Metropolis (2002)
87%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 7 nominations
Metropolis is a film that stands the test of time, a true masterpiece of animation that blends together a dizzying array of visual styles and emotional tones. The shimmering Steampunk architecture is a sight to behold, a towering world of tomorrow that is built upon the foundations of yesterday’s cultural influence. While the storyline may be semi-snoozy, the film’s intricate use of sociopolitical allegories and metaphors is a testament to the director’s skill. It’s a thoroughly engaging and satisfying tribute to the noble history of its genre and its form, and a must-see for anyone who appreciates the art of animation.
Metropolis is a visually stunning animated film that takes us on a journey through a futuristic world filled with towering buildings and intricate steampunk architecture. While some critics may find the storyline lacking, the film’s use of diverse visual styles and emotional tones make it a thoroughly engaging and satisfying tribute to the genre. It’s like Fritz Lang for beginners, but with a lot more color and noise. Overall, Metropolis is a must-see for anyone who loves beautiful animation and complex themes.
Production Company(ies)
Red Box Films, Passion Pictures, Canfield Pictures,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Berlin, Germany
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2002
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Silent (original release)
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Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):German, English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 23, 2002
Genre(s)
Anime
Keyword(s)
Metropolis, anime, PG-13, visually stunning, Fritz Lang, Osamu Tezuka, Japanese detective, dangerous scientist, Tima, humanity’s future, Rintaro, Katsuhiro Ohtomo, Duke Red, Hige-Oyaji, Kenichi, Tima, Rock, Pero, Tarô Ishida, Kousei Tomita, Kei Kobayashi, Yuka Imoto, Kohki Okada, Norio Wakamoto, directed by Rintaro, written by Katsuhiro Ohtomo, produced by Ryohei Tsunoda, Hisanori Hiranuma, Toru Shiobara, Tadamichi Abe, Fumio Nagase, Takayuki Natsutani, Masao Maruyama, Iwao Yamaki, anime genre, box office gross $673.4K, budget, reviewed by Anton Bitel, Tasha Robinson, Derek Elley, Susan Stark, Lisa Alspector, Patrick Peters, Chase Burns, Tim Brayton, Panos Kotzathanasis, Steve Wright, Christopher Machell, Pablo Villaça, PG-13 rating
Worldwide gross: $1,349,711
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $28,775,188
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,559
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,137,970
US/Canada gross: $1,236,166
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $26,354,463
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,313
US/Canada opening weekend: $19,386
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $413,300
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,443
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): DEM 6,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Kousei Tomita – Hige-Oyaji (Voice)
Kei Kobayashi – Kenichi (Voice)
Yuka Imoto – Tima (Voice)
Kohki Okada – Rock (Voice)
Norio Wakamoto – Pero (Voice)
Director(s)
Rintaro
Writer(s)
Katsuhiro Ohtomo
Producer(s)
Ryohei Tsunoda, Hisanori Hiranuma, Toru Shiobara, Tadamichi Abe, Fumio Nagase, Takayuki Natsutani, Masao Maruyama, Iwao Yamaki
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (67) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (9)
we see the director’s towering world of tomorrow being erected on the foundations of yesterday’s cultural influence… a dizzying postmodern edifice, more impressive for its shimmering Steampunk architecture than for the dramas accommodated within
January 16, 2017
Anton Bitel
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
A fairly standard genre exercise, packed with light, detail, color, noise, and motion that add up to relatively little.
July 19, 2010
Tasha Robinson
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Tale of the struggle for personal freedom in a futuristic, tyrannical society is light on action by contempo standards, and pic’s look is uninteresting, apart from occasionally bizarre backgrounds.
October 18, 2008
Derek Elley
Variety
TOP CRITIC
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 4/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
It smoothly blends outrageously diverse visual styles and emotional tones.
April 17, 2007
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
One of the most beautiful animated films ever produced.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 2/5
Patrick Peters
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The storyline is semi-snoozy but the visuals are tremendous.
January 7, 2022
Chase Burns
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
A thoroughly engaging and satisfying tribute to the noble history of its genre and its form.
June 19, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
Rintaro directs an intricate anime, which uses the plethora of its main characters to present a number of sociopolitical allegories and metaphors.
October 6, 2019
Panos Kotzathanasis
Asian Movie Pulse
Essentially, think of this as Fritz Lang for beginners – which is in no way a bad thing.
March 13, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Steve Wright
SciFiNow
A spectacular if tonally incongruous reworking of Fritz Lang’s 1927 original.
January 16, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Christopher Machell
CineVue
Com uma fabulosa direção de arte, uma animação expressiva e temas complexos, o filme representa um estímulo visual, intelectual e emocional intenso, resultando numa experiência fascinante.
January 23, 2010 | Rating: 5/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena…
Plot
Sometime in the future, the city of Metropolis is home to a Utopian society where its wealthy residents live a carefree life. One of those is Freder Fredersen. One day, he spots a beautiful woman with a group of children, she and the children quickly disappear. Trying to follow her, he is horrified to find an underground world of workers who apparently run the machinery that keeps the Utopian world above ground functioning. One of the few people above ground who knows about the world below is Freder’s father, John Fredersen, who is the founder and master of Metropolis. Freder learns that the woman is called Maria, who espouses the need to join the “hands” – the workers – to the “head” – those in power above – by a mediator who will act as the “heart”. Freder wants to help the plight of the workers in their struggle for a better life. But when John learns of what Maria is advocating and that Freder has joined their cause, with the assistance of an old colleague. an inventor called Rotwang, who turns out to be But their nemesis goes to works towards quashing a proposed uprising, with Maria at the centre of their plan. John, unaware that Rotwang has his own agenda., makes plans that include shutting down the machines, with the prospect of unleashing total anarchy both above and below ground.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Metropolis.
Rintaro.jpg
