Acclaimed anime director Katsuhro ‘tomo is back with a new animated adventure which makes its eagerly awaited North American theatrical debut today. For Steamboy, his first feature-length effort since 1988’s Akira, Ôtomo trades in post-Apocalyptic ultra-violence and adult sensibilities for family entertainment that proves just as engrossing and visually stunning.
Set in 19th-Century London, Steamboy tells the story of an inventor named Rei, who receives a mysterious invention from his grandfather in America on the eve of the first World Expo. A metal ball containing a new form of energy capable of powering an entire nation promises to change the age of steam, but it can also help Rei fight evil, redeem his family and save London from destruction. Ôtomo co-wrote the script with Sadayuki Murai, who previously scripted Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress with director Satoshi Kon.
In crafting Steamboy’s visuals, Ôtomo and crew blended traditional animation with digital technology, combining more than 180,000 drawings with approximately 400 CG cuts. Budgeted at $20 million, the film is one of the most expensive anime features ever made. Nearly 10 years in the making, the production was plagued by financial problems but finally premiered in Japan on July 17 of 2004.
Steamboy screened as a special presentation at the 2004 Toronto Int’l Film Festival and closed the 61st Venice Int’l Film Festival. Sony Pictures is giving the film a limited opening in 39 theaters. Check your local listings.
To learn more about the making of Steamboy, be sure to read our cover story in the April issue of Animation Magazine, now available by subscription and at Barnes & Noble locations.
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