The story is taken from a single chapter of Black Magic, the fanzine that got schoolteacher Masamune Shirow his first professional break. Black Magic M-66 offers tense action scenes including a wonderful sequence at a roadblock where the military try to stop two wandering androids. Classic Shirow touches include the layering of media references in the background on TV and radio, and the political overtones, which have been misinterpreted as a comment on the divisive border stand-off in Korea. Shirow has never directed another anime after this film, staying well clear of even his own titles. The production ended massively over budget because of his perfectionism. The design, especially the mecha, is remarkable, with excellent use of a moody color palette, and the writing is crisp and pacey. Fortunately Shirow has found a gifted director to interpret his work, particularly on Ghost In The Shell (1995), and his departure from animation has enabled him to stay at home in Kobe and turn out mega-hit comics to keep the studios busy.
Review of Black Magic M-66
Black Magic M-66
(1987 Video)
Centers around the efforts of a female journalist named Sybel to save a young girl from an out-of-control military android created by the girl's grandfather.
19 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers