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Roujin Z (Special Edition)Rating:
Release Date: 09 April, 2002 Retail Price: $24.99 Sorry, this product is not currently available. Cast: Complete Cast (5 total) |
Roujin Z (Special Edition) Reviews
Life's a beach.
"Old geezers, Seniors, those on the way out, the thinning of the herd". Everyone,
anywhere, knows exactly who and what we're talking about here. And if my "jiten",
or dictionary is correct, "Roujin" translated is "Elderly person".
So how do you provide social commentary for a subject like this? Display some
responsibility and STILL manage to provide some kind of entertainment to your
audience?
Why, with this anime of course. Only from Japan. Where there is a "Respect for the
aged Day" in September. A day set aside for those in the autumn of their life...
Most respectful.
Roujin Z is laced with satire and everyday happenings. And it's very apparent who
has the goodness of heart, as well as who is more calculating than the very
computer machinery they earn a living with. It's all done in such a sagacious manner
that it kept my attention. The overall light weight comedy setting really works
in its favor as the views and attitudes that people have or express concerning the
"elderly" are cleverly placed.
Visually amazing at times, I found the credits and ending music were rolling by
fairly quickly for me. But then again, I must be some old fart, with an interest
in anthropology, Japanese culture and animation no less?
This is my second version purchased.The english dub "actors" should be subjected
to the "Sol 74" of Akira. Repeatedly. Without remorse. Gawd. They completely
ruin this for anyone who may like to listen the dubbed version of their anime.
Caring for the elderly just got high-tech.
Although Roujin Z is from the same guy who directed the cult classic "Akira", it does not quite enjoy the popularity of the latter. I don't know why that is, because I happen to think Roujin Z is superior to "Akira" in many aspects.
Roujin Z begins with a typical day in the life of Mr. Takazawa. He is a bed-ridden old man, totally unable to do anything by himself. His wife had already died some time ago, and he has no one but the student nurse Haruko to take care of him. Haruko is more than happy to oblige however, for she loves what she does and she truly cares for her patient. But the government people soon take Mr. Takazawa away, saying that they had secured permission from his family to use him as a test subject for the Z-001. Haruko is distressed with this turn of events, and she determinedly does her best to find out if Mr. Takazawa is doing all right... which is where things start to go awry. The Z-001 is such an advanced machine that it immediately hooks up with Mr. Takazawa's brainwaves, carrying out his wishes in whatever way it can. Beyond human control and understanding, the Z-001 soon takes on the personality of Mr. Takazawa's deceased wife... much to everyone's utter shock and disbelief.
The plot is so refreshingly clever and imaginative that it's hard not to be impressed. Unlike the impossibly profound "Akira", Roujin Z is just straightforward storytelling with depth. There are no perplexing concepts and jargons to contend with, and yet certain moral and ethical issues inspire thought in the viewers. As Mr. Takazawa is carted away, the government people assure Haruko that his family had granted their permission. "But did you get HIS permission?," Haruko protests. It gets you thinking what's going to happen by the time we get old. Can a machine really care for a person better than a fellow human being? Given all this, it's amazing how the film still manages to end on a light and humorous note.
Visually speaking, Roujin Z is consistently first rate. Distinct character designs, finely detailed objects and backgrounds, and fluid animation make up the whole film. I can actually find no flaws in this title, not even minor nitpicks. It's an excellent choice for those who want a good balance of story and depth without the confusion.
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