Director – Hiroyuki Kitakubo – 1991 – Japan – Cert. 15 – 80m
***1/2
Robot beds deal with the major Japanese social problem of caring for their burgeoning elderly populous – in cinemas
Touted as manga artist / anime director Katsuhiro Otomo’s follow up to the phenomenally successful Akira (Katsuhiro Otomo, 1988), Roujin Z was actually directed by one Hiroyuki Kitakubo. Otomo’s contribution runs to no more than original story credit and machine design. Ostensibly it’s a different type of tale which deals with the major Japanese social problem of caring for their burgeoning elderly populous.
Young, female nurse Haruko is alarmed when suits arrive to remove her aged, barely conscious and incontinent patient Mr. Takazawa from his home. Designated first subject of the government’s new ‘Roujin Z’ (Old Man Z) project – Takazawa is wired by his nerve endings into a computer-driven, mechanised bed designed to meet his every need, from vigorous walking exercise, bathing and urinating to communicating with his peers via TV screens (which also run regular network programmes) and playing Go or Chess with the computer.
Before long, Haruko starts to pick up “help” messages on her terminal sent from the Z-incarcerated Takazawa – and tries to talk back with the help of elderly hospitalized hackers using a photo of Takazawa’s late wife. Z regenerates Takazawa’s missus’ personality; the bed runs rampant through the streets as “she” takes the old man to the seaside. The finale thus sidesteps the fascinating premise’s logical conclusions in favour of mecha mayhem. Less lavishly animated than Akira (with occasional gratuitous female skirt bottom close ups!), the hugely entertaining end result does much to dispel the myth that animation is solely for children.
Trailer (Sorry, Japanese, no subs):
Review originally published in What’s On In London
1992
UK
Cinema Release – Prince Charles