Suchîmubôi [Steamboy] (17 July 2004)
directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
starring Anne Suzuki, Anna Paquin, Masane Tsukayama, Alfred Molina, Katsuo Nakamura, Patrick Stewart, Manami Konishi, Kari Wahlgren, Kiyoshi Kodama, Ikki Sawamura, Susumu Terajima, Robin Atkin Downes, Paula J. Newman
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MPAA rating: Studio: Steamboy Committee, Studio 4°C Script: Sadayuki Murai, Katsuhiro Otomo Music: Steve Jablonsky Running time: 126 minutes Tags: 1860s; abduction; Action; alternate history; Animation; Anime; father-son relationships; London; Science Fiction; steam power Tactical strength: [8/10]
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for action violence
In Steamboy, writer/director Katsuhiro Otomo shows the same attention to artistic detail as he did with other works like Akira, but with Steamboy he had the added advantage of computer-aided graphics, so many of the scenes have an incredible sense of motion and depth that other Otomo productions that use traditional animation lack.
Steamboy follows the adventures of young Ray Steam [voice by Anne Suzuki (jp), Anna Paquin (en)], growing up in the 1860s as a third generation inventor specializing in steam power. Ray works as a mechanic in a steam-operated weaving mill. Ray hasn't seen his father, Dr. Eddie Steam [voice by Masane Tsukayama (jp), Alfred Molina (en)], and grandfather, Dr. Lloyd Steam [voice by Katsuo Nakamura (jp), Patrick Stewart (en)], who have taken research positions with the O'Hara foundation at a remote laboratory in Alaska. The two elder doctors Steam have invented a way to store enormous amounts of steam energy under incredible pressure into small storage balls about a foot in diameter. Dr. Lloyd sends one of these balls to his home in Manchester with a note to deliver the steam ball to Robert Stephenson [voice by Kiyoshi Kodama (jp)], a noted inventor and rival of the family Steam. Curiously, within minutes of receiving the steam ball parcel, men from the O'Hara Foundation arrive to claim the ball. Having read his grandfather's note, Ray tries to escape with the ball, but after a long chase, a young boy cannot outrun a Foundation equipped with steam-powered tractors and zeppelins.
Ray learns that a split has occurred between his father and grandfather. Ray's father works with the Foundation as a means to funding his research and to build a steam castle he wants to exhibit at the upcoming London Exhibition of new technologies. Dr. Eddie needs the steam ball Ray tried to protect to complete the steam castle. Dr. Lloyd opposes the Foundation, since it intends to build weapons of war with the new steam technology, which it will sell to the highest bidder -- regardless of the buyers' intended uses or morality. Ray must decide whether to side with his father, grandfather, or Robert Stephenson, who also wants to use the steam-ball technology to promote the reputation and strength of the British Empire.
Otomo raises serious questions about the uses of science and technology. Ray's father makes a grand speech about how the availability of unlimited steam power will eliminate human need and enable men to control natural disasters. He has a grand plan, but he doesn't seem to notice the Foundation's need to sell the power and the resulting technologies to the highest bidder. From a modern perspective, we have to pay for our consumption of power, so clearly the Foundation's view has won over the idea that science could provide unlimited power to everyone. As I kept watching the scenes of smoke drifting over London, I kept thinking of Gibson and Sterling's alternate history The Difference Engine. Although Otomo raises questions about the use of technology, he never really addresses the environmental impact the expanded use of steam would have on the world environment. True, the characters in the 1860s probably wouldn't have worried about environmental impact, but you would think that a movie made in the 21st Century would at least make an attempt.
Ray's adventures as Steamboy provide a fun romp through an alternate history where advances in steam power accelerate the development of technologies. Both the Japanese and English soundtracks provide a good viewing experience, although the English subtitles leave a bit to be desired. For example, in one place a police officer pounds on a door and demands access. Even in Japanese, you can clearly hear the policeman use "Scotland Yard," but the subtitles merely display "police." In several cases, the characters make long speeches, and the English soundtrack seems to have more emphatic and effective dialogue. Perhaps a native Japanese speaker would feel the same about the Japanese soundtrack.
The soundtrack also features music by Steve Jablonsky, which has a distinctive Western sound. The story does take place in England, but when watching an anime film, I have come to expect music with more Japanese themes, so the completely Western sounding music felt a bit out of place.
