Synopsis
Private detective Shunsaku Ban and his nephew Kenichi leave Japan for Metropolis as part of an investigation. Metropolis is a restless high-tech city where humans cruelly oppress their robot cohabitants while a dictatorial force gains influence. They are looking into Dr. Laughton, a scientist accused of trafficking human organs, who is supposedly hiding there. What nobody knows is that Dr. Laughton has constructed a highly advanced female android named Tima for Metropolis's most powerful man, Duke Red. When an unforeseen event sets Dr. Laughton's laboratory ablaze, Shunsaku and Kenichi become separated while seeking survivors. Kenichi finds a disoriented Tima and works to protect her from Duke Red's merciless foster son, Rock, who chases after the robot girl. Without realizing Tima is an android, Kenichi grows close to her as a human. At the same time, Shunsaku tries to locate the boy, uncovering dark machinations that develop in the city's shadows—including the vital part Kenichi's new friend plays in Duke Red's ambitious goal for rule.
Background
Metropolis premiered internationally at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 29, 2001. The film debuted in the United States at the Egyptian Theatre on August 17, 2001. However, the official theatrical release in North America was made available by TriStar Pictures and Destination Films on January 25, 2002, in 10 major cities. The movie won the Domestic Feature Film at the 1st Tokyo Anime Awards in 2002. In the same year, it was officially selected for the Annecy Film Festival and nominated in the Cristal for a Feature Film award category. It also won the Achievement Award at the 2023 Tokyo Anime Award Festival. In Japan, Metropolis was released on Blu-ray and DVD by Bandai Namco Arts Inc.: a single DVD on December 7, 2001; a Blu-ray and DVD set on November 23, 2007; and a single Blu-ray on July 25, 2008. In North America, the film was released on a two-disc DVD set by Columbia TriStar on April 23, 2002. Sony Pictures published the Blu-ray version as a single disc on February 21, 2017. Mill Creek Entertainment also released a single Blu-ray disc on June 5, 2018, and a Blu-ray and DVD set on October 30, 2018.