By Andrew Nickerson
In military tactics/strategy, no name is more revered than Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese general/philosopher whose masterpiece, The Art of War, is considered the pinnacle of brilliance. Touching on virtually every aspect of conflict, it’s consistently won over entire generations of fans, not only for its no-nonsense approach, but for its unique objective: winning. Furthermore, its wisdom has proven so effective that everyone from athletes to businessmen to politicians have used it to succeed. As such, experts galore have long unanimously agreed on one point: follow Sun Tzu’s advice, and you’ll win; ignore him, and you’ll lose.
Yet, one medium remains untouched by this brilliance: pop culture plotlines. If he can be applied everywhere else, why not here too? To demonstrate this, we’ll analyze a plot arc right now: The Iron Giant’s1 fall of Agent Mansley. More specifically, we’ll look at it through the following Sun Tzu principles: morality, terrain, leadership, preparation, deception, improv, foreknowledge, direct-indirect acts, recklessness, cowardice, delicacy of honor, and underestimation.
Hogarth Hughes (Hogarth from now on), a young boy living with his mom Annie in Cold War-era Maine, one day spots a mysterious trail in the woods. He follows it, only to find something extraordinary: the Iron Giant (IG from now on), a massive extraterrestrial robot that’s crash-landed on Earth, and is now confusingly caught in some power lines. Hogarth, quickly using the Sun Tzu principle, “be flexible; according as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans”2, and one of his Five Essential Victory Factors, morality3, calms IG and gets him untangled, only to have the latter accidentally damage a nearby set of railroad tracks. Employing improv again, the former has the latter repair the tracks, but not in time to avoid being severely damaged, so Hogarth leads it back to his family’s barn to recuperate, a good use of another Essential Victory Factor, terrain4, since this will prevent its being discovered. While there, he finds IG can self-repair, an ingenious use of both another Essential Victory Factor, preparation5, and the principle, “What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men is foreknowledge”6 by its creators.
Later, Hogarth brings some comics out to the barn, where IG learns of “evil robots”, but thankfully the former employs morality to assuage the uncertain machine but telling him it’s all about choice. Hogarth then employs terrain and one of Sun Tzu’s favorite tactics, “All warfare is deception,”7 by looking for a spot to hide IG so it won’t alarm the locals. He ends up enlisting the aid of metal artist/scrapyard owner Dean McCoppin (Dean from now on), who’s initially shocked by IG, but ultimately agrees to conceal it on his property, a fortuitous move since the robot apparently sustains itself by eating metal items. As time elapses, Hogarth and Dean continue using morality to bond with IG, along with deception to keep him from prying eyes, showing their new friend the joys of life on Earth. However, the latter also learns how delicate life is when they encounter a deer that’d been killed by a hunter, as well as the danger of guns, two bits of foreknowledge that’ll soon play an important part.
At this point, a new face emerges: Kent Mansley (Mansley from now on), a federal agent dispatched to the area to investigate reports of suspicious activity. He quickly alienates many locals with his pompous, snobby nature, a sad violation of both morality and one of Sun Tzu’s Five Fatal Failings of Leadership, delicacy of honor8 (DOH from now on). Dismissing said reports, he’s about to leave…but then IG makes a crucial blunder: it clumsily violates another Fatal Failing, recklessness, by taking a bite out of Mansley’s car, then leaving a massive trail of footprints. Determined to get to the truth, Mansley ends up staying at Annie’s house, where he encounters Hogarth and is convinced the boy is hiding something. His suspicions are confirmed when the latter, in a foolish violation of recklessness9 and another principle, never underestimate a foe10, doesn’t properly conceal a photo with IG in it. Mansley then skillfully employs one of Sun Tzu’s favorite tactics, use a direct act to focus the enemy’s attention and an indirect to win11, by luring Hogarth to his family’s barn and then demanding IG’s location, using the photo for emphasis. Hogarth refuses to answer, at which time Mansley cruelly violates morality and another Fatal Failing, cowardice12, by threatening Annie, a move that ultimately forces compliance from the former…but sets the agent up to fail as he calls in the military.
