The downfall to “Steamboy” however, is the lack of relationships between the three Steam men which does little to express what one would think Otomo’s goal in creating this film would be. However, while watching either Ray fight steam-powered Wright Brotheresque planes or listening to Ray’s father and grandfather argue over the purpose of science, the animation is fluid and imaginative as anime aficionados have come to expect from Otomo’s work. This ladder editing choice combined with a nearly perpetual action sequence during the second half of the film will irritate audience members interested in substance.

Either character development takes a back seat ride in favor of reaching the action sequences or the action sequences lose their thrill because there is no connection with the main characters. Whether the editing was too much or not enough, it is a double edge sword for viewers. With close to 20 minutes of the original directors cut edited from the American release, it is surprising how “Steamboy” still manages to drag through the first half of the movies’ plot setup and again through the second half’s resolution. Instead Otomo delivers a long-winded family-oriented film more attuned to daydreaming middle schoolers than an older crowd. Mixed in with the Steam family’s fighting is the O’Hara Foundation – known for selling arms to the both armies during the American Civil War – and the English government whom both want to use the “steam ball” to create a new generation of steam-powered weaponry.įans of “Akira” who expect “Steamboy” to delve into the adult themes and violence of Otomo’s earlier work will find few similarities beyond animation style.

Ray quickly becomes entangled in a philosophical and physical war between his father and grandfather about how the “steam ball” should be used. Set in England during 1880s, “Steamboy” chronicles the story of Ray Steam, a prodigal inventor whose father and grandfather discover a potent energy source and create a device capable of harnessing the energy dubbed a “steam ball.” Now with anime becoming more widely accepted, the question of whether Otomo’s latest offering, “Steamboy,” will live up to his own legacy has yet to be determined. Nearly two decades ago, Katsuhiro Otomo’s animated cult classic “Akira” cemented its place in anime history as the first major Japanese animated film released in America.

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