Review

An allegory for the struggles society goes through whenever radical new technology is introduced – technological leaps that have brought both great success and great misery to the Japanese people. The plot is centered around an incredible new power source developed by the father and son team of old Dr. Lloyd Steam and his son Edward. But they become divided over how to use their discovery. Lloyd represents the philosophy that such an invention should only be used for peaceful purposes, while Ed believes that Mother England and her allies ought to be able to use their steam technology to make new weapons to defend themselves from attack. Both of the groups they ally themselves with use the Steams’ secrets to make weapons, suggesting the inevitability of violence in mankind. Between these two forces is young Ray Steam, who gravitates toward one side or the other as he gathers pieces of information. Unfortunately, this portrayal of Ray’s bewilderment and confusion bewilders and confuses some viewers who prefer their heroes and villains spelled out in black & white from the start. But the world – and Steamboy – doesn’t work that way, offering a worldview as breathtakingly complex as its beautifully detailed artwork.

 -- Brian Thomas