View source for Roujin Z

{{Short description|1991 Japanese animated film}}
{{lead too short|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Roujin Z
| image          = Roujin-z.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| native_name    = <!--(for non-English films: film's name in its native language)-->
| director       = [[Hiroyuki Kitakubo]]
| producer       = Yasuhito Nomura<br>Yasuku Kazama<br>Yoshiaki Motoya<ref name="sightandsound">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Sight & Sound]] |title=Rojin Z/Roujin Z |volume=4|issue=7|pages=52–53|year=1994|publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |last=Rayns |first=Tony}}</ref>
| writer         = [[Katsuhiro Otomo]]
| based_on       = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} -->
| starring       = 
| narrator       =
| music          = Bun Itakura<ref name="sightandsound" />
| cinematography = Hideo Okazaki<ref name="sightandsound" />
| editing        = Eiko Nishide<ref name="sightandsound" />
| studio         = Tokyo Theaters Co.<br>The Television Inc.<br>Movic Co<br>TV Asahi<br>[[Sony Music Entertainment]]<br>[[A.P.P.P.]]
| distributor    =
| released       = {{Film date|1991|9|14|Japan}}
| runtime        = 84 minutes
| country        = Japan
| language       = 
| budget         = 
| gross          = <!--(please use condensed and rounded values, e.g. "£11.6 million" not "£11,586,221")-->
}}

{{Nihongo|'''''Roujin Z'''''|老人Z|Rōjin Zetto|lit. "Old Man Z"}} is a 1991 Japanese [[anime|animated]] [[science fiction]] [[action thriller film]] directed by [[Hiroyuki Kitakubo]] and written by [[Katsuhiro Otomo]]. The animation for ''Roujin Z'' was produced by [[A.P.P.P.]] in association with other companies including [[Movic]], [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan]], [[Aniplex]] and [[TV Asahi]].

==Plot==
''Roujin Z'' is set in early 21st-century Japan. A group of scientists and hospital administrators, under the direction of the Ministry of Public Welfare, have developed the Z-001: a computerized [[Home automation for the elderly and disabled|hospital bed with robotic features]].<ref name="animatedmovieguide">{{cite book | author=Beck, Jerry | author-link=Jerry Beck | date=October 28, 2005 | title=The Animated Movie Guide | url=https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck| url-access=registration| publisher=[[Chicago Review Press]] | pages=[https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck/page/235 235–6] | isbn=978-1-55652-591-9}}</ref><ref name="annreview">{{cite news | author=Crandol, Mike | date=April 16, 2002 | title=Review: Roujin Z DVD (remastered edition) | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/roujin-z | work=[[Anime News Network]] | access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref> The Z-001 takes complete care of the patient: it can dispense food and medicine, remove excretory waste, bathe and exercise the patient lying within its frame. The bed is driven by its own built-in [[nuclear power]] reactor—and in the event of an atomic meltdown, the bed (including the patient lying within) would become automatically sealed in concrete.<ref name="NYTrev">{{cite news | author=Holden, Stephen | author-link=Stephen Holden | date=January 5, 1996 | title=Roujin Z (1991) Film Review; A Gadget-Mad America, Through Japanese Eyes | url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A0CEFDA1239F936A35752C0A960958260 | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref>

The first [[patient]] to be "volunteered" to test the bed is an 87-year-old dying widower named Kijuro Takazawa. He is an invalid who is cared for by a young nursing student named Haruko.<ref name="animeencyclopedia">{{cite book |title=[[The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917]] |last1=Clements |first1=Jonathan |author1-link=Jonathan Clements |last2=McCarthy |first2=Helen |author2-link=Helen McCarthy |year=2006 |isbn=1-933330-10-4 | page=545|edition=Revised and Expanded }}</ref> The electronic elements within the Z-001 somehow manage to transcribe Takazawa's thoughts through Haruko's office computer, and he uses the communication to cry for help.<ref name="NYTrev"/> Although she objects to such treatment of elderly patients, Haruko begrudgingly seeks the aid of a group of computer hackers in the hospital's [[geriatrics|geriatric]] ward to create and install a vocal simulation of Takazawa's deceased wife in the Z-001.<ref name="animatedmovieguide"/><ref name="annreview"/> However, once Takazawa wishes to go to the beach, the Z-001 detaches itself from its moorings and escapes from the hospital with the man in its grasp.<ref name="animatedmovieguide"/><ref>{{cite web | author=TR | title=Roujin Z Review | url=http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/76973/roujin_z.html | publisher=[[Time Out (company)|Time Out]] | access-date=2011-06-22 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607040534/http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/76973/roujin_z.html | archive-date=2011-06-07 }}</ref> Haruko's fears are then justified, as it is discovered that the bed is actually a government-designed, experimental weapons robot.<ref name="annreview"/><ref name="animeencyclopedia"/>

==Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" |Role 
! rowspan="2" |Japanese<ref>{{cite web | title=老人Z(A.P.P.P) 1991年09月14日発売 種別: 映画 |trans-title=Roujin Z (APPP) Sep 14, 1991 Release Type: Film | url=http://gph.sakura.ne.jp/va_memo/system/vadb.cgi?action=view_title&value=%CF%B7%BF%CDZ&mvalue=A.P.P.P&hvalue=%B1%C7%B2%E8 | publisher=Voice Artist DataBase | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-26}}</ref>
!English<ref name="screenworld"/>
|-
!<small>[[World Wide Group]] (1994)</small>
|-
!Haruko Mitsuhashi (三橋晴子)
|[[Chisa Yokoyama]]
|[[Toni Barry]]
|-
!Takashi Terada (寺田卓)
|[[Shinji Ogawa]]
|[[Allan Wenger]]
|-
!Nobuko Ooe (大江信子)
|[[Chie Satō|Chie Satou]]
|[[Barbara Barnes]]
|-
!Mitsuru Maeda (前田満)
|[[Kōji Tsujitani|Kouji Tsujitani]]
|[[Adam Henderson (voice actor)|Adam Henderson]]
|-
!Kijuurou Takazawa (高沢喜十郎)
|[[Hikojirou Matsumura]] 
|[[Ian Thompson (voice actor)|Ian Thompson]]
|-
!Yoshihiko Hasegawa (長谷川良彦)
|[[Shinsuke Chikaishi]]
|[[John Fitzgerald Jay]]
|-
!Haru Takazawa (高沢ハル)
|[[Masa Saitou]]
|[[Nicolette McKenzie]]
|-
!Tomoe Satou (佐藤知枝)
|[[Rika Matsumoto]]
|[[Jana Carpenter]]
|-
!1st Ache (老人A)
|[[Ryūji Saikachi|Ryuuji Saikachi]]
|[[Seán Barrett (actor)|Seán Barrett]]
|-
!2nd Ache (老人B)
|[[Hikojirou Matsumura]]
|[[Blain Fairman]]
|-
!3rd Ache (老人C)
|[[Takeshi Aono]]
|[[Nigel Anthony]]
|}

==Themes==
In his review of ''Rojin Z'', Tony Rayns stated the film focuses on three primary issues: health care for the elderly, the stand-off between traditional values and modern technology and the Right's covert plans to re-militarise Japan.<ref name="sightandsound" />

==Production==
The animation for ''Roujin Z'' was produced by [[A.P.P.P.]] in association with other companies including [[Movic]], [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan]], [[Aniplex]] and [[TV Asahi]].<ref name="screenworld">{{cite book | author=Willis, John | author-link=John A. Willis | date=February 1, 2000 | title=Screen World 1997, Vol. 48 | publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation|Applause Books]] | page=257 | isbn=978-1-55783-321-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | date=January 10, 1999 | title=Interview: Super Techno Arts | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/1999-01-10 | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref><ref name="sony">{{cite web | title=老人Z HDマスター版 DVD |trans-title=Roujin Z HD Master Edition DVD | url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Animation/roujinz/ | publisher=[[Sony Music Entertainment]] | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref> The film was directed by [[Hiroyuki Kitakubo]], who previously directed the "A Tale of Two Robots" segment in the APPP anthology film ''[[Robot Carnival]]''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces |last=Camp |first=Brian |author2=Davis, Julie |year=2007 |publisher=Stone Bridge Press |isbn=978-1-933330-22-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/animeclassicszet0000camp/page/318 318–9] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/animeclassicszet0000camp/page/318 }}</ref> [[Katsuhiro Otomo]] provided the film's story and screenplay.<ref name="sightandsound" /><ref name="animatedmovieguide"/><ref name="animeencyclopedia"/> The characters were designed by [[Hisashi Eguchi]], the [[Mangaka|manga artist]] known for ''[[Stop!! Hibari-kun!]]''.<ref name="animatedmovieguide"/><ref>{{cite book|author=Amano, Masanao |author2=Wiedemann, Julius |title=Manga Design|publisher=[[Taschen]]|year=2004|page=125|isbn=978-3-8228-2591-4}}</ref> He used his now current wife as a model for Haruko.<ref name="sex-magazine">{{cite magazine | last = Baio | first = Al | title = Hisashi Eguchi Interview | magazine = Sex Magazine | issue = 3 | year = 2013 | url = http://seqify.com/articles/hisashi-eguchi/1 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130411185616/http://seqify.com/articles/hisashi-eguchi/1 | archive-date = 2013-04-11 }}</ref> Eguchi also played part in some of the film's animation, such as its smoke effects, alongside key animator [[Takeshi Honda (animator)|Takeshi Honda]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Ettinger, Benjamin | date=May 26, 2005 | title=Toshiyuki Inoue interview - Part 2 | url=http://www.pelleas.net/aniTOP/index.php?p=238&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 | publisher=AniPages Daily | access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref><ref name="directory">{{cite book |author1=Ledoux, Trish |author2=Ranney, Doug |author3=Patten, Fred |author3-link=Fred Patten | date=February 1, 1997 | title=The Complete Anime Guide: Japanese Animation Film Directory & Resource Guide | publisher=Tiger Mountain Press | page=148 | isbn=978-0-9649542-5-0}}</ref> Both Otomo and [[Mitsuo Iso]] were responsible for the mechanical designs.<ref name="annreview"/> [[Satoshi Kon]] acted as the film's art director and set designer.<ref name="animatedmovieguide"/><ref>{{cite news | date=August 24, 2010 | title=Perfect Blue/Paprika Director Satoshi Kon Passes Away (Updated) | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-08-24/award-winning-director-satoshi-kon-passes-away | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | date=September 4, 1998 | title=Interview with Satoshi Kon, Director of Perfect Blue | url=http://www.perfectblue.com/interview.html | publisher=[[Manga Entertainment]] | access-date=2011-06-24 | archive-date=2012-04-02 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402165610/http://www.perfectblue.com/interview.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> Kon previously wrote the script for Otomo's live-action [[black comedy]] ''World Apartment Horror'',<ref>{{cite news | author=Ciolek, Todd | date=November 2, 2010 | title=The Dreams of Satoshi Kon: Chapter I - Prehistory | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2010-11-02/2 | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref> though ''Roujin Z'' was the first anime on which Kon worked.<ref>{{cite news | author=Sevakis, Justin | date=August 21, 2008 | title=Interview: Satoshi Kon | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2008-08-21/satoshi-kon | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author=Osmond, Andrew | date=December 1, 2009 | title=Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist | publisher=[[Stone Bridge Press]] | isbn=978-1-933330-74-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Spurgeon, Tom | author-link=Tom Spurgeon | date=August 25, 2010 | title=Satoshi Kon, 1963-2010 | url=http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/satoshi_kon_1963_2010/ | publisher=The Comics Reporter | access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref> Otomo opted to not direct the film, as he was more eager to work on ''World Apartment Horror''.<ref name="sightandsound" /> The musical score was composed by Bun Itakura.<ref name="animeencyclopedia"/><ref name="screenworld"/> Anime localization pioneer [[Carl Macek]] was the film's sound design producer.<ref>{{cite podcast| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2010-01-14| title=ANNCast: Macek Training| website=Anime News Network| host=Bertschy, Zac and Sevakis, Justin| date=January 15, 2010| access-date=2011-06-25}}</ref> The closing song {{nihongo|"''Hashire Jitensha''"|走れ自転車||lit. "Run, Bicycle Run"}} is performed by Mishio Ogawa.

===Soundtrack===
{{Track listing
| headline        = {{nihongo|''Roujin Z Original Soundtrack''|老人Z サウンドトラック}}
| total_length    = 36:31
| all_writing     = Bun Itakura
| title1          = {{nihongo||宣誓|Sensei|Declaration}}
| length1         = 0:07
| title2          = Z [Accepter]
| length2         = 2:59
| title3          = {{nihongo||挨拶 #1|Aisatsu #1|Greeting #1}}
| length3         = 0:08
| title4          = Happy Circle [Opening Title]
| length4         = 2:18
| title5          = Impressions of a MOMENTO
| length5         = 4:16
| title6          = Interlude - Hello Liddy
| length6         = 0:51
| title7          = Metabolism #1~#4
| length7         = 3:34
| title8          = {{nihongo||挨拶 #2|Aisatsu #2|Greeting #2}}
| length8         = 0:08
| title9          = Ornament Love
| length9         = 1:20
| title10         = New Type
| length10        = 2:08
| title11         = Escape
| length11        = 0:59
| title12         = Interlude - Hustle Muscle→A(W.T.D.)...Wild Today's Description
| length12        = 2:43
| title13         = Spring
| length13        = 1:55
| title14         = Stepping Smart [#1 Dark House, #2 Chase]
| length14        = 4:36
| title15         = Interlude - Hollow Dolly
| length15        = 1:36
| title16         = {{nihongo||夢の桟橋|Yume no Sanbashi|A Pier of Dream}} [#2 Evening]
| length16        = 2:14
| title17         = {{nihongo||走れ自転車|Hashire Jitensha|Run, Bicycle, Run}} [Ending Roll]
| length17        = 4:39
}}

==Release and marketing==
''Roujin Z'' premiered theatrically in Japan on September 14, 1991.<ref name="animatedmovieguide"/> An English-dubbed version was directed by [[Michael Bakewell]] with a script adaptation by [[George Roubicek]].<ref name="NYTrev"/> The dub was produced by [[Manga Entertainment]] in 1994, and was licensed by Kit Parker Films with a [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system|PG-13 rating]] in the United States.<ref name="animatedmovieguide"/><ref name="buriedtreasure">{{cite news | author=Sevakis, Justin | date=April 17, 2008 | title=Buried Treasure: Roujin Z | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/buried-treasure/2008-04-17/roujin-z | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-25}}</ref> The film debuted in the US at an [[List of film festivals|international film festival]] in [[Fort Lauderdale]] during November 1994.<ref>{{cite journal | journal=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]] | publisher=[[Tribune Company]] | title=International Film Festival: Complete Schedule | date=November 6, 1994 | author=Russell, Candace | page=4F}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | journal=[[The Miami Herald]] | publisher=[[The McClatchy Company]] | title=Film Festival Schedule | date=November 10, 1994}}</ref> It was screened in more than 30 cities in the country<ref>{{cite web | author=Gutman, Barry | date=June 26, 2000 | title=The many faces of CPM. | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-63695185.html | publisher=Video Business | access-date=2011-06-25}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> such as [[New York City]]'s [[Angelika Film Center]] on January 5, 1996.<ref name="NYTrev"/><ref>{{cite magazine | author=Gilliam, Terry | date=January 8, 1996 |magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] | issue=2 | publisher=New York Media Holdings | page=64}}</ref> Manga Entertainment marketed the film in English-speaking regions as being "by the creator of ''[[Akira (1988 film)|Akira]]''".<ref name="animatedmovieguide"/>

''Roujin Z'' first saw [[VHS]] and [[Laserdisc]] releases in Japan in 1991, in Great Britain, Europe and Australia in 1994, in North America in 1995, and its first Japanese DVD release on August 21, 1999.<ref>{{cite web | title=老人Z [DVD] |trans-title=Roujin Z [DVD] | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00005GAJG/ | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-23}}</ref> An "[[HD DVD|HD]] Master Edition" DVD was released in the region on April 13, 2005.<ref>{{cite news | date=March 13, 2005 | title=High-def Roujin Z | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-03-13/high-def-roujin-z | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref> The English dub was initially released on VHS by Manga Entertainment in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand in 1994.<ref>{{cite journal | journal=Manga Mania | publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]] | title=UK News | issue=14 | date=September 1994}}</ref> [[Image Entertainment]] distributed the English version on [[DVD]] in the US on August 26, 1998.<ref>{{cite book | title=Roujin Z (1996) | asin=630506251X }}</ref> Central Park Media re-released the movie on DVD on April 9, 2002, then again on April 27, 2004 under the US Manga Corps label.<ref>{{cite news | date=April 26, 2002 | title=CPM Release Dates | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2002-04-26/cpm-release-dates | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Roujin Z (1996) | website=Amazon | url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001EQI9C/ | access-date=2011-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Protoculture Addicts]] | publisher=[[Protoculture Inc.]] | title=Anime Releases/Products| issue=80 | date=January–February 2004 | page=7}}</ref> The [[home video]] version is currently out-of-print in the US.<ref name="buriedtreasure"/><ref>{{cite web | author=Smith, David | date=June 6, 2008 | title=If You Liked... Volume Two | url=http://anime.ign.com/articles/879/879911p1.html | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref> The film has also been broadcast on numerous television networks worldwide, including the [[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Saturday Anime | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961124031624/http://scifi.com/anime/ | url=http://scifi.com/anime/ | publisher=[[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]] | archive-date=1996-11-24 | access-date=2011-06-25}}</ref> [[ImaginAsian]],<ref>{{cite news | date=October 26, 2004 | title=ImaginAsian TV licenses | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-10-26/imaginasian-tv-licenses | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref> the [[AZN Television|International Channel]],<ref>{{cite web | title=International Networks :: AZN TELEVISION :: anime | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404214755/http://www.i-channel.com/azntv/anime.asp | url=http://www.i-channel.com/azntv/anime.asp | archive-date=2005-04-04 | publisher=[[AZN Television]]| access-date=2011-06-25}}</ref> and the [[Funimation Channel]]<ref>{{cite web | author=Oppliger, John | date=April 11, 2007 | title=FUNimation Channel Adds New Programming | url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2007/04/11/funimation-channel-adds-new-programming/ | publisher=[[AnimeNation]] | access-date=2011-06-23 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320052346/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2007/04/11/funimation-channel-adds-new-programming/ | archive-date=March 20, 2012 }}</ref><ref>Funimation Channel aired ''Roujin Z'' only with licensing from Funimation.</ref> in the [[United States]].

The ''Roujin Z Original Soundtrack'' was made available for sale in Japan by [[Epic Records]] on November 21, 1991.<ref>{{cite web | title=｢老人Z｣サウンドトラック |trans-title=Roujin Z Original Soundtrack | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000UV1IOQ/ | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref> ''Roujin Z'' was adapted into a [[manga]] titled {{nihongo|''ZeD''|ゼッド|Zeddo}}, featuring the story by Otomo and illustrated by Tai Okada. It was originally serialized in the [[Kodansha]] publication ''Mr. Magazine'' from March to December 1991. A single ''[[tankōbon]]'' bound volume was published in Japan on December 12, 1991.<ref>{{cite web | title=ZeD(岡田 鯛) |trans-title=ZeD (Tai Okada) | url=http://www.interq.or.jp/blue/junya/appleparadise/html/okmiscs/ok-wri-zed.html | publisher=Apple Paradise | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref> No official English version exists, but [[Glénat (publisher)|Glénat]] published a French edition on January 22, 1997.<ref>{{cite book | title=Zed [Paperback] | language=fr |id = {{ASIN|2723421066|country=fr}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | author=Pelletier, Claude J. | author-link=Claude J. Pelletier |magazine=Protoculture Addicts | publisher=Protoculture Inc. | title=Presentation | issue=45 | date=May–June 1997 | page=4}}</ref>

[[Manga Entertainment]] UK re-released ''Roujin Z'' on [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] in June 2012 in conjunction with [[Kazé]] UK, the European subsidiary of [[Viz Media]] as they hold the rights to the English dub, which they produced in-house in 1994.

==Reception==
From contemporary reviews, ''Roujin Z'' won the [[Mainichi Film Award]] for animation in 1991.<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:毎日映画コンクールの歩み 46 1991年 | trans-title=Manichi Film History 46th Annual 1991 | url=http://www.japan-movie.net/about/history46.html | publisher=[[Mainichi Shinbun]] | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-23 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907145323/http://www.japan-movie.net/about/history46.html | archive-date=2011-09-07 }}</ref> From Western critics, [[Stephen Holden]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called it an "amusing futuristic morality tale," noting how it "takes sharp digs at [[yuppie]] medical students who welcome a device that will enable them to discard their aging parents and concentrate on their careers."<ref name="NYTrev" /> Joey O'Bryan, reviewing ''Roujin Z'' for ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'', called the film "briskly paced, intelligent, exciting, and darkly funny."<ref>{{cite news | author=O'Bryan, Joey | date=April 5, 1996 | title=Roujin-Z | url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Calendar/Film?Film=oid%3a138227| newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]] | access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]], writing in the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', observed: "I cannot imagine this story being told in a conventional movie. Not only would the machine be impossibly expensive and complex to create with special effects, but the social criticism would be immediately [[Blue pencil (editing)|blue-penciled]] by Hollywood executives."<ref>{{cite news | author=Ebert, Roger | author-link=Roger Ebert | date=April 5, 1996 | title=Roujin-Z | url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19960405/REVIEWS/604050303/1023 | newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] | access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref> Tony Rayns ([[Sight & Sound]]) felt the film was "engaging entertainment, not least because it so resolutely counters the expectations of the adolescent males who made up the core audience for ''Akira''."<ref name="sightandsound" /> Rayns also noted that "the only real let down in the film was the character design of Haruko", finding her to be "the round-eyed moppet of the type seen everywhere in Japanese schlock made-for-video animation"<ref name="sightandsound" />

From retrospective reviews, [[Helen McCarthy]] in ''500 Essential Anime Movies'' called ''Roujin Z'' a "gripping movie - an action thriller whose star is even older than [[Bruce Willis]]". She stated that it is a "funny film that will keep you entertained and make you think", noting that it is also "one of the most original anime you'll ever see".<ref>[[Helen McCarthy|McCarthy, Helen]]. ''500 Essential Anime Movies: The Ultimate Guide''. — Harper Design, 2009. — P. 28. — 528 p. — {{ISBN|978-0061474507}}</ref> In 2001, [[Wizard Entertainment]] listed the film at number 42 of its top 50 anime to be released in North America.<ref>{{cite news | date=July 16, 2001 | title=Wizard lists Top 50 Anime | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-07-16/wizard-lists-top-50-anime | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref> The publisher's magazine ''[[Anime Insider]]'' listed ''Roujin Z'' as the seventh-best anime comedy in its January 2004 issue.<ref>{{cite journal |date=January 2004 |title=Anime Insider's Best of Comedy |journal=[[Anime Insider]] |issue=11 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]]}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Anime and manga}}
* [[List of Japanese films of 1991]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{anime News Network|anime|329}}
* {{IMDb title|0102812}}
* [http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/rojin_z Entry] in ''[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]''

{{A.P.P.P.}}
{{Hiroyuki Kitakubo}}
{{Mainichi Film Award - Animation Film Award}}

[[Category:1991 anime films]]
[[Category:1991 films]]
[[Category:1991 manga]]
[[Category:Action anime and manga]]
[[Category:Animated action films]]
[[Category:Animated thriller films]]
[[Category:Aniplex]]
[[Category:Central Park Media]]
[[Category:Japanese action thriller films]]
[[Category:Japanese animated science fiction films]]
[[Category:Japanese science fiction action films]]
[[Category:Katsuhiro Otomo]]
[[Category:Medical-themed films]]
[[Category:Thriller anime and manga]]
[[Category:Films directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the 21st century]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the future]]
[[Category:Animated films set in Japan]]
[[Category:1991 science fiction films]]