A gem of animation with a great concept that doesn't get used well enough.
Film starts with a bit of heavy exposition, which I understand and empathize with, however it's not the greatest. With that we rather quickly get to the point and are faced with a horrifying image of abandonment of humanity in pursuit of technological advancement that is to help humanity.
I was very off put seeing the machine (Z-001) put to work, as it ought to make feel anyone watching. That heavy scene might actually be to the movie's detriment, because it's such a great concept to explore through cyberpunk animation that it leaves you wanting for more.
Spoiler, click to view
I thought it would go into exploration of misery of life in such a state and corruption of human spirit that allowed it to happen in pursuit of more efficiency in healthcare, or unburdening of the elder care system. That doesn't happen and I started to realise that with the tonal inconsistency. We have this terrifying machine and serious looking people that exude power to make it the new status quo, but also some shots of short skirts (clearly director was able to realise those tendencies with Golden Boy, few years later, to the fullest), and there are actually funny moments and goofy faces. So guys, do we do cyberpunk - a genre about how progression of capitalism and technological advancement will in reality bring dreadfull consequences - or a funny sci-fi movie with heart and social commentary. It strangely tries to strike in-between, which plays down the concept of this machine from the cover and makes jokes feel unwelcome.
They instead chose to rather quickly escalate
Spoiler, click to view
with Z-001 going berserk. It would be fine, but it goes for even wilder concept.
Spoiler, click to view
Some hackers manage to infuse the personality of dead wife of titular Roujin into the robot. Ok... It goes for more action and comedic moments
Spoiler, click to view
interlaced with expression of long love of marriage (between the robot and the old man). I just can't really get with it till the end. Where after some fights and chase that looked spectacular get to finally get a tear-jerking ending, at which I cried - good job. But then it's actually not the ending.Spoiler, click to view
Like of all things this is the most incoherent decision in the film. We do see old man living a harsh life. No longer able to take care of himself. Longing for his dead wife. With family that doesn't care for him - they sign a document to let him be patient 0 for this new invention. He only has Haruko, who is the badass of the movie and I liked how they wrote her. On personal note I'll go for euthanasia at that point. So we see him reunited with his wife, even though it's in a robot form, and they get to experience a sunset at the beach together, while she's dying. Again leaving him alone. Is it just me, or are sunset like top 5 places to die? So why doesn't he die with her? Would be poetic and moving. Even the wife, in a robot, says they'll be reunited soon. THAT MEANS DYING AND GETTING BACK TOGETHER IN AN AFTERLIFE. Like what the fuck at this point? I wanna die that way, with my loved one watching over a sunset on the beach, where we made so many memories over decades of our love.
Instead we get to go back to wherever the action took place and then they make this goofy ass ending with the robot coming back with Buddha integrated into it's structure calling ''honey!'' after the old man. Was it funny that they all made hands like at the buddhist temple at the end? Yeah, it is, but it's such an inferior ending.To end it on a positive note the character development of the government worker,
Spoiler, click to view
who actually wanted what's best for the eldery is nice. In addition his line
Spoiler, click to view
"Don't mess with the Ministry of Public Welfare!" goes so hard with no apparent reason.
An endearing mess, with a wasted potential, that is still worth a watch for it's animation and the creativity of it's concepts.
