While there are definite artistic nods to French artist Moebius and Heavy Metal, with references to virtually any car race flick since at least Gone in 60 Seconds – and even video games such as Space Channel 5 – everything on screen (from racers to nipples) is so greatly exaggerated that one really has no option than to simply take the world at face value. The unique animation definitely has its influences, in the same way that a mash-up can be said to be drawn from other people’s work. This allows the production design to plough straight through the rails and through to that happy place one goes filled with Skittles, pop music and talking puppies. Despite being filled with dog-like creatures, aliens, humans with giant quiffs (a true Japanese hipster staple) and psychotic robotic beings, there is something incredibly grounded about the Redline universe. One wouldn’t be surprised if the creators had thought of a story for the hundreds (possibly thousands) of creatures that appear on screen. Redline‘s world is one that is teeming with life.
While this is ostensibly an ‘underdog trying against the odds’ sporting film, little time is wasted on screen with unnecessary exposition or back-story, yet the film manages to draw you in an inch at a time to its fully realised world, all the time rocketing us towards the finish line for a knuckle-whitening conclusion. With the words ‘subtle’ and ‘quiet’ evidently not appearing in Koike’s dictionary, the film is a surprisingly tight one. Overwhelming from the start, Redline is probably like nothing you have ever experienced. Redline drops like a direct assault on the brain, latching onto the part that likes high-speed racing, breasts, sugar and bright colours. With gangsters and the forces of Roboworld out to kill him, JP is going to win Redline or die trying. Together with partner Frisbee, JP tries to rebuild both his vehicle and his life with a newly impassioned soul sparked by the determination of his beautiful rival Sonoshi. ‘Sweet’ JP has always wanted to be the winner of this event, but after being caught up with the wrong crowd for years, an accident at the qualifying Yellowline event lands him in hospital. However, when the secret location of the Redline event is revealed to be the incredibly hostile Roboworld, two of the qualifying racers pull out allowing JP to enter the race as a reserve. Redline is the biggest, most popular, illegal and most dangerous races in all of the galaxy. The directoral debut of Takeshi Koike, who was a key animator on The Animatrix amongst other things, this is one of the most anticipated outings of 2010. Madhouse Studios are one of the rock star production companies on the anime scene in Japan, with their credits including Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Demon City Shinkjuku and the late Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress.
Indeed, Redline has not even been released in Japan yet, with only the Swiss Lorcano International Film Festival pipping Australia to the post on screening this first globally. Showcasing some of the best Japanese animation of the last few years, the Reel Anime Festival has managed to put together a fine selection of films this year.
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