Roujien Z starts out being a wonderfully vicious satire of society's treatment of the aged. We see a young nurse taking care of an almost vegetative geriatric, one of the many old and infirm that would be in a nursing home in the USA. He is then selected to be the guinea-pig for a new, completely automated caretaking robot, a sly jab at the dehumanizing sterility of geriatric care. The story maintains its high energy and grinning cynicism until the robot goes insane and decides it is the old man's wife; from here it becomes a rather confusing action movie before pulling itself together in time for a poignant ending. Still worth watching, if you can find it.
9 Reviews
Part Sci-Fi, Part Action, Part Comedy, Part Satire - A Well-Rounded Film
DonaldDooD19 July 2014
Can mankind advance without losing their humanity? Conservatives throughout history have fought our gradual change, but ultimately lost, only tarnishing their legacy. Yet even rational, progressive individuals worry about our increasingly wired world, where face-to-face conversation is replaced by text on electronic screens. Thus, Roujin Z's premise is more relevant than ever, over two decades after its release - should technology replace human interaction?
In this near future, Japan is not in mid-Apocalypse, but is a modernized metropolis. People may live longer and enjoy more comforts, but old customs are struggling to survive. The frail, demented eldery aren't always treated with reverence, but as burdens, families ignoring traditional roles by hiring nursing homes or caretakers to provide their needs. With new technology from a mysterious source, the Ministry of Public Welfare reveals the ultimate caretaker for any fading senior citizen: the Z-001, a mechanical bed that functions as a perfect life support system and entertainment center. When one of her patients is forced into the machine through his family's permission, Haruko attempts to free him, objecting to, in her mind, a cold practice.
Little do they know that the Z-001 is more than an advanced medical suite...
The social satire in the film is well-done - slightly outrageous, but not unbelievable. Both sides are portrayed, yet neither are vilified. The film is much more mature than most of the crude, violent sci-fi anime of the 80s/90s. But that's just the starting point for an adventure involving a renegade machine, spiraling out of control as it incorporates whatever touches its wires! A good portion sets up the plot, character, and tone, but at the end of the day, the ridiculous action is the headliner of the movie.
Which isn't to say Roujin Z is a mediocre film. In fact, it mixes many elements to its benefit. Its enjoyable, but not empty of character nor theme. Characters may have comedic reactions to events, but its never out of place, nor overused. The machine's chaotic wake may be impressive, but its serves more purpose than action alone. Its a balanced movie, that doesn't rely on tired, lowest-common-denominator tropes.
I suppose there's minor complaints. Hanako's college friends aren't particularly useful or interesting. The animation is alright, but only that. The main focus is loosened up once the action begins, but it never drops out from the film entirely. Besides, I was enjoying myself regardless.
Roujin Z is a very solid, unfortunately forgotten anime. Its probably too balanced to make your best-of list, but I don't see much to dislike about it. Its perfectly paced, entertaining, a little emotional, and may even make you reflect on life. I'd recommend it to most people, and say its a high pick for sci-fi/retro anime fans.
In this near future, Japan is not in mid-Apocalypse, but is a modernized metropolis. People may live longer and enjoy more comforts, but old customs are struggling to survive. The frail, demented eldery aren't always treated with reverence, but as burdens, families ignoring traditional roles by hiring nursing homes or caretakers to provide their needs. With new technology from a mysterious source, the Ministry of Public Welfare reveals the ultimate caretaker for any fading senior citizen: the Z-001, a mechanical bed that functions as a perfect life support system and entertainment center. When one of her patients is forced into the machine through his family's permission, Haruko attempts to free him, objecting to, in her mind, a cold practice.
Little do they know that the Z-001 is more than an advanced medical suite...
The social satire in the film is well-done - slightly outrageous, but not unbelievable. Both sides are portrayed, yet neither are vilified. The film is much more mature than most of the crude, violent sci-fi anime of the 80s/90s. But that's just the starting point for an adventure involving a renegade machine, spiraling out of control as it incorporates whatever touches its wires! A good portion sets up the plot, character, and tone, but at the end of the day, the ridiculous action is the headliner of the movie.
Which isn't to say Roujin Z is a mediocre film. In fact, it mixes many elements to its benefit. Its enjoyable, but not empty of character nor theme. Characters may have comedic reactions to events, but its never out of place, nor overused. The machine's chaotic wake may be impressive, but its serves more purpose than action alone. Its a balanced movie, that doesn't rely on tired, lowest-common-denominator tropes.
