 (Italy) (Premiere on Disney+)
• November 16, 2021 (Portugal)

Gallery[]

References[]

v - e - d

Media Shows/Movies: 1987 series (videography) • 2017 series • Walt Disney's World on Ice: Double Feature... Live! • Raw Toonage • DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp • Chibi Tiny Tales • This Duckburg Life Video Games: Video game (HD remake/Soundtrack) • DuckTales 2 • The Quest for Gold • Scrooge's Loot • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode • Disney All-Star Racers • Disney All-Star Party Comics: Comic Books (IDW) Books: The Secret City Under the Sea • Sphinx for the Memories and Sir Gyro Gearloose • Scrooge's Treasure Hunt • Christmas at the North Pole • Webby Saves the Day • The Art of DuckTales Disney Parks DuckTales World Showcase Adventure • PLAY! • Donald's Duck Pond Characters 1987 series: Scrooge McDuck • Huey, Dewey, and Louie • Launchpad McQuack • Webby Vanderquack • Bentina Beakley • Duckworth • Chief O'Hara • Shedlock Jones • Gyro Gearloose • Little Helper • Yardarm • Doofus Drake • Fenton Crackshell • Donald Duck • Ludwig Von Drake • Gladstone Gander • Bubba the Cave Duck • Abominable Snowwoman • Tootsie the Triceratops • Skittles • Blackjack • Poupon • Gene the Genie • Glittering Goldie • Mad Dog McGurk • Feathers Galore • Burt Quackarach • Major Courage • Micro Ducks • Admiral Grimmitz • King Homer • Queen Ariel • Shawebizad • Gandra Dee • McPapa • McMama • Robotica • Beagle Boys • Ma Beagle • Pete • Flintheart Glomgold • Phantom Blot • Dijon • Argus McSwine • Magica De Spell • Minima De Spell • Poe De Spell • El Capitan • Joaquin Slowly • Merlock the Magician • Cinnamon Teal • Dracula Duck • Dr. NoGood • Millionara Vanderbucks • Fritter O'Way • Lawrence Loudmouth • Armstrong • The Sirens • Circe • Harpies • Yuckalinda • Queen Griselda • Djinni • Terra-Firmie King • Overlord Bulovan • Solego • GICU-2 • Magica's Shadow • The Fear Demons • Vacation Van Honk 2017 series: Della Duck • Lena • Bradford Buzzard • Bentley and Buford Buzzard • Captain Peghook • Manny the Headless Man-Horse • Pixiu • Gabby McStabberson • Hack and Slash Smashnikov • Roxanne Featherly • Toad Liu Hai • Mark Beaks • Falcon Graves • Amunet • Sabaf • Toth-Ra • Zeus • Selene • Storkules • Charybdis • Briar and Bramble • Darkwing Duck • Gosalyn Mallard • Megavolt • Don Karnage • Quackerjack • Liquidator • Black Heron • Zan Owlson • Fisher • Mann • Drosera occidendum • José Carioca • Panchito Pistoles • Fethry Duck • John D. Rockerduck • Jeeves • Gavin • Grandpappy Beagle • Violet Sabrewing • Unicorn • Percival P. Peppington • Nightmare Beast • Paddywhack • Bushroot • Negaduck • Daisy Duck • Goofy • Chip and Dale • Monterey Jack • Zipper • Gadget Hackwrench • Kit Cloudkicker • Taurus Bulba • Molly Cunningham • Lieutenant Penumbra • General Lunaris • Moonlanders • Moon Mites • Gilded Man • Neighbor Jones • Steelbeak • Isabella Finch • Indy and Ty Sabrewing • Tri-Crested Tittertwill • Aletheia • Vero • King Honestus • Emma Glamour • Inspector Tezuka • Akita • Strongbeard • Hecka • Jormungandr • Ponce de Leon • Matilda McDuck • Emutilda Episodes 1987 series Season One: "The Treasure of the Golden Suns" • "Send in the Clones" • "Sphinx for the Memories" • "Where No Duck Has Gone Before" • "Armstrong" • "Robot Robbers" • "Magica's Shadow War" • "Master of the Djinni" • "Hotel Strangeduck" • "Lost Crown of Genghis Khan" • "Duckman of Aquatraz" • "The Money Vanishes" • "Sir Gyro de Gearloose" • "Dinosaur Ducks" • "Hero for Hire" • "Superdoo!" • "Maid of the Myth" • "Down and Out in Duckburg" • "Much Ado About Scrooge" • "Top Duck" • "Pearl of Wisdom" • "The Curse of Castle McDuck" • "Launchpad's Civil War" • "Sweet Duck of Youth" • "Earth Quack" • "Home Sweet Homer" • "Bermuda Triangle Tangle" • "Micro Ducks from Outer Space" • "Back to the Klondike" • "Horse Scents" • "Scrooge's Pet" • "Catch as Cash Can" • "Merit-Time Adventure" • "The Golden Fleecing" • "Ducks of the West" • "Time Teasers" • "Back Out in the Outback" • "Raiders of the Lost Harp" • "The Right Duck" • "Scroogerello" • "Double-O-Duck" • "Luck o' the Ducks" • "Duckworth's Revolt" • "Magica's Magic Mirror"/"Take Me Out of the Ballgame" • "Duck to the Future" • "Jungle Duck" • "Launchpad's First Crash" • "Dime Enough for Luck" • "Duck in the Iron Mask" • "The Uncrashable Hindentanic" • "The Status Seekers" • "Nothing to Fear" • "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. McDuck" • "Once Upon a Dime" • "Spies in Their Eyes" • "All Ducks on Deck" • "Ducky Horror Picture Show" • "Till Nephews Do Us Part" Season Two: "Time is Money" • "Super DuckTales" Season Three: "The Land of Trala La" • "Allowance Day" • "Bubbeo & Juliet" • "The Good Muddahs" • "My Mother the Psychic" • "Metal Attraction" • "Dough Ray Me" • "Bubba's Big Brainstorm" • "The Big Flub" • "A Case of Mistaken Secret Identity" • "Blue Collar Scrooge" • "Beaglemania" • "Yuppy Ducks" • "The Bride Wore Stripes" • "The Unbreakable Bin" • "Attack of the Fifty-Foot Webby" • "The Masked Mallard" • "A DuckTales Valentine" Season Four: "Ducky Mountain High" • "Attack of the Metal Mites" • "The Duck Who Knew Too Much" • "New Gizmo-Kids on the Block" • "Scrooge's Last Adventure" • "The Golden Goose" 2017 series Season One: "Woo-oo!" • "Daytrip of Doom!" • "The Great Dime Chase!" • "The Beagle Birthday Massacre!" • "Terror of the Terra-firmians!" • "The House of the Lucky Gander!" • "The Infernal Internship of Mark Beaks!" • "The Living Mummies of Toth-Ra!" • "The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest!" • "The Spear of Selene!" • "Beware the B.U.D.D.Y. System!" • "The Missing Links of Moorshire!" • "McMystery at McDuck McManor!" • "JAW$!" • "The Golden Lagoon of White Agony Plains!" • "Day of the Only Child!" • "From the Confidential Casefiles of Agent 22!" • "Who is Gizmoduck?!" • "The Other Bin of Scrooge McDuck!" • "Sky Pirates...in the Sky!" • "The Secret(s) of Castle McDuck!" • "The Last Crash of the Sunchaser!" • "The Shadow War!" Season Two: "The Most Dangerous Game...Night!" • "The Depths of Cousin Fethry!" • "The Ballad of Duke Baloney!" • "The Town Where Everyone Was Nice!" • "Storkules in Duckburg!" • "Last Christmas!" • "What Ever Happened to Della Duck?!" • "Treasure of the Found Lamp!" • "The Outlaw Scrooge McDuck!" • "The 87 Cent Solution!" • "The Golden Spear!" • "Nothing Can Stop Della Duck!" • "Raiders of the Doomsday Vault!" • "Friendship Hates Magic!" • "The Dangerous Chemistry of Gandra Dee!" • "The Duck Knight Returns!" • "What Ever Happened to Donald Duck?!" • "Happy Birthday, Doofus Drake!" • "A Nightmare on Killmotor Hill!" • "The Golden Armory of Cornelius Coot!" • "Timephoon!" • "GlomTales!" • "The Richest Duck in the World!" • "Moonvasion!" Season Three "Challenge of the Senior Junior Woodchucks!" • "Quack Pack!" • "Double-O-Duck in You Only Crash Twice!" • "The Lost Harp of Mervana!" • "Louie's Eleven!" • "Astro B.O.Y.D.!" • "The Rumble for Ragnarok!" • "The Phantom and the Sorceress!" • "They Put a Moonlander on the Earth!" • "The Trickening!" • "The Forbidden Fountain of the Foreverglades!" • "Let's Get Dangerous!" • "Escape from the ImpossiBin!" • "The Split Sword of Swanstantine!" • "New Gods on the Block!" • "The First Adventure!" • "The Fight for Castle McDuck!" • "How Santa Stole Christmas!" • "Beaks in the Shell!" • "The Lost Cargo of Kit Cloudkicker!" • "The Life And Crimes of Scrooge McDuck!" • "The Last Adventure!" Locations Duckburg • Atlantis • The Money Bin • McDuck Manor • Castle McDuck • Fountain of Youth • Scotland • Notre Duck • Valley of the Golden Suns • St. Canard • Cape Suzette Organizations Air Pirates • F.O.W.L. • Junior Woodchucks • S.H.U.S.H. 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