The Humanoid

The only thing the Humanoid (1986) has going for it is its DVD/video display box. The neo-trippy artwork of a sleek, silvery, sexgoddess android immediately evoked images of Fritz Lang's Metropolis, and the bright orange background just topped it all off. The purchase was made.

When I returned home my anticipation soared as I tore open the plastic wrapper. Then I was shocked & horrified at how bad this film really was. The animation was quite shaky and amateurish compared to present day imports from Japan, and the overall plot was pointless and absurd. It was a stinker.

Humanoid then rested next to my television, summoning many comments from curious visitors, and I never had the nerve to tell them how much it sucked. So my guests would leave my apartment assuming that the Humanoid was probably a pretty cool film. My best friend now owns that old copy and keeps it next to his television...because it displays well in the box!

I picked this one out of the library, and I praise the Lord for doing so, because if I had payed to rent it I might not have forgiven myself very easily. This is an awful movie, very bad technique and very bad story. If you are like me, you will have hope of everything getting better toward the end, and will be deceived. The only reason I am giving it a 2 instead of a 1 is because of one action sequence that did shine amidst the rest (not that it was GOOD, but at least it proved that the directors had the potential to do so much more). Don't even pick this movie, unless you want to study very primitive animation, or unless you enjoy very cheesy 80's visuals against an even cheesier soundtrack.

To say this anime is bad is an understatement. The animation is clunky, the characterization is wafer thin, and the plot is ridiculous even by the standards of 80s anime. The dubbed version is even worse, despite the efforts of at least two talented voice actors, one of them from RANMA 1/2. Even the robot guards sound like bored surfer dudes. The only good things about it are the soundtrack, which sounds like it was composed by the same people who did TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE, and the fact that every other scene has characters talking rapturously about coffee. I mean, these people are addicted. Try a drinking game in which you have to take a shot whenever anyone mentions coffee, and you'll be drunk within the first twenty minutes.

I do like anime a lot, and when I came across The Humanoid it did look intriguing. The film however was a big disappointment, apart from a great-looking display box, one or two cool character designs and Antoinette who is by default the film's best character, there is very little to recommend it. I was really disappointed at how a film with as much good promise as it did turned out so pointless and aimless. The animation is mostly very sloppy, with flat colours and most of the characters lack fluidity in how they move. The story lets it down hugely too, there is nothing to it, it is very thin in construction and pedestrian in pace. The only slight sparks are with Antoinette's appearance and to a lesser extent the action scenes which are disappointingly brief and rushed otherwise. The dialogue plods, the characters are indifferent and static, the music is forgettable and the voice work and lip movements are bland and poor. So overall, a disappointing film and while not the worst animated/anime film I've seen The Humanoid belongs down there with the severe letdowns. 3/10 Bethany Cox

If you're a fan of Battle of the Planets, Transformers, Bubblegum Crisis, Macross, Robotech or other 80s anime, you'll likely enjoy this.

Contrary to what the review states, the animation is pretty much par for the course for anime released at that time, and some sequences are quite good.

It's main flaw is that it tackles a subject too deep and complex for a 45 min. feature. Can a robot love a human? Is it really love? Spielberg's "A.I." explored this concept in a much more mature, lengthy, and engaging fashion, but The Humanoid is still fun viewing.

If you find it now, it'll be cheap. My version is the original VHS, released in 1986 in Japan. There are a couple of newer versions, on DVD, and I don't know what they contain. Enjoy.