1. STEAMBOY

2. Steamboy Trailer (2004) 3. OVERVIEWOur topic is "Technology and Protest", and our film is Steamboy, written and created by Katsuhiro Otomo. This was Otomos second blockbuster animestyle film; the first being Akria. It highlights the struggle between good andevil when it comes to the advancement of technology. With each major stepforward in technology, there are people/governments who want it for military power and weaponry. On the other hand, there are people who want to use itfor the betterment of humanity. In the film, the technology in question is theSteamball. Its creators, a father and son, intended it for good, but the OHaraFoundation wanted to corrupt it for use as a weapon. A war ensues between the Foundation and Britain over the Steamball, each side craving the power itwould give them. Ray, the main character and a third generation inventor,represents the protest of technology used for power. He attempts to keep the Steamball out of either sides greedy hands. 4. CONTRIBUTIONS Kristin: Culture and Origin of the Story Miranda: Storyline and CharacterizationHina: How the Major Themes UnfoldDue to a member of our group unexpectedly leaving, Miranda and Hina aresplitting the section on technical aspects.Miranda is also in charge of putting together the Powerpoint with assistanceby Hina. 5. CULTURAL ASPECTS By Kristin Dixson 6. FUTURISTIC William Gibson once described Japanas "the most inherently futuristic of allnations and speculated the reason forthis was the massive societal changes Japan underwent in the nineteenth century to catch up to the technologyof the Western powers. From this timeon Japan was effectively living in thefuture and eventually became a worldleader in technological research. Tokyos gigantic urban sprawl lookslike a city from the future. Japans neon-drenched cityscapes have influenced the look of science fiction, most famously in Blade Runner. 7. TRADITIONALJapan also manages to be one of the worlds most traditional societies. Customs and festivalsgoing back hundreds of years are stillobserved and Japanese culture is still influenced by the Shinto worldviewof nature as alive with spirits andgods. The clash between the modernworld of technology and the animist world is a central theme in many Japanese stories. 8. POWER OF TECHNOLOGYOne of the most pervasive themes in Japanese SF is the destructive powerof technology. The most famous ofall Japanese SF icons, Godzilla (Gojira)is in some ways a reaction to thenuclear bombing of Japan. Otherfilms contain cautionary tales oftechnologys dehumanizing effect. Arecent example is Steamboy, where the course of scientific research isperverted by the desire to create better weapons. 9. POST APOCALYPTIC Post apocalyptic societies are also prevalent inJapanese SF, notably in films and series suchas Akira, Ghost in the Shell (Koukaku Kidoutai)and Evangelion (Shin Seiki Evangerion). RolandKelts book Japanamerica: How Japanese PopCulture Has Invaded the U.S. charts the rise in popularity of anime and includes a discussion of how the atomic bombings influenced Japanese popular culture, along with the claim that Japan became the first post apocalypticsociety. The book goes on to speculate that one of the reasons for the rise in popularityof anime and manga in America is that after9/11 Americans were better able to relate totales which dealt with "a sudden shift in a mass population from the known risks andvulnerabilities to the unknown, the abstract, the shadowy, and the facelessand theimminent possibility of an apocalyptic event on a bright sunny morning." 10. ORIGIN OF FILM By Kristin Dixson 11. Katsuhiro Otomo Steamboy Interview 12. STORYLINEBy Miranda Scott 13. THE STEAM BALLSteamboy is a science fiction/actionadventure film set in Victorian England that tells the story of the Steam family (Doyle). During 1866, Dr. Lloyd Steamand Dr. Edward Steam have a dream to better all of humanity through science.With the help of the OHara Foundation, Dr. Lloyd and Dr. Edward set out insearch of a pure source of energy and end up finding it in a cave in Iceland.With the use of this newfound puresource of energy they create the SteamBall, an invention capable of powering an entire nation (Doyle). 14. MOMENT OF INSANITