Steamboy

In an alternate England of the late 19th century, the exceptionally gifted young inventor Ray Steam receives a mysterious metal sphere from his grandfather Lloyd, which contains a completely new form of energy. The power of this "Steamball" could theoretically supply an entire nation with energy. However, the wonder sphere becomes an object of desire. On one side stands the weapons company O'Hara, where Ray's father Edward works, led by the arrogant young Scarlett. On the other side is British engineer Robert Stephenson, to whom Ray is supposed to hand over the sphere. The threads come together at the first World Exhibition in London, and Ray must decide whom he can trust.

Steamboy, with a production cost of 22 million dollars, is one of the most expensive and elaborate anime films of all time. Over a span of 10 years, 180,000 individual drawings and 400 CG cuts were created for the legendary steampunk vision of Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo. The result impresses with its epic scale and is undoubtedly one of the most significant anime blockbusters of the last 20 years.