Review - Roujin Z

With the runaway success and renown that was Akira many perhaps don’t know about Katsuhiro Otomo’s other significant work; Roujin Z, which was recently re-released on Blu-ray.

Considerably more light-hearted in tone it follows sweet but incapacitated old man Kiyuro Takazara, as he becomes a test subject for a revolutionary hospital bed that will forever change care for the elderly in the 21st century. It monitors health, it administers medicine, it provides food, it gives baths, it removes waste and oh, it also houses a nuclear reactor and test military computer that will obviously take on a mind of its own and go out of control.

Affectionate nurse student Haruko, charged with the care of Takazara strives throughout to rescue her beloved patient and with a host of loveable side characters Roujin Z proves to be both entertaining and emotional. Underneath all the gags however there is a serious message which becomes all the more prominent as events unfold, highlighting a danger in our use and reliance of technology we don’t fully understand.

Released in 1991 it boasts animation and a plot that can hold its own even today and like a fine wine this anime is one that can only get better and increasingly relevant with age.

Angelic Rogue