I suppose there's minor complaints. Hanako's college friends aren't particularly useful or interesting. The animation is alright, but only that. The main focus is loosened up once the action begins, but it never drops out from the film entirely. Besides, I was enjoying myself regardless.
Roujin Z is a very solid, unfortunately forgotten anime. Its probably too balanced to make your best-of list, but I don't see much to dislike about it. Its perfectly paced, entertaining, a little emotional, and may even make you reflect on life. I'd recommend it to most people, and say its a high pick for sci-fi/retro anime fans.
Entertaining and funny.
JG20013 October 1999
Roujin Z is a film that is entertaining, but if you have the English dubbed version of the film, there will be some inconsistencies in the dialogue. Example: The movie takes place in Japan, with obvious visual references and talk about the beach at Kamakura, but the English dialogue also talks about various American things.
The film is basically a hilarious take on the robot gone insane story, where an experimental bed for elderly patients become simply a mental bed. The characters are especially enjoyable, including the old guys at the nursing home who often have a "Grumpy Old Men" style of insulting.
The film is basically a hilarious take on the robot gone insane story, where an experimental bed for elderly patients become simply a mental bed. The characters are especially enjoyable, including the old guys at the nursing home who often have a "Grumpy Old Men" style of insulting.
That Bed . . .
The_Film_Cricket2 September 2014
Warning: Spoilers
You know, I have seen thousands of movies in my life and a quarter of those films were animated. This has GOT to be the only time in my life that I have ever seen (or am likely to ever see) a movie about an asinine solution to the problem of health care for the aged.
The story: The Health Department decided that there are just too many old people in the world and not enough people who want to take care of them. So the solution comes in the form of a ridiculous contraption called the Z-001. Now get this: This is a robotic sickbed run by a sixth generation computer that an elderly invalid will be strapped into. The Z-001 will feed them, give them medicine take care of their basic functions, give them a bath and be their doctor. There is even a television on board.
The only person who seems to hate the Z-001 is the former nurse of the poor sod currently strapped into the prototype. She tries to help him escape but a complication arises. The computer has gone haywire and has taken of the personality of the old man's late wife. That's where the story REALLY gets interesting.
I would have had trouble imagining this story in any kind of movie live or animated. This is one of those wacky animated movies that come out of Japan and get lost on the video shelves here in the states. I have never seen anything like 'Roujin-Z'. No American animator would dare tackle a satire with this much bite, it is just too politically incorrect. I simply could not believe the level of mad genius and courage that went into making a movie like this.
It isn't perfect, the animation doesn't hold up to other anime features like 'Ghost in the Shell' or 'Grave of the Fireflies'. This one is sort of low rent. You have never seen a movie like 'Roujin-Z and are never likely to again.
The story: The Health Department decided that there are just too many old people in the world and not enough people who want to take care of them. So the solution comes in the form of a ridiculous contraption called the Z-001. Now get this: This is a robotic sickbed run by a sixth generation computer that an elderly invalid will be strapped into. The Z-001 will feed them, give them medicine take care of their basic functions, give them a bath and be their doctor. There is even a television on board.
The only person who seems to hate the Z-001 is the former nurse of the poor sod currently strapped into the prototype. She tries to help him escape but a complication arises. The computer has gone haywire and has taken of the personality of the old man's late wife. That's where the story REALLY gets interesting.
I would have had trouble imagining this story in any kind of movie live or animated. This is one of those wacky animated movies that come out of Japan and get lost on the video shelves here in the states. I have never seen anything like 'Roujin-Z'. No American animator would dare tackle a satire with this much bite, it is just too politically incorrect. I simply could not believe the level of mad genius and courage that went into making a movie like this.
It isn't perfect, the animation doesn't hold up to other anime features like 'Ghost in the Shell' or 'Grave of the Fireflies'. This one is sort of low rent. You have never seen a movie like 'Roujin-Z and are never likely to again.
Good but not as good as I liked it a few years ago.
Nickrj16 May 2002
An anime story about a nurse and his 70 year old patient. I liked this movie but for me it has lost some of it's freshness over the years. Still it's worth seeing to see Haruko Mishashi and Mr. Takazawa and also the bad guys Terada and Hasegawa.
