From: tzung@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (tzung-i.lin)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime
Subject: Review: ROUJIN Z (Oldman Z)
Date: 29 Jul 92 15:48:12 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T


			Review:  Roujin Z (Oldman Z)
			 
				by Tzung-I Lin

		1991 OVA/movie, 80 minutes, LBX at 1.5:1

	Entertaining, original, fantastic animation, A MUST SEE!!

				--------------

Imagine what will you get by mixing the flollowing elements:
A 6-th generation computer with self learning, self growing capability,
an old man too sick (or too old) to move with vivid memory of his wife,
a secret company with the backing from military and Pentagon,
a group of old men who used to be (and still ARE) computer hackers,
and FINALLY, a loving, caring, brave young nurse and her friends?
Normally, we don't get anywhere.  BUT combine the above ingredients
with the brilliant imagination of Katsuhiro Otomo, author and director
of the popular 1988 AKIRA, we got a ROUJIN Z (Oldman Z).

This movie was based on Otomo's short story. Otomo adapted to screenplay
himself.  The mechanics design was also from Otomo's work.  It's easy
to sense the heavy influence of Otomo.  Indeed, the animation reminds
me alot of Otomo's art work and manga, lots of detailed lines, things
in the background, definitely very Otomo-ish.  The director is not
too unfamiliar either.  He directed the segment, Meiji Period Giant Robots
Legend in Robot Carnival.  And you can definitely relate the humor/action
of this film to the Meiji Robots segment.  Don't know how much did
Otomo involved in the production, but Otomo's work is often 
cinema-ready in a sense that the flow and the scene of manga drawing
are well done such that it doesn't take lots of work to adapt to big screen.
Nontheless, the director put a good story in a very tight flow
and tell it well in 80 minutes. 

The animation is still not quite the full animation (24 frames/sec),
since the budget is more like an OVA project.  But, boy, does it
have some of the finest animation I've seen since Akira!!  The director
or animator used different degree of brightness of color to emphasize
the depth of each scene which makes it look very lively and broad.
The motion continuation is about 12 frames/sec (I guess), but
you don't feel like that when the action is on.  In all, in OVA project,
it has the best animation. Far past many OVAs (BGC, Oedo City, Midnight et
Eyes and Yojudoshi), reminds me alot of AKIRA top-notch animations.

The character design was somewhat inconsistent, maybe intentionally.
The main heroine is well designed, with a bit foolish looking, she
comes much closer to a real life character to me than most leading actress 
in anime.  (She sounds like a grown-up Ranma Chan to me :-) )
The music just blends into the story, it matches the audience mood.

The image was presented in a 1.54:1 LBX, counting the overscan of my
TV, it maybe 1.6:1.  However, I feel that original theatrical presentation
should be around 1.85:1 since in many scene, you see character's face 
being cut off for about 1/2 to 3/4.  It certainly is not intentional.
My guess is that it was 1.85:1, however, he/she who did the transfer
feel that it is best to zoom in a little bit to create an 1.6:1 
image thus cutting off on both sides.  Can anyone confirm its 
original theatrical ratio?

One interesting sidenote: Carl Macek and Stremline names showed up
in the end credits as sound producer, so I guess macek probably already has
the rights to Roujin Z?  I wonder whether it's good news or bad? :-)

I recommend highly on Roujin Z for being the best 1991 anime project I've seen
so far.  It is much better than F91, Gundam 0083 1-7, The Wind of Amnesia
and the formular 3x3 Eyes 1-4.  I still have one more subtitled tape
to watch, Only Yesterday.  I've seen it once unsubtitled and was not impressed.
But I think understnading the conversation is key element to enjoy
the movie, so I'll give it a second try.

Roujin Z has jumped into my top ten list for over 120 anime I've seen.
Get it any which way you can!!  I wonder why it wasn't mentioned as frequently
as other OVAs? 

Tzung-I
p.s. I'll post a synopsis some other time.