After dinner that night, Hogarth (wearing a helmet and goggles) and Mansley, whose rooms are across from each other, engage in a contest of wills, trying to see who’ll fall asleep first. Ultimately, the former loses, and when morning comes the latter smirks at the still-sleeping boy…until Hogarth suddenly walks by and waves. Mansley has violated underestimation, for the latter has masterfully wielded direct-indirect acts: the “boy” in the bed was just clothes piled under the covers and the helmet turned sideways. Annie then approaches, demanding to know why the army is outside, causing Mansley to race out and greet the troops’ commander, General Rogard, However, he’s violated underestimation yet again for, when bringing the latter to meet IG, finds Dean and Hogarth have used prep, improv, and deception by dressing up their friend to look like of the artist’s many creations. Rogard denounces Mansley and orders him back to Washington, making Dean and Hogarth think all is in the clear. But things take a surprising turn when Hogarth and IG are playing in the woods shortly afterward and, as part of their game, the former draws a toy guy, only to have the latter fire a laser blast from his eyes in response. Dean promptly chews out IG, sending it away in shock, but then spots the toy and realizes something: the latter reacted to the gun AKA his actions were defensive. It’s a key piece of foreknowledge that’ll soon come in handy, and it prompts Dean and Hogarth to chase IG.
In town, two boys suddenly become endangered near the city’s clock tower, so IG, in a daring use of improv and morality, rescues them. The shock of his appearance, while intense, is soon ameliorated by his heroism, showing why Sun Tzu values morality. Unfortunately, it also violates recklessness and underestimation because IG is now exposed to full view, allowing Mansley to spot him and alert Rogard, the latter promptly ordering his forces to attack. Hogarth quickly tells IG to run, the latter using morality by scooping the former up to protect him from incoming fire. Meanwhile, Dean cuts off Mansley’s approach, whereupon the latter arrogantly denounces him, but the former, tired of the agent’s pompousness, wields both foreknowledge and another Essential Victory Factor, leadership13, by telling Mansley of the defense mechanism and that they need to stop attacking. Tragically, Mansley makes a foolish choice: in an insane violation of morality, recklessness, and a caveat of leadership, know when not to fight14, he tells Dean “I’ll take care of it”, but then tells Rogard that Hogarth is dead and to continue attacking. As a result, the chase continues, although IG admirably uses morality by restraining his defense mechanism so he won’t shoot back. However, they end up slipping down a slope and off a cliff…only to learn another bit of foreknowledge: IG’s feet have boosters, allowing him to fly. Thus, they roar into the sky, but sadly violate underestimation while dodging the jets Rogard called in when one brings IG down with a missile.
Upon landing, IG checks Hogarth, but finds the boy unresponsive. Recalling the incident with the deer, the former thinks Hogarth is dead, just as Mansley, thinking he’s won, pulls up with Rogard and orders a tank to shoot it. The agent’s belligerence turns out to be a huge violation of underestimation and recklessness as all his mistakes simultaneously catch up to him, courtesy of IG snapping and unleashing his defense mechanism’s maximum power, transforming him into an ultimate weapon that lays waste to all in sight. Rogard and Mansley flee in a jeep, the latter violating cowardice all the way with his frantic pleas to go faster, while Annie and Dean drive up and find Hogarth is just unconscious. They head back to town, hoping to get him treated, but find IG’s rampage has closed the roads. At that point, Hogarth wakes up and, in a great use of morality and improv, races after IG.
