This leads to some fun chase sequences with a large variety of steampunk contraptions, and eventually to James’ capture. James receives the Steamball in the post and is soon instructed to run away with it by Lloyd, who claims his son, James’ father, is dead. The conflict comes in the shape of an American company called the O’Hara Foundation, who want the power of the Steamball for themselves. He works in a factory for little-to-no pay (some parts of history never change, it seems…) but takes great pleasure in pinching machine parts so he can build things at home like his Dad and Granddad, both of whom have been in America for several years working on the legendary “Steamball” that could revolutionize steam power forever. The main character is a young boy (of course!) called James Ray Steam, and he’s the son of renowned inventor Edward Steam and the grandson of even more legendary inventor Lloyd Steam.

Prepare for plenty of hissing, clicking and clanking in most scenes, that’s for sure! It’s set in an alternate universe 1800s England, and as you’d probably guess, is very steampunk. Its main theme is the use of technology by man to inflict harm on other men rather than for something good and pure. This is very much an uplifting family film in the same vein as a Disney or Ghibli project, and although it doesn’t achieve those heights, it’s still an enjoyable watch.

All that being said, what’s it actually like to watch?įirst things first if you’re expecting this to be anything like Akira then you’ll be disappointed. There are a lot of interesting facts about Steamboy: it’s one of the most expensive Japanese animated movies ever made, it took 10 years to make, and it was the second project of Katsuhiro Otomo, following on from the one and only Akira.

Steamboy anime reviews