Pinoko is such an interesting character and the most relatable fictional character to me... she's a character who is very funny and has an inspiringly positive outlook on life, despite her sad situation, but so much of the comedy about her is tragic when put into perspective of her origins, but she also remains one of Tezuka's most proactive and determined heroines, who perseveres, finds joy in life, and loves with all her heart.
She's determined, brave, speaks her mind, has a bit of a temper, and is a bit tomboyish by 1970's Japanese standards (hence the more playful version of her theme having the subtitle ~Tomboyish Candy~), but she's undeniably female and has many feminine interests. She's a homemaker, as well as a nurse-later-doctor.
She underwent painful rehabilitation to learn how to use her new (largely prosthetic/artificial body), a clear mirror to the main character, her beloved Black Jack.
Pinoko is not a one-note tragedy, despite her love being unrequited for most of the story (our biggest hint her feelings are returned or have a chance to be are in the intended-to-be-final-chapter which ended the original run of the mnaga, The SL Called Life, and that was a dream sequence featuring the most important people in Black Jack's life from his perspective), but her character is something of a tragicomedy.
*The manga is also more clear in showing her struggles as she adjusts to her new body, having trouble controlling her bladder early on, for instance. The anime spends time on her rehabilitation, but only in flashback form (in Karte 44), as the anime set many events later, so Pinoko can be present for all of the cases, whereas the manga showed us Black Jack before Pinoko's introduction, and even after, Pinoko isn't in every chapter… it's less linear in the collected volumes, which Tezuka opted be collected by theme, not chronological order. The hazy chronology is even lampshaded in one chapter! Although I do like that Pinoko goes from 18 to 21 years old as the story goes on...
Isn't it so funny how this little kid insists she's an adult? Oh, wait, she's actually an eighteen~twenty-one year old woman who was conscious and aware of everything around her, but could not move, only listening to everything her sister heard, developing similar ideas about how a woman should be, but could not affect the world around her (except through mysterious psychic powers which seemed to vanish when she could finally control a body of her own, which she used to protect herself and to speak, but went unheard by everyone except Black Jack, the first person to speak to her as a living human being).
Black Jack himself treats her like a child for years, until finally, he becomes more aware and even corrects patients who doubt her ("She's 20 and a gifted doctor.")
Isn't it cute how she insists she loves Black Jack and is his wife? Oh, she's serious, even Black Jack looks sad when he realizes the love letter she was writing was for him... how sad!
Except later, Black Jack insists to her sister, who demands never to be contacted again, saving Pinoko's life is just a one time thing, as she's getting married... he insists to her Pinoko will someday marry too. Pinoko, who had been so upset over the idea of being saved, preferring to die in a body that matches her age, which her underdeveloped organs cannot support for more than a few days, to a life in a childlike body that doesn't... finally smiles at the idea she'll marry Black Jack and dreams of embracing him (with a body that matches her age).
"The best wife a man could want." That's how he describes her in his dream in the intended-to-be-final chapter.
Isn't it cute how she keeps a funhouse mirror in her room in the manga? Oh, she hates to see her childlike body that doesn't match her age... again, she would have gladly died in a body that matched than continue to live on in this childlike one, but the hope of a wedding keeps her going. She loves Black Jack for saving her, giving her this new life, and wants to dedicate her life to helping him.
Isn't it funny how she's so clingy and jealous and always goes BALLISTIC over pretty women around Black Jack? Her clinginess & jealousy is likely rooted in abandonment issues and trauma, being rejected by her twin who she literally lived within most of her life, who wanted her dead...
Look how quickly she becomes subdued by Tetsu's lie, after previously losing her temper and throwing dishes, how pained, then sadly accepting she looks as she smiles, realizing she's being a burden (she's not, but Tetsu believes saying this might make her give up the search for Black Jack... for her own safety). A burden is the one thing Pinoko never wants to be. She cleans up before she leaves.
Her need to be self-sufficient in as much as she can despite disabilities (very small stature, underdeveloped nervous system, making her easily overwhelmed, as well as a speech impediment/lisp that never goes away)...
The manga, penned in the 1970's, shows Black Jack bribing schools to keep Pinoko enrolled, even if only in kindergarten, despite her meltdowns.
In the 2003 anime, reflecting better accomodations for those with disabilities... although an entrance exam is too stressful for Pinoko and causes her to be physically ill, special classes are set up just for her, meeting once a month, with custom uniforms, so she can be a high school girl like she always wanted to be.
(Explaining the tags: I'm autistic, I'm not implying Pinoko is, but she's just a clearly-written-to-be-disabled character and, as many perceive me as younger or less capable because of my disability, even though I am capable, just different, with childish interests and I have a lisp too... I relate to her very strongly. That's all.)
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