Steamboy (2004)Director: Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Writers: Sadayuki Murai
Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Rating: 2
English version voices:
Ray Steam (steamboy) = Anna Paquin
Edward Steam (the Dad) = Alfred Molina
Lloyd Steam (the Grandpa) = Patrick Stewart
Description from imdb:
In 1860s Britain, a boy inventor finds himself caught in the middle of a deadly conflict over a revolutionary advance in steam power.
Interesting trivia from imdb:
When Ray is walking through the city of Manchester at the beginning of the movie, for a few seconds Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels can be seen talking together on the street (Marx is the smaller one with white hair and beard; Engels is the taller one with the mustache). Both men were living in Britain at the time the film takes place.
My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): for the love of science (and technology)
Not the most engaging storyline as there is a weird meld of science and technology. Heavy opinions and preaching on science and technology also were a turn off.
But, I loved the animation. The gears and pulleys and levers and general steampunk feel was exciting to see. Worth watching for the visuals. Amazing steam castle!
According to wikipedia:
With an initial production cost of US$26,000,000, Steamboy is the most expensive full length Japanese animated movie made to date. Additionally, the film was in production for ten years and utilized more than 180,000 drawings and 440 CG cuts.
* part of The Hello Japan! mini-challenges hosted by In Spring It Is The Dawn, February Task - to appreciate Japanese film. I selected this film because I've enjoyed Japanese animation in the past and wanted to see the marriage of anime and steampunk.
*part of my Hello! Japan mini-challenges
