Steamboy: スチームボーイ (film)
It's hard to believe this film even exists. I've been struggling to get my hands on it as much as I did when I sought out The Notebook (this was before it was aired repeatedly on television, over and over to ad nauseum). I'd seen the box for the dvd the last time I'd been to Blockbuster, but for some reason I didn't take the initiative to rent it. I am extremely glad I did, and I'll tell you now, there's little to compare to Otomo's incredible work here. I can't believe Wikipedia says the movie was in production for ten years before its release in 2004. That means it began life when I was what, just nine? That's ridiculous. This work screams to be watched, and if you see just one trailer, you're going to become more than curious.
Steamboy (スチームボーイ) begins with a mad-scientist style accident involving lot's of steam-filled pipe-work connecting to some unseen machine. The entire project literally explodes in a cloud of steam that, I imagine, killed most of the staff and heavily injures son and co-founder of the project, Edward Steam...I know, they have the best last name...No really, it's so simple it's clever and admirable as the film chugs away! His father, Lloyd Steam, is depicted as the villain of this disastrous mishap, and the entire accident causes a sort of trickle-down effect that results in the damaged Edward Steam to retake their project(s) and build something horribly destructive in place of pure scientific curiosity and pursuit in the name, of course, steam.
History then moves forwards six years to the life of their son and grandson, James Ray Steam. He's very young, probably no more than twelve, and yet he's capable of controlling and understanding the way technology works around him. He spends his days helping maintain a textile plant, which we see early on in all its 1866 English glory, and building up his own invention with his mother at their Manchester home. The story takes off when a package arrives at their door holding a small metal ball, schematics, and directions to protect the ball from anyone at the "foundation". Well, of course, two members of the O'Hara Foundation arrive to take claim to it, but Ray catches on quick and is thrust into fleeing when his grandfather lands on their doorstep at the same time and commences in fighting the visitors.
Up until this point the animation and environments are stunning, and despite all the grime and grey brought up by the steam that runs this version of our world–it is fully fleshed out by Otomo and his crew. However, it is during this chase scene and the moments that follow it that we really see the prized director of Akira shine again, as he takes on a ride...I don't even want to spoil for you. Ray finds himself entering a world he's only known through his father's work and the general science of steam. As he's taken for a ride, he'll find there is much more to his inherited steam business.
Also! Be sure to check out Wikipedia after you've watched the movie, there's a small summary of the events at the end credits that I must have been too tired to entirely comprehend. Oops, I completely forgot to mention that my favorite voice actor, Kari Wahlgren and the amazing Anna Paquin do and amazing job in their roles in the English dub.
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