Osamu Tezuka’s visualized Metropolis is quite different from the 2001 anime film that adapted the manga. Yet, it procured a huge budget and was even nominated for Oscars.
Set in a beautiful cyberpunk world and unafraid to deal with violence and anarchy, Metropolis shows a world where robots are discriminated against. In the movie, mankind’s fear of robots taking up all jobs has come true, pulling civilization into chaos.
Metropolis Anime Film Plot
The plot of Metropolis is set in a future dystopian land that has seen the rise of robots. However, the robots are discriminated against and brutally suppressed while the humans laze around, blaming them for taking human jobs.
The movie begins with the inauguration of The Ziggurat, a massive skyscraper erected by the wealthiest citizen of Metropolis, Duke Red. Meanwhile, private detective Shunsaku Ban and his young nephew Kenichi have traveled to the city searching for a rogue scientist, Dr. Laughton.
Duke Red employs the scientist to build an advanced robot in secret to use as the central control unit for a powerful superweapon hidden at the top of The Zigurrat. However, things go awry as the scientist dies, leaving a girl in his lab who has no memory.
Kenichi discovers her and teaches her everything, slowly forming a bond. However, neither of them knows the secret that the girl is the new advanced robot.
Metropolis Trailer
The Metropolis anime movie has received a single trailer so far that has been dubbed in English.
The trailer described the futuristic Metropolis city where they celebrate progress and technology. The video shows several shots of the marvelous city, the humans living in it, and the conflict that is brewing underneath.
Metropolis Studio, Cast, and Crew
The Metropolis anime is based on Osamu Tezuka’s manga that goes by the same name. It is directed by Rintaro and is still hailed as one of the director’s best works.
The staff members of the film are as follows:
- Director: Rintaro
- Screenplay: Katsuhiro Otomo
- Music: Toshiyuki Honda
- Original Manga: Osamu Tezuka
- Character Design: Yasuhiro Nakura
- Art Director: Shūichi Hirata
- Chief Animation Director: Yasuhiro Nakura
- Sound Director: Masafumi Mima
- Director of Photography: Hitoshi Yamaguchi
The main cast members featured in the movie are:
- Kei Kobayashi as Kenichi
- Yuka Imoto as Tima
- Junpei Takiguchi as Dr. Laughton
- Kouki Okada as Rock
- Kousei Tomita as Shunsaku Ban
- Tarô Ishida as Duke Red
Metropolis Anime Film Release Date and More
The Metropolis anime movie was released in Japan on May 26, 2001, and is 113 minutes long. It was later released in the US and other countries and made a total of $4 million dollars at the time, which is equivalent to $6.5 million or more in today’s date.
In the US, it aired on Adult Swim and was given a PG-13 rating due to violence and images of destruction. It was also one of the pioneer movies to be considered for the Best Animated Film at the Oscars.
Where to Watch Metropolis Anime?
Currently, the Metropolis anime movie is unavailable on any major streaming sites, mostly owing to how old it is and licensing issues; however, it is available to buy on Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Apple TV.
However, you do have a new opportunity to catch the movie in theaters as Metropolis will be screened on Sunday, September 17, at the BFI IMAX cinema in London, near Waterloo station. The movie will be screened at 11:30 a.m.
Is Metropolis Manga Finished?
Yes, the Metropolis manga is a completed series. It consists of a single volume that was released in September 1949 and was later adapted into an anime film by director Rintaro. It did not receive any sequel, thus sealing the film’s fate as completed.
Metropolis Anime Vs. Manga
Osamu Tezuka stated that he was inspired by the Fritz Lang film poster when he wrote the Metropolis manga without ever watching the movie. Thus, the manga bears no similarity to its namesake, but the anime film has picked up a lot of inspiration from Lang.
The creator himself never consented to the manga’s adaptation as an anime, and it was possible only after he passed away. Director Rintaro often jokes that Tezuka would not like the changes that were made to the plot.
Nonetheless, some of the glaring changes include the main character in the movie, Tima. In the manga, the humanoid robot is named Mitchi and can fly and change sex at will, but in the movie, Tima is portrayed as a female, and she cannot fly.
In the manga, Mitchi’s rampage is due to the fact that, being a robot, she has no parents, while Tima is driven by her urge to be human.
The character of Rock wasn’t present in the manga and was added for depth and background. Rock is meant to represent the dark side of humanity and the negative emotions. He and Tima can be considered opposite sides of the same coin due to their parental heritage. In the film, Ziggurat combines the New Tower of Babel from Lang with the Cathedral in the manga.
So, if you are in the UK, go ahead and grab that ticket, and as for the rest of us, we can only stare at the surreal art on our TV and PC screens.
If this is one of your favorites, then leave a comment below if you want to watch it on the big screen as well.
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