COULD BE BETTER
vishnuvardh8 April 2021
A simple movie straightforward message to the viewers, personally didn't feel anything from the movie I think a bit more could be done to show it more effective to the viewers. The artwork was awesome, Japanese old-school art is always great.
Unusual, funny, well paced animation. See it!
opium_nick25 August 2002
A great manga film with a somewhat unusual storyline about a young nurse and her patient, an old near-vegetative man who is chosen to test drive 'project z', a government funded initiative to care for the old; using state of the art computer controlled care beds but of course this being manga, this guys bed turns out to be more than they bargained for. The animation is a little lazy in places but this is a great little film with lots of subtle comedy, satire and enjoyable over-the-top manga moments. Comedic but with good dialogue and some serious ideas, so one to watch with subtitles and not dubbed.
It was pretty hard for me to watch this anime becuse the incidents by the elderly drivers were happened often today.
Aoi_kdr16 June 2019
It was a cynical comedy that was depicted serious problem of an aging society and care for them.
A nursery experiment by robots was done in the name of Ministry of Health and Welfare. They said that pushing to nurse them was just exhausting time of youger people, so the robots would solve all of them. Recently I watched a TV program. It showed the possibility of AI would serve as someone to talk to them. That's why I couldn't laugh over it as just a fiction.
Of coure, the thoughtfulness is a vital to care them. If you would take for own parents and elderly parter, I don't think all of them have love with the care completely. That's just an another thing.
I felt a prototype robot acted like Tachikoma from Ghost in the Shell. Just it had one of parts like a brain, so was it Otomo's design type? It seemed to be influenced by Kubrick, Ghost in the Shell and other works about robots. But it was convincing as much as it won them!
Of coure, the thoughtfulness is a vital to care them. If you would take for own parents and elderly parter, I don't think all of them have love with the care completely. That's just an another thing.
I felt a prototype robot acted like Tachikoma from Ghost in the Shell. Just it had one of parts like a brain, so was it Otomo's design type? It seemed to be influenced by Kubrick, Ghost in the Shell and other works about robots. But it was convincing as much as it won them!
Puzzling, Only-in-an-Anime Concepts with a Conflicted Tone
drqshadow-reviews13 May 2020
An odd feature-length anime which haphazardly mashes genres and ideas that, while curious, aren't completely successful together. I'm not sure if it was meant to be a comedy or a straight sci-fi nightmare, but it tries mixing elements of both and their clash hurts the whole.
The plot is out-there and interesting, a concerned rumination on the looming near-future in which young are outnumbered by old, their careers hampered by the need to care for aging family. To address this worry, and liberate the fresher generation, a major metro hospital has developed (what else) a fully self-contained cybernetic bed, complete with built-in exercise routines, bathing capabilities and self-defense mechanisms. Katsuhiro Otomo handles the screenplay and many of the mechanical designs, and boy, does it feel a whole lot like Akira in places. Particularly the last hour, when the bed inevitably gains sentience, staggers through the city with a test subject strapped to its chest and swallows up machines in a gale of techno-organic vines and limbs.
The crazier bits are nice to look at, detailed and smooth in motion (if not quite to the intricate level of Otomo's masterwork), but the flat character designs and overly simplistic storytelling leave a lot to be desired. Also, not entirely a knock on the film itself, but my copy randomly swapped subtitles for dubs around the halfway mark and the English voice acting is downright unbearable.
The plot is out-there and interesting, a concerned rumination on the looming near-future in which young are outnumbered by old, their careers hampered by the need to care for aging family. To address this worry, and liberate the fresher generation, a major metro hospital has developed (what else) a fully self-contained cybernetic bed, complete with built-in exercise routines, bathing capabilities and self-defense mechanisms. Katsuhiro Otomo handles the screenplay and many of the mechanical designs, and boy, does it feel a whole lot like Akira in places. Particularly the last hour, when the bed inevitably gains sentience, staggers through the city with a test subject strapped to its chest and swallows up machines in a gale of techno-organic vines and limbs.
The crazier bits are nice to look at, detailed and smooth in motion (if not quite to the intricate level of Otomo's masterwork), but the flat character designs and overly simplistic storytelling leave a lot to be desired. Also, not entirely a knock on the film itself, but my copy randomly swapped subtitles for dubs around the halfway mark and the English voice acting is downright unbearable.
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