Atlas

> I agree that we're a violent race, controlled by emotions at war within us. We can do nothing but move in search for peace through destruction. If we deny their existence, then we cannot survive. Without emotions, then we are nothing.
>
> Atlas

## Appearances

### Portrayed by

Scott WeingerNorihiro Inoue

**Atlas** is a supporting character in the 2001 anime film, *Metropolis.* He is a rebel and freedom fighter staging a revolution against the tyrannical Duke Red. He can be considered both a protagonist and an antagonist overall.

Much like Rock, Atlas detests robots and wishes to drive them out. He believes the robots have stolen the human's jobs. Though ironically it's not the robots that oppress him, but rather the humans, and their Marduk Party.

## Appearance

Atlas has brown eyes, and long black hair that's tied back in a semi-dreadlock pattern. He wears a green cap and raggedy green clothes, with a Bandolier around his jacket holding bullets. He is one of the tallest characters in the film, second only to Duke Red.

## Biography.

Atlas lived in the very bottom layer of Metropolis, known as Zone 3. This layer of the city was very poor and run down. He worked in an unspecified job for years, before he and many other humans lost their jobs. Atlas blamed the Robots for taking the jobs away from the humans, though in reality, it was the Marduk party and Duke Red who allowed this to happen. Atlas, unlike the other laborers, recognized this and sought to one day strike down Duke Red, whom Atlas harbored a personal hatred towards. He especially resented Duke Red's pretentiousness and loathed his creation of the Ziggurat, a massive skyscraper which secretly housed a superweapon.

After witnessing Rock Holmes, leader of the Marduk party and adopted son of Duke Red, attack and burn down a nearby factory, Atlas becomes more serious about staging a revolution against Duke Red, believing that Rock and his Marduks are attempting to murder the poor workers of Zone 3. In reality though, this factory was actually the laboratory of the wanted organ smuggler Dr. Laughton. Rock was attempting to assassinate Tima, a highly advanced robot created by Dr. Laughton, modeled after Duke Red's dead biological daughter. Rock murdered Tima's creator, Dr Laughton, and set fire to his lab, hoping that the explosion would kill Tima.

Detective Shunsaku Ban, who was searching for Laughton, and his nephew Kenichi arrive on the scene of the fire, along with Shunsaku's hired robot helper, Pero. Atlas riles up a crowd of workers, who believe it's time to arm themselves and stage a revolution. Pero tries to disperse Atlas and his crowd, but is attacked and threatened by the angry human workers. Atlas almost gets into a fight with Shunsaku and Pero, but is distracted by the arrival of firefighters. Shunsaku asks Atlas if he knows the location of Dr. Laughton, whom Atlas confirmed lived in the factory.

Tima survives the explosion and befriends Kenichi, after the explosions make them both fall down into Zone 3. Rock discovers Tima has survived and tracks her down, attempting to kill both Tima and Kenichi. Meanwhile Atlas and his men plan their revolution against Duke Red, but Atlas calls it off at the last second due to the Marduks being on high alert. Atlas comes across Tima and Kenichi, though his men are skeptical of them and unwilling to trust the two. Kenichi claims to be a journalist and wins the trust of Atlas, who offers to protect them from Rock and the Marduks. Kenichi and Atlas share a heart to heart moment, Atlas tells Kenichi the story of the Tower of Babel, and compares it to Duke Red and his Ziggurat building, although he claims it wont be God who strike down Duke Red, but "it'll be us."

After striking a deal with President Boone, who is also opposed to Duke Red, Atlas launches the revolution. He bids farewell to Kenichi and Tima, telling them to "let the world know how angry we are." He and his fully armed militia arrive at the gates to the higher levels of Metropolis. Shunsaku considers trying to stop them, but Pero convinces him to flee, as he has no chance of standing up to them. Pero bravely stands up to Atlas, asking why humans need to resort to violence. Atlas claims that anger and violence are necessary to move forward and survive as humans. Atlas shoots Pero's head to pieces, destroying him. He and his militia then attack the Metropolis police station, and a full out war between the Marduks and Atlas's militia begins.

In reality however, these entire chain of events was a trap laid by Duke Red. President Boone is killed by General Kusai Skunk, the ministry of Metropolis defense who has sided with Red, allowing Duke Red total control as Dictator of Metropolis. In the ensuing fight, Atlas is shot and mortally wounded by Marduks. Kenichi and Tima come across the dying Atlas, who realizes it was a trap. He dies laying in the snow at the gates of the Ziggurat, as Rock approaches near them.

## Gallery

" The clothes I die in, will be the uniform of the revolution. "Altas with Kenichi and the Rebels.Atlas tells Kenichi about the Tower of Babel, and promises to bring an end to Duke Red.Atlas monologues about human emotions to Pero, before he shoots the robotic detective in the head.