For all the complaints that detractors may have about Japanese
anime as a storytelling medium, its command of both style and kinetic energy is
undeniable. Such invaluable assets go a
long way in smoothing over the ambiguities and cultural barriers that seem to
be inherent to the form. While style is
never truly an adequate stand in for substance, it’s hard to tell your brain
that when your eyes are taking in a visual feast. During such moments, the viewer is compelled to
rule all out other criteria, as what they behold feels very much like an end
unto itself.
The Japanese manga 009
Re:Cyborg tells the story of nine cybernetic organisms who were created as
agents of destruction. They opt for
serving the public good instead, and go on to wage hi-tech war against their sinister
creators. The property has already
served as the source of much inspiration in its native land, and is now getting
the feature length treatment courtesy of Japanese animation studio production
I.G. Filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama is
prepared a promo video as primer to give audiences and investors an idea of
what to expect.
As it begins, the camera moves slowly over a massive
cityscape as if carried by the winds that can be heard on the soundtrack. From
there, the clip becomes a demo real of each characters special powers, the highlights
of which are varied and bizarre. One
character is shown ramming a clenched fist into an open palm as his body swells
up Hulk style, ripping his clothing to shreds.
A professionally dressed woman performs a backward dive off of a transport
aircraft emerging from billowing dark clouds.
Yet another character is shown to be using thermoptic camouflage to
blend in with a brick wall. He steps out
of an alleyway to attack a well-dressed agent from behind. His limbs then wrap around the agent like
octopus tentacles and snap his vertebrae.
The scene then shifts to a freeway chase involving a handful
of jeeps. The driver of one vehicles
pulls a glove off his right hand to reveal a mechanical appendage with multiple
gun barrels. He commences to spraying
the pursuant vehicles with automatic gunfire.
One a rainy helipad, a red haired character barely dodges a finishing
blow from the Hulking brute shown earlier.
A blonde character runs down a city street, nearly causing a multicar
collision in the process. He suddenly
leaps into the air, and his feet transform into jet thrusters. He takes flight through the canyons of the Times
Square like location as if on a hover board.
A slow pull back reveals all of the characters standing side by side in
matching burgundy uniforms. The title
appears on the screen.
Japanese voice over narration (sans English subtitles)
begins at the 59 second mark. It lasts a
mere 20 seconds, at which point the clip becomes an exercise in the conveyance of
information solely through visuals. The animation is rendered with 3D modeling and
texturing. Such computer assisted
techniques often lack the fluidity of traditional cel animation. Interestingly,
the abundance of onscreen activity maintains a consistent forward thrust. As it stands, the clip plays like a rapidly
moving storyboard in that it hops frantically from one situation to the next. Overall, it plays like a sci-fi/action
rendition of the Marvel superhero team aesthetic. There are some very obvious nods to both The Uncanny X-Men and The Fantastic Four.
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