This is reinforced by the fact that his 1988 cyber-punk epic has become the enduring symbol of the anime genre the alternative to the singing princesses and dancing teapots that Hollywood once considered state-of-the-art. Some would argue that Otomo is the most influential Japanese animator since Osamu Tezuka more so than his prolific colleagues Hayao Miyazaki ( Spirited Away) or Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue). His storytelling and direction brought theatrical animation into the new century. Otomos vision has been the anti-Disney option for teens who had outgrown Nickelodeon and Saturday morning cartoons. Ray finds himself torn between his loyalties to his pacifist grandfather ((Lord Steam voiced by Patrick Stewart) and his power hungry father at the same time using his wits to stop the steam castle, which begins a destructive climactic journey through London town. Ray soon learns that his father, Eddie (voiced by Alfred Molina), is behind a plan to use the power of compressed steam to turn the pavilion into a menacing moving steam castle and prove himself a mechanical genius.

He is chased, and later kidnapped, by sinister forces connected to the Ohara Foundation at the London Great Exposition. The retro science-fiction epic set in Victorian England, follows 19th century boy inventor Ray Steam (voiced by Anna Paquin in the English version) who, who is entrusted with his grandfathers invention, a steamball, capable of great power caused by high-density compressed steam.

Steamboy reinforces Otomos reputation as one of the leading creative figures in Japanese animation. Otomo is back on theater screens this month with his latest cinematic epic, Steamboy his first full-length feature film since Akira redefined the anime genre 17 years ago. His destruction of a futuristic Tokyo was the unforgettable climax to his groundbreaking anime classic, Akira (1988). The hero I speak of is Katsuhiro Otomo, the acclaimed Japanese animator, writer, filmmaker and comics artist.

Katsuhiro Otomo reinforces his reputation as one of the leading creative figures in Japanese animation with his latest cinematic epic, Steamboy.

Steamboy anime movie