True is a robot assistant at a geology facility outside Metro City. His creator Dr. Domoto programmed True to be a compulsive liar in order to hide a tragic secret. True's story is partially based on the ancient Greek fable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."
Appearance[]
True in aerial mode
By pure coincidence, True bears a strong resemblance to Astro, sharing the same height, build, and face shape. True wears a blue jumpsuit with white and red details. He has matching blue helmet-like hair with two points on either side of his head. These points can slide down, making way for a propeller to ride from inside his head. This propeller can spin strong enough to carry True dozens of metres above the ground. If the blue button on his collar is pressed hard enough, True will power off.
In the manga, True wears casual clothing and looks more human-like. He has black hair with one long, curling cowlick, which spins as a propeller when he needs to fly.
Personality[]
True and Pearl
True is a happy, upbeat robot. He looks and behaves like a normal elementary school boy. His best friend is Pearl Domoto, his creator's human daughter whom is blind. True works as a seeing-eye guide for Pearl but does genuinely enjoy hanging out with her. He is programmed to respond to any questions with the opposite of the truth - ergo, lying, something that's forbidden by the laws of robotics[1].
In the anime, True is completely oblivious that he's ever lying to someone else. He will take orders from Dr. Domoto and follow them to a T, but otherwise, nothing he says can be trusted. In the manga, True is more aware of the chaos caused by his lying. He will use lies to trick anyone pursuing him in an attempt to get away.
Series[]
Anime[]
In the 1980 series episode "The Liar Robot", True lives with his creator Dr. Domoto at a geology research centre in Shimoda, a small city outside Metro City. A year before the episode's events, Domoto's wife and daughter were in a terrible car accident. His wife died, but his daughter Pearl survived, but she was left severely blinded. Domoto knew Pearl would never be able to see again, so he altered True's programming to always tell the opposite of the truth. This way, as Pearl's guide, True would always be there to tell Pearl she would get better one day.
True being compared to Astro
Domoto intended for True to keep lying to Pearl until modern science would be able to cure her condition. However, one day, True picks up a phone call meant for Dr. Domoto, and innocently tells In the authorities that an enormous earthquake is coming. Because of True's resemblance to Astro, the irritated Shimoda civilians mistake Astro for True. Astro is briefly framed for the earthquake mix-up until Dr. Domoto can finally admit he reprogrammed True. Domoto resets True's programming, and is arrested for breaking the second Law of Robotics...just as an actual earthquake is detected as on its way. This time, nobody in town believes True. Astro winds up having to rescue the town, and look for True, but only finds True deactivated and heavily damaged.
The earthquake finally settles down. Pearl Domoto worriedly calls out for True, and everyone looks on anxiously, not wanting to tell her True is nearly dead. Astro speaks up, imitating True's voice; he claims he's perfectly fine and just helping save the civilians. This puts Pearl at ease, and at "True's" insistence, she goes home. Dr. Domoto then vows to revive True one day.
Manga[]
In the manga chapter "The Lying Robot", True is unnamed and only called "the boy robot" at most. A young roboticist created him as a caregiver for his dying mother. In case his mother were to ask the robot about her prognosis, the robot was programmed to constantly lie.
Unfortunately, this backfired when the robot began publicly lying about oncoming natural disasters. Inspector Tawashi tries to figure out the robot's identity and creator, but this is impossible because he only answers with lies. Tawashi then asks Astro to help capture the robot and stop any further public disturbances. Astro follows the robot to his home, and is met with the robot's creator armed with a laser gun. Astro hears out the scientist's explanation for why his robot lies, but suddenly, they realize the house is on fire. The robot runs to get help from the fire department, but is instead destroyed by the frustrated city workers.