Steamboy

Synopsis

During the steam-powered era of Victorian Britain, the Industrial Revolution drives the empire's expansion. James Ray Steam, a young inventor from a distinguished family of innovators, resides in Manchester, where he spends his days laboring in local factories and gathering parts for his creations. One day, he gets a mysterious parcel from his grandfather, who is working with Ray's father in the United States. The parcel holds an odd ball fitted with a valve. Soon after, agents from the O'Hara Foundation storm his home, aiming to confiscate the object. Panicked and bewildered, Ray flees to the home of his grandfather's associate, Robert Stephenson, with his pursuers close behind. As he uncovers the secrets and capabilities of the ball, it becomes clear that multiple factions within the British Empire are competing to gain control of it.

Background

Steamboy was initially to be a three 40-minute OVA series, but a theatrical release was decided instead. The movie took nine years to create with a budget of 2.4 billion yen, making it the most expensive Japanese animated film produced for its time. It won the 2004 Best Animated Feature Film at the Sitges Film Festival. The film was released on DVD in Japan by Bandai Visual on April 14, 2005.