Vexille
Vexille | |
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Directed by | Fumihiko Sori |
Written by |
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Produced by |
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Starring |
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Edited by | Fumihiko Sori |
Music by | Paul Oakenfold |
Production company | Oxybot |
Distributed by | |
Release date |
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Running time | 111 minutes |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
Budget | $10,000,000 US |
Vexille (ベクシル 2077日本鎖国, Bekushiru 2077 Nihon sakoku, lit. "Vexille: 2077 Japanese Isolation") is a 2007 Japanese CGI anime film, written, directed, and edited by Fumihiko Sori, and features the voices of Meisa Kuroki, Yasuko Matsuyuki, and Shosuke Tanihara.
At the
Plot
By the 2060s, robotics technology has become extremely advanced, including cybernetics. World opinion begins to turn against robotics, leading to the U.N. declaring a unilateral ban on further research in 2067. Japan, being home to robotics pioneer Daiwa Heavy Industries, strongly protests this ban, but is unable to prevent its passage. In protest, Japan withdraws from international politics. All foreigners are deported, and further immigration is prohibited. In addition, the R.A.C.E. network is constructed — 270 off-shore installations that cover Japan with an energy field, nullifying all communication with the outside world and making satellite surveillance impossible. Trade and diplomacy continues, but Japan vanishes from the world scene.
Ten years later, the
Maria, the head of the resistance, details the 10 years of secrecy while SWORD studies Japan in shocked horror — the islands are a lifeless wasteland. In 2067, an unknown disease struck Japan and was countered by an experimental
The Resistance plans to draw the Jags along a service bridge to Daiwa's corporate headquarters, which now stands in the middle of Tokyo Bay. Vexille volunteers her assistance (and that of her flight-capable armor). However, though Vexille and Maria succeed in drawing the Jags to the end of the service bridge, the bridge has been detached from the headquarters, the Jags fall into the sea, and Vexille and Maria are captured. They are taken to Kisaragi, the master of Daiwa, who boasts that his research is nearly complete. And as he needs more test subjects, he is going to invade America. Vexille attacks him with a hidden knife, revealing that his blood is still human — he has not used the process himself. Saito then strangles him. The town council forces the ceramic gates open, destroying Tokyo and enabling the Jags to enter Daiwa's headquarters. Kisaragi, having somehow survived, shoots Saito and escapes with his research. The underling then releases Vexille and Maria before succumbing to his wounds.
Vexille pursues Kisaragi while Maria frees Leon, who shows concern for Vexille, angering Maria. Thus when Vexille prevents Kisaragi's escape in a helicopter, Maria grabs him and holds them together as a Jag devours them. Vexille and Leon are rescued by a SWORD helicopter just as Daiwa headquarters collapses into the bay, along with every Jag in Japan. As Vexille and Leon are flown from a now completely lifeless Japan, Vexille comments that humanity's spirit can never be taken away.
Cast
Japanese
- Meisa Kuroki as Lt. Cdr. Vexille Serra
- Shosuke Taniharaas Cdr. Leon Fayden
- Yasuko Matsuyuki as Maria
- Takaya Kuroda as Zack
- Akio Ōtsukaas Saito
- Romi Park as Takashi
- Takahiro Sakurai as Ryo
- Toshiyuki Morikawa as Kisaragi
- Tetsuya Kakihara as Taro
- Takayuki Sugoas Captain Borg
- Kenji Takahashi as Saga
- Jiro Saito as Chairman Itakura
English
- Colleen Clinkenbeard as Lt. Cdr. Vexille Serra
- Travis Willingham as Cdr. Leon Fayden
- Christine Auten as Maria
- Christopher Sabat as Zack
- Jason Douglas as Saito
- Luci Christian as Takashi
- Illich Guardiola as Ryo
- J. Michael Tatum as Kisaragi
- Todd Haberkorn as Taro
- John Swasey as Captain Borg
- Phil Parsons as Saga
- Kent Williams as Chairman Itakura
Music
The original soundtrack and music to the series features an
Reception
This movie has been said to have a
Releases
For the Region 1 release Vexille was first released in a 1 disc format on May 20, 2008,[4] followed by a 2 Disc special edition on November 4, 2008.[5] Both versions include the original Japanese soundtrack as well as the English dub, with optional subtitles.
A Blu-ray Disc version was released on the same day as the 2 Disc special edition and includes exactly the same features as its DVD counterpart.[6]
Region 2 DVD was released on September 1, 2008, in a limited edition steelbook 2 Disc set,[7] featuring only the original Japanese soundtrack with English subtitles without English Dub. That version has since gone out of print and has been replaced by a standard 1 disc set with no extra features.[8]
A Blu-ray Disc version is yet to be released on Region B.[9]
Live-action film
See also
References
- ^ Smith, D. F. (December 22, 2008). "Vexille — Isolation Special Edition DVD Review: This Blu-ray Disc doesn't solve every one of the movie's problems, but at least it fixes a few". IGN.
- ISSN 1320-7458.
- ^ "Vexille". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "Vexille — Movie: Toshiyuki Morikawa, Romi Park, Shosuke Tanihara, Akio Atsuka, Meisa Kuroki, Takahiro Sakurai, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Tetsuya Kakihara, Fumihiko Sori". Amazon. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ "Vexille (Special Edition): Meisa Kuroki, Shosuke Tanihara, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Tetsuya Kakihara, Romi Pak, Takahiro Sakurai, Akio Atsuka, Fumihiko Sori". Amazon. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ "Vexille (Special Edition) [Blu-ray Disc]: Meisa Kuroki, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Travis Willingham, Shosuke Tanihara, Christine M. Auten, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Christopher Sabat, Jason Douglas (IV), Luci Christian, Illich Guardiola, J. Michael Tatum, Todd Haberkorn, John Swasey, Phil Parsons (II), Kent Williams, Tetsuya Kakihara, Romi Pak, Akio Atsuka, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Takahiro Sakurai, Fumihiko Sori: Movies & TV". Amazon. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ "Vexille — Steelbook Special Edition [DVD] [2007]: Amazon.co.uk: Fumihiko Sori: DVD". Amazon.co.uk. September 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ "Vexille [DVD] [2007]: Fumihiko Sori: Amazon.co.uk: DVD". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ "Vexille [Blu-ray Disc] [2007]: Fumihiko Sori: Amazon.co.uk: DVD". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ Universal Acquires ‘Vexille’ with Evan Spiliotopoulos Adapting (EXCLUSIVE)
External links
- Vexille at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Vexille at IMDb
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Official website
- Twitch Vexille review
- Variety.com Vexille review
- The Japan Times Vexille review