The Iron Giant is a mysterious mechanical being with origins that vary depending on the context. In the film, it comes from outer space and crashes onto Earth like a meteorite, while in the book, it emerges from the ocean. The character is based on a novel by British Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, who wrote "The Iron Man" to comfort his children after the suicide of his wife, Sylvia Plath. ^{screenrant.com 1 2}