Back in town, Rogard uses improv too by having a battleship fire at IG, but the shot merely bounces off, draws it toward the coast. Here, Mansley employs direct-indirect acts again: he tells Rogard IG seems to follow what attacks it, so they should use incoming fire to draw it away and then destroy it with a nuclear missile from a nearby submarine. Rogard promptly employs prep by having said sub ready a missile, but IG’s stopped at the water and is charging an energy blast to attack the battleship. Thankfully, Hogarth appears and shouts at IG, a move that distracts the latter and causes the shot to miss; he then masterfully employs morality and foreknowledge by reminding him about the deer, saying, “Guns kill, and you don’t have to be a gun…choose.” It works, and IG disarms his defense mechanism, adding, “I am not a gun,” prompting Hogarth to add they need to show the former’s good. Meanwhile, Dean finally reaches Rogard and uses foreknowledge by telling him about the defense mechanism, but Mansley continues violating morality, leadership, and recklessness by frantically demanding the attack continue. The conflicting messages cause Rogard to freeze as IG comes back, but then Annie solves the dilemma by spotting Hogarth in the robot’s hand and shouting his name. This simple use of morality instantly lifts Rogard’s confusion, and he promptly wields leadership by ordering his forces to stand down before angrily confronting Mansley for lying to him. The desperate latter continues violating recklessness by pleading to destroy IG, but Rogard expertly wields a caveat of leadership, some commands must not be obeyed15, by commenting “Are you mad, Mansley?”
Here, things take an unfortunate turn when Mansley, who’s being angrily eyed by IG, makes the biggest mistake of the film: in an insane violation of recklessness, cowardice, terrain, and foreknowledge, he grabs Rogard’s radio and screams, “Launch the missile now!” The sub complies, which is when the general uses foreknowledge by pointing out the missile’s locked onto IG’s current position, adding “Where’s the giant, Mansley?” Instantly realizing the depth of his mistake, the latter violates underestimation again by suggesting getting to a fallout shelter, but Rogard again uses foreknowledge by telling him there’s no way to survive the blast. That declaration prompts Mansley to make his final mistake: shamelessly violating morality, cowardice, and underestimation, he cries “I want to live!” and tries to flee by stealing Rogard’s jeep, but pays for it when IG smashes the vehicle’s engine. Rogard then uses another leadership caveat, enforcing discipline16, by ordering his troops to make sure Mansley doesn’t run again. Still, alert sirens begin echoing, and Hogarth uses foreknowledge by explaining what’ll happen when the missile lands. Here, IG makes a brave decision: in an incredibly selfless act of morality and improv, it flies up into the atmosphere and absorbs the full missile blast, supposedly destroying itself to protect those it’d come to care for. This wonderful gesture humbles Rogard, who tells his troops to pack up and leave, and leaves the citizens feeling heartbroken for the loss of their ally, so much so they later dedicate a statue to it. The only remnant Hogarth apparently finds from IG is a bolt…but all involved are soon proven to have violated underestimation when said bolt glows and begins moving. Instantly, Hogarth, in a final gesture of foreknowledge, opens his window and watches the bolt begin moving north, for he’s realized something: IG survived, and his self-repair mode is now drawing his various parts back together.
This was a bittersweet morality lesson for troops and citizens alike but, as we saw, Sun Tzu’s guidance was there the whole time, showing what worked/failed and why. As a result, we can now vividly ascertain how/why Mansley fell, courtesy of his violating the ages old principle of experts/students alike: follow Sun Tzu, and you’ll win; ignore him, and you’ll lose.
Footnotes
1: The Iron Giant, dir. Brad Bird (1999).
2: Lionel Giles, The Art of War (New York, NY; Fall River Press, 2011), 4.
3: Giles, The Art of War, 3.
4: Giles, The Art of War, 3.
5: Giles, The Art of War, 3.
6: Giles, The Art of War, 50.
7: Giles, The Art of War, 5.
8: Giles, The Art of War, 28.
9: Giles, The Art of War, 28.
10: Giles, The Art of War, 33.
11: Giles, The Art of War, 15.
12: Giles, The Art of War, 28.
13: Giles, The Art of War, 3.
14: Giles, The Art of War, 11.
15: Giles, The Art of War, 27.
16: Giles, The Art of War, 4.
Bibliography
Bird, Brad, director. The Iron Giant: Signature Edition. 1999; Warner Bros. Pictures, 2021. 90 min. Blu-ray.
Sun Tzu. The Art of War. Translated by Lionel Giles. New York: Fall River Press, 2011.
Andrew Nickerson is originally from Massachusetts, and is a lifelong reader. He has a BA in History (English minor) from UMASS Lowell and JD from Mass. School of Law. He can be found on Twitter (@AndrewNickers19) daily, analyzing characters via Sun Tzu.
Academy of the Heart And Mind 