March 9, 2023
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By Andrew Osmond.
In Levius, boxing meets steampunk; or to place it in anime phrases, Megalobox (or Tomorrow’s Joe) meets Fullmetal Alchmist (or Violet Evergarden). It’s a collection by the Polygon CG studio, which many readers will know for its area opera, Knights of Sidonia. Like that collection, Levius was produced by Netflix and first screened on the platform. But it surely’s a giant change of scene from Sidonia.
As an alternative of starfields and spaceships, the setting seems decidedly British. The hero’s metropolis has rows of terraced brick homes that might have come from the titles of Coronation Road, or from the early scenes of Steamboy, the exuberant anime film by Katsuhiro Otomo. Our hero’s known as Levius, which doesn’t sound like a standard British title, however when his household title is Cromwell, it balances out. We leap in with Levius within the ring, powered by each muscle groups and mechanics. Considered one of his arms is a prosthetic, and each arms are augmented with steel gears. But it surely’s no freakshow. His opponent is simply the identical, on this newly-established sport of “steel boxing.”
A lot of the backstory will get defined in elements two and three. Levius’ nation has lately suffered a battle, during which his father perished. Worse nonetheless, the battle got here to town, catching up Levius, then a baby, and his mom. That’s when Levius misplaced his arm, incinerated by an enemy war-machine. His mom protected the boy, however was left in a seemingly everlasting coma. Levius was taken in by his grandmother and his uncle Zacks – the latter a former boxer, gruff however with heat beneath. He’s voiced in Japanese by Junichi Sawabe, who took the title position in Area Dandy.
It’s Hugo who sees the boy’s expertise, and trains him as much as be the rising star we see partly one. Why Levius desires to battle is one thing even he can’t articulate, although it’s plainly certain up along with his battle trauma. Extra simple is Natalia, an impetuous lady fighter who was shocked to be overwhelmed by Levius. Now she insists on sparring with him in his “health club” (a disused manufacturing unit constructing), searching for an edge. Her delight contrasts with Levius’ lack of ego – when Natalia does greatest him within the ring, his response is to ask her enthusiastically to show him. Natalia’s Japanese actress is Ayane Sakura, who voices the equally hotheaded Mika within the Psycho-Cross franchise.
It seems “steel boxing” isn’t nearly gears and robotics. On this world, a brand new miracle substance was found – a standard plot gadget in SF alternate histories, as with the Icelandic water in Steamboy that brings a brand new age of steam energy. In Levius, the key is once more present in water that may bind with blood and produce steam. Within the present’s world, this led to the manufacturing of human-machine cyborgs powered by that steam. The water as soon as prompted the battle which shattered Levius’ life. Now it’s led to a bread-and-circus sport for the lots, in a present the place the boxing ring is a Roman-style Colosseum, and the place Levius is compelled by his demons to battle repeatedly.
Andrew Osmond is the creator of 100 Animated Characteristic Movies. Levius is launched within the UK by Anime Restricted.
