"Blu-Ray Review of 'Robot Carnival': A Stirringly Expressive Visual Symphony"
In the realm of 1980s anime, "Robot Carnival" stands out as one of the most ambitious compilation movies, a visual tone poem that delves deep into the abstract and stimulates the viewer's imagination.
The film, known for its abstract visuals, shares a love for compilation movies with the anime "Memories". Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, the opening and ending sequences of "Robot Carnival" are a testament to his artistic vision. The musical score for this cinematic journey is by Joe Hisaishi, adding an extra layer of emotion to the narrative.
"Robot Carnival" is a distillation of the approach used in many 80s anime to produce abstract visuals. It is a collection of distinct segments tied by themes rather than a narrative, much like the critically acclaimed "Angel's Egg" (1985), directed by Mamoru Oshii. Both films employ a similar visual and poetic approach, using visual symbolism and a minimalistic narrative style.
The film contains references to classic 80s mecha anime, such as Hidetoshi Ohmori's "Deprive" drawing from "Heavy Metal L-Gaim" and "Star Light Angel" showcasing Hiroyuki Kitazume's style that defined much of 80s "Gundam" and helped birth the "Megami Tensei" series of games.
The dialogue in "Robot Carnival" is mostly non-verbal, creating a visual tone poem effect. It uses abstract visuals to create short visual tone poems, exploring robots and mecha from various perspectives, reflecting their intertwined nature in Japan.
The review of the "Robot Carnival" Blu-ray release was sent by Crunchyroll for the purposes of this review. The Blu-ray release includes the original Japanese version restored from the original print, as well as all Western versions, a documentary, liner notes, galleries, and trailers, making it the definitive version of the movie.
"Robot Carnival" remains deeply moving and thoroughly hilarious in equal measure. Its abstract nature and timeless quality may make it more appealing to some viewers. If you're intrigued by this abstract exploration of robots and mecha, the Blu-ray release of "Robot Carnival" is available on Crunchyroll's online store for $23.96.
The reviewer is featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan and manages Mecha Damashii, a testament to their passion for all things mecha.
[1] https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=644 [2] https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3673
This Blu-ray release of the 1980s anime masterpiece, "Robot Carnival," showcases technology's integration in entertainment, featuring not only the original Japanese version but also Western releases, documentaries, liner notes, galleries, and trailers. Alongside this, the reviewer, a prominent figure in the mecha world and the curator of Mecha Damashii, provides an insightful review, highlighting the film's impact in the realm of movies-and-tv and gadget enthusiasts alike. With its compelling blend of animation, music, and narrative, "Robot Carnival" offers a unique experience, reminiscent of Katsuhiro Otomo's iconic work, while also reflecting the abstract visuals and minimalistic style characteristic of 80s anime.
