© BONES, Fuji TV
What is Metal Rouge? Is this a cyberpunk horror movie? Is this an action anime inspired by tokusatsu? Is it a dark conspiracy about robots and aliens going on in the underworld of a Martian metropolis? Is this a buddy comedy about a girl who really likes chocolate and another girl who can’t wait to talk to you about the Roman legions? And why is the Joker there? So far, Metallic Rouge has a lot going for it, and speaking as a fan of moon-spinning sci-fi, I’m enjoying it.
The first two episodes of Metalic Rouge give audiences a sci-fi series that feels both familiar and difficult to pin down. The premiere is moody and alienating, throwing us into the deep end with a Rolodex full of proper nouns, prejudices, and warring factions for reasons that remain incomprehensible. The second episode is a lighter and friendlier romp, giving us more space to get to know the two main characters and explaining pertinent background information in a way that a (literal) child would. can understand. Although these approaches may seem contradictory, in fact they complement each other very well. Furthermore, the show’s emphasis on starting with more obscure material demonstrates a degree of faith in its audience. It trusts us to be able to read between the lines and make reasonable inferences. Regardless of the details, I respect this lack of grasp and the volume of information that helps this setting feel real and alive.
In terms of details, I suspect Metallic Rouge used resolution in this approach because its plot seems simple. We can’t see the brushstrokes yet, but we can create the big picture. The premiere floods us with examples of social stratification between the dominant and the dependent biomechanical Neans. However, it doesn’t feel too overwhelming by focusing on too much telling. For example, seeing Nean die without Nectar would have had a much greater impact than a lengthy explanation of what a Nectar is, and seeing Nean then being picked up by a garbage truck adds to that. adding to the severity of this android racist state. Complicating this dynamic is that a select few Neans can disguise themselves as humans and violate other precepts of the Asimov Code, which naturally includes murder. While most of these “Alter” Neans appear to be members of a secret society called the Immortal Nine, our heroine Rouge shares her freedoms (and color-coded names) but not her loyalties. become with them. She is working with Naomi to eliminate them one by one, and thus conflicts and spectacular battles in robot suits occur.
We can guess where the series could go based on its impact. In Blade Runner, arguably Metallic Rouge’s closest predecessor (and it joins many other anime for that matter), Deckard’s pursuit of rogue clones eventually makes him question more than just his character. validity of persecution but also the fundamental tenets of his own existence. The series is also in conversation with foundational texts like I, Robot and War of the Worlds, and it would be great if each episode addressed one of the great works of science fiction. The poem “On Another’s Sorrow” by William Blake also has a cameo in the OP, which may indicate that the series has cast a wider net than classic science fiction alone. I expect the Neans and their relationship with two alien races to be the crux of this conflict, and everything points to the use of androids as a means of commentary on social justice. However, I’m also excited about the possibility of Metallic Rouge having loftier or more sophisticated ambitions.
But before I get ahead of myself, I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight how great these two episodes were and how fun they were to watch. Developed to celebrate Studio Bones’ 25th anniversary, Metallic Rouge feels like a throwback adorned with sleek modern blockbuster production values. Director Motonobu Hori previously directed Carole and Tuesday, so he knows a thing or two about speculative science fiction films set on Mars. The premiere opts for clean character art, detailed cityscapes, cyberpunk lighting, and cinematic storyboards. Its biggest advantage is the animation of the ultimate tokusatsu fight by hand. The CG animation was good enough to handle that kind of robot costume deftly, but the traditional animation further reinforced the nostalgic feel of the anime. The second volume’s art is looser and more expressive, fitting the lighter tone. It also has a cool climax with Rouge swinging around the Usurper’s retro futuristic war machines (featuring storyboards and animation from cube-loving Yutaka Nakamura). I like the musical punctuation in both examples. The chorus dramatically foreshadows the battle that’s about to take place before the beat kicks into gear, and that’s exactly the level of fearless cheesiness.
Finally, I really enjoyed our lead-in. The character designs throughout the film are strong, but Naomi and Rouge’s are especially great. Naomi’s big round glasses reflect the spirit of the ’90s, and Rouge’s relatively simple design contrasts perfectly with the bright red armor she wears in battle. However, Naomi and Rouge’s chemistry is their strongest point. While their interactions were sparse but fun in the premiere, the second episode gave them enough space to breathe and truly shine. They have humorous nonverbal moments like a rock-paper-scissors fight over the window seat; Their dialogue is clear and flirtatious, and you can tell they enjoy the kind of shorthand communication that only close friends develop—major props to both Tomoyo Kurosawa and Yume Miyamoto in creating That familiar feeling in their performance.
In short, Metallic Rouge is an easy recommendation from me. It’s a bombastic work from a veteran studio that pays tribute to its veteranism, and the result will please sci-fi enthusiasts who don’t mind diving straight into some world-building. world in baroque style.
Ranking episode 1:
Episode 2 rating:
Metallic Rouge is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Steve is on Twitter while it lasted. He is absolutely not a biomechanical android in disguise. You can also catch him chatting about trash and treasure on This Week in Anime.
