Tekkonkinkreet

Review By: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Action, Adventure, Psychological, Supernatural, City Control

First Released: December 2006, 111-minute film

Summary: Black and White are two orphans who claim ownership of Takaramachi, Treasure Town. The two will never back down from a fight, even if it’s the yakuza trying to take over their crumbling city.  Everything is going fine until Snake and his minions show up with plans to tear down Treasure Town and build a theme park in its place. It’s up to the imperfect pair to keep doing what they do best, maintain control of Takaramachi while battling their inner demons.

The animation in Tekkonkinkreet is unique, beautiful, and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The amount of detail put into the backgrounds is stunning. A wide shot will pan the city showcasing the enormity and beauty of what used to be a metropolis. The streets are marked with graffiti and all manner of dilapidation. I’m sure it would have been easier and less expensive to skimp on the detail, and I appreciate that they did not. The story moves along well and the characters are fitting. They exhibit imperfections to show they’re human, like the rest of us. Some of the decisions they make are made with emotion rather than reason.

The quality of the English dub makes it worth watching. Several prominent voice actors play a part: Tom Kenny, Maurice LaMarche, John DiMaggio, Phil Lamarr, and Yuri Lowenthal. The director, Michael Arias, is notable as being the first non-Japanese director of a major anime film.

You might enjoy this if: The idea of turf wars and a dystopian metropolis with mind-bending tendencies piques your interest.

You might not like it if: You can’t get past the unique animation.

Similar Films: Summer Wars, Paprika, Akira, Princess Mononoke

Note to the Viewer: In case you’re curious like I was, Tekkonkinkreet signifies a child’s mispronunciation of “Tekkin Konkurito”, which is Japanese for “steel reinforced concrete”.

Tekkonkinkreet Trailer

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