BLAME! Interesting Blend of Cyberpunk and Post-apocalypse

Imagine a world in which the Internet turns against humanity… Decimated by a plague, mankind is forced to fight for survival in a city governed by an advanced and ultimate form of the network. Hunted and forced into hiding, humans struggle not only with hunger caused by scarce food supplies, but also with the city’s defense system—the so-called safeguards: spider-like robots regularly dispatched toward human settlements to exterminate them. Will such a world find its hero? This, in a nutshell, is the plot of the Japanese film Blame!, produced by Polygon Pictures and distributed by Netflix, which premiered on May 20, 2017.

It is an anime directed by Hiroyuki Seshita, previously responsible for the series Sidonia no Kishi and Ajin. The screenplay of Blame! is based on the manga of the same title by Tsutomu Nihei. His style is permeated with a fascination for cyberpunk and architecture—clearly visible in the designs of monumental structures—which he once studied.

An adaptation of the famous manga Blame!, first published in 1994, had been planned for quite some time. The first rumors date back to 2007. However, the project ultimately fell through when the studio responsible, Micott & Basara, declared bankruptcy in 2011. In 2015, another attempt at adaptation was made—this time successfully—thanks largely to Netflix, which enabled the global distribution of Blame!.

What is the result? Taken as a whole, Blame! is a fairly competent anime: solidly designed (both in terms of costume design and the city’s architecture), visually pleasing (traditional linework enhanced with computer effects), and, just as importantly, grounded in an intriguing world. In terms of content, it offers an interesting blend of cyberpunk—led by the compelling idea of a network taking control of a metropolis—and post-apocalypse, and in both style and pacing it strongly resembles a video game. This, in fact, is the film’s greatest strength: throwing the viewer straight into the heart of the action while abandoning overly long introductions and character exposition.

The film opens with an impressive sequence of a clash between humans and safeguards, which simultaneously serves as a promise of the sensations awaiting the viewer later on. As in a good video game, moments of dynamic action are interrupted by lulls in which the audience has a chance to take a closer look at the characters—especially one main protagonist, reminiscent of the mysterious wanderers of classic westerns. Although these breaks sometimes last too long, the compensation in the form of the final showdown is fully satisfying.

However, this taking of shortcuts also has its dark side. Polygon Pictures’ film is only loosely connected to the manga of the same title, which results in the creators not bothering to explain the narrative complexities. A viewer unfamiliar with the original and accustomed to traditional storytelling that guides the audience by the hand from the very beginning may struggle to find their bearings in this world. As a result of the authors’ mental shortcuts, the depth of the story is lost somewhere along the way, and its message slips through the cracks as well. We do not really understand the hardship faced by the characters trying to survive in a post-catastrophe world, because no concrete imagery accompanies it.

If it weren’t for the fact that hunger is explicitly mentioned in the film, it would be difficult to guess that the characters are suffering from a lack of food—they move quite efficiently in their armor, after all. As a result, the entire post-apocalyptic context that should give this story meaning is supported only by empty slogans.

Perhaps, however, the creators deliberately chose not to lay all their cards on the table, counting on the possibility of continuing the story in a potential sequel. The risk paid off—just a few weeks after the film’s premiere, preparations for the production of Blame! 2 were officially announced. After all, there is no shortage of source material for adaptation—the manga consists of ten volumes.

Blame! did not cause an earthquake, did not captivate the masses, or instantly become a cult classic like several other kindred anime, but it is still a very solid production, featuring an intriguing world and characters, along with a stunning visual presentation. It is well worth your time.