Tekkenkinkreet

A-

Directed by Studio 4C

I was first introduced to the Studio 4C collective at this summer's Fantasia Festival when I had the pleasure of watching their innovative and highly entertaining "Genius Party." Whereas "Genius Party" was a showcase of the individual talents of Studio 4C's members, "Tekkenkinkreet" is a collaborative affair and the input of the "geniuses" responsible for "Genius Party" makes this animated film an eye popping and truly ambitious spectacle.

Orphan brothers White and Black protect a rundown neighborhood called 'Treasuretown' in a decrepit, sprawling Tokyo of the near future. Their hold on the city is tested at first by a gang of Yakuza who are easily defeated by the brothers. Their defense of Treasuretown is threatened, however, when an alien lifeform who nonetheless has an eye for business investment comes to Treasuretown with his goons, intent on razing the neighborhood in order to erect a money making theme park for the masses.

Let it be told, "Tekkenkinkreet" boasts some truly awe insprising visuals. Each frame is crammed with an infinite amount of details that add depth and texture to the artwork and the visual team behind the film's animation seems capable of an almost endless supply of aesthetic pirouettes with which to wow the audience. Watching "Tekkenkinkreet" unfold is a totally enthralling experience that is at the same time disorienting and visually exciting and for this alone the film should commended and, of course, watched again. On the downside, "Tekkenkinkreet," like many of its animated brethren, suffers greatly from a paper thin storyline that appears to be there simply to service the visual design of the film. My feeling has long been that the best animated films have narratives that complement the artwork but that most films simply have storylines to prop up the visuals. "Tekkenkinkreet" certainly appears to fall into the latter category, since the story of White and Black is, although at times sweet, rearely compelling or suspenseful. In addition, entire scenes appear to have been added to the film simply as an excuse to roll out the visual fireworks. Nevertheless, an animated film can survive quite with little real narrative meat on its bones and "Tekkenkinkreet" certainly succeeds in making us forget all about its pedestrian plot by mesmerizing us with its visual brilliance.