Redline

『レッドライン』
Reddo Rain

Introduction by LeSean Thomas. Directed by Takeshi Koike and animated by studio Madhouse, Redline is a ferociously animated far-future action-adventure film spiraling around an intergalactic race. Over the top in its story, characters and visuals, it was in production for almost a decade, and the result is a nonstop electric rush that only the medium of animation can create. Yet, despite all this, it was a box office flop upon its initial release, and only years later, would go on to become a cult classic beloved by cinephiles, animation fans and professionals on both sides of the Pacific.

Dir. Takeshi Koike, 2010, 102 min., Digital, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Takuya Kimura, Yu Aoi.

LeSean Thomas on Redline:
“I mean, what can I say about Redline? Redline, to me, is an anime version of Blade Runner. It’s a seminal work and groundbreaking no matter when you watch it. It’s a technical marvel, and something only Takeshi Koike could do. Redline is Takeshi Koike’s magnum opus.” LeSean would go on to work with Koike in his Netflix series Yasuke, with Koike contributing the project’s character designs. “To be able to have Koike design all the characters for Yasuke is a dream come true. To be able to work with my anime production idol closely was outstanding.”