Roujin Z

An odd feature-length anime which haphazardly mashes genres and ideas that, while curious, aren't completely successful together. I'm not sure if it was meant to be a comedy or a straight sci-fi nightmare, but it tries mixing elements of both and their clash hurts the whole.

The plot is out-there and interesting, a concerned rumination on the looming near-future in which young are outnumbered by old, their careers hampered by the need to care for aging family. To address this worry, and liberate the fresher generation, a major metro hospital has developed (what else) a fully self-contained cybernetic bed, complete with built-in exercise routines, bathing capabilities and self-defense mechanisms. Katsuhiro Otomo handles the screenplay and many of the mechanical designs, and boy, does it feel a whole lot like Akira in places. Particularly the last hour, when the bed inevitably gains sentience, staggers through the city with a test subject strapped to its chest and swallows up machines in a gale of techno-organic vines and limbs.

The crazier bits are nice to look at, detailed and smooth in motion (if not quite to the intricate level of Otomo's masterwork), but the flat character designs and overly simplistic storytelling leave a lot to be desired. Also, not entirely a knock on the film itself, but my copy randomly swapped subtitles for dubs around the halfway mark and the English voice acting is downright unbearable.

Roujin Z is a film that is entertaining, but if you have the English dubbed version of the film, there will be some inconsistencies in the dialogue. Example: The movie takes place in Japan, with obvious visual references and talk about the beach at Kamakura, but the English dialogue also talks about various American things.

The film is basically a hilarious take on the robot gone insane story, where an experimental bed for elderly patients become simply a mental bed. The characters are especially enjoyable, including the old guys at the nursing home who often have a "Grumpy Old Men" style of insulting.

Can mankind advance without losing their humanity? Conservatives throughout history have fought our gradual change, but ultimately lost, only tarnishing their legacy. Yet even rational, progressive individuals worry about our increasingly wired world, where face-to-face conversation is replaced by text on electronic screens. Thus, Roujin Z's premise is more relevant than ever, over two decades after its release - should technology replace human interaction?

In this near future, Japan is not in mid-Apocalypse, but is a modernized metropolis. People may live longer and enjoy more comforts, but old customs are struggling to survive. The frail, demented eldery aren't always treated with reverence, but as burdens, families ignoring traditional roles by hiring nursing homes or caretakers to provide their needs. With new technology from a mysterious source, the Ministry of Public Welfare reveals the ultimate caretaker for any fading senior citizen: the Z-001, a mechanical bed that functions as a perfect life support system and entertainment center. When one of her patients is forced into the machine through his family's permission, Haruko attempts to free him, objecting to, in her mind, a cold practice.

Little do they know that the Z-001 is more than an advanced medical suite...

The social satire in the film is well-done - slightly outrageous, but not unbelievable. Both sides are portrayed, yet neither are vilified. The film is much more mature than most of the crude, violent sci-fi anime of the 80s/90s. But that's just the starting point for an adventure involving a renegade machine, spiraling out of control as it incorporates whatever touches its wires! A good portion sets up the plot, character, and tone, but at the end of the day, the ridiculous action is the headliner of the movie.

Which isn't to say Roujin Z is a mediocre film. In fact, it mixes many elements to its benefit. Its enjoyable, but not empty of character nor theme. Characters may have comedic reactions to events, but its never out of place, nor overused. The machine's chaotic wake may be impressive, but its serves more purpose than action alone. Its a balanced movie, that doesn't rely on tired, lowest-common-denominator tropes.

I suppose there's minor complaints. Hanako's college friends aren't particularly useful or interesting. The animation is alright, but only that. The main focus is loosened up once the action begins, but it never drops out from the film entirely. Besides, I was enjoying myself regardless.

Roujin Z is a very solid, unfortunately forgotten anime. Its probably too balanced to make your best-of list, but I don't see much to dislike about it. Its perfectly paced, entertaining, a little emotional, and may even make you reflect on life. I'd recommend it to most people, and say its a high pick for sci-fi/retro anime fans.

I have to hand it to Otomo Katsuhiro - even right from the beginning this is incredibly smart and thoughtful with the ideas that it weaves together. No, this is hardly the first or only film to speak to notions of healthcare and geriatric medicine, caring for the elderly and issues of an aging population, elder abuse, artificial intelligence and advanced computers in our modern era, corporate or government corruption, and still much more. Smashing all them together is another matter, however, let alone doing so in a futuristic sci-fi thriller that nevertheless remains grounded in a recognizable world. Otomo's screenplay is tremendous even just for the themes that it explores, nevermind the marvelously compelling narrative at large, wonderfully flavorful scene writing, shrewd dialogue, and even characterizations that are more carefully considered than we commonly see in many movies. The story is earnestly exciting and engrossing, the humor is genuinely clever, and even supporting characters have a real moment to shine; how many other titles can make the same claim? Given some other works in Otomo's oeuvre maybe this shouldn't be so surprising, but one way or another it's deeply gratifying that the writing in 'Roujin Z' so thoroughly impresses.

But then, that's what we tend to expect of anime, isn't it? No, it's not as if all works are equal in animation, but even as I've gone most of my life without particularly examining the medium, it sure seems to me that studios in Japan are far ahead of their counterparts elsewhere, and have been for a long time, in terms of both the complexity of animated storytelling and the splendor of the visual experience. And with the superb work that A. P. P. P. turned in here to bring Otomo's vision to fruition, this picture is no exception. Every facet of the sights to greet us was shaped with utmost skill, care, and intelligence, and the very appearance here is a real treat. Interiors, exteriors, landscapes, and cityscapes boast as much fantastic detail as the character designs, machinery, and other active elements; action sequences and effects, no matter how large or small, are fluid and invigorating; and there is even welcome consideration for perspective, lighting, shading, texture, and so on. Champion advances in techniques and technology all you want, 2D animation is routinely richer than 3D animation, and even examples that are decades old might astound in a manner that more recent ones simply do not. To my pleasure, that's just what we get in 1991's 'Roujin Z.'

This is to say nothing of Itakura Bun's outstanding original music, zesty and enticing with its dynamics and industrial inclinations, or the excellent, robust sound effects that invariably bolster the viewing experience. The voice acting is as reliably expressive as the animation in bringing characters to life. Under Kitakubo Hiroyuki's impeccable direction, all these aspects result in a feature that is truly, unexpectedly thrilling, yet also funny, yet also meaningful with intent in the concepts it broaches; generally lighthearted, but with a withering darkness just under the surface. All this, while relating the tale of a hard-working student nurse, her bed-ridden patient, and a super hi-tech, all-purpose medical bed. Why, there's even sly messaging here about supporting government bureaucracy that seeks to improve lives over the halls of malfeasant power that are only out for their own interests, and above all, putting people first. By all means, I anticipated enjoying this when I sat to watch, but I entered with no especial foreknowledge. Frankly I'm altogether stunned by how terrific the sum total is, and downright brilliant. Otomo's screenplay is a blast, and between A. P. P. P.'s animation, the direction, the music, and all other minutiae, 'Roujin Z' is better than I could have ever hoped.

Given the more far-flung ideations I can understand how it won't appeal to all comers, but for as stupendously sharp as the writing is I think most anyone should be able to get on board with it in some measure, let alone all other component parts. For my part I'm overjoyed with how entertaining, absorbing, and satisfying the film is, and I'd have no qualms in suggesting it to pretty much anyone. More than thirty years later 'Roujin Z' remains a great anime movie, and I can only give it my very high, hearty, and enthusiastic recommendation!

Roujien Z starts out being a wonderfully vicious satire of society's treatment of the aged. We see a young nurse taking care of an almost vegetative geriatric, one of the many old and infirm that would be in a nursing home in the USA. He is then selected to be the guinea-pig for a new, completely automated caretaking robot, a sly jab at the dehumanizing sterility of geriatric care. The story maintains its high energy and grinning cynicism until the robot goes insane and decides it is the old man's wife; from here it becomes a rather confusing action movie before pulling itself together in time for a poignant ending. Still worth watching, if you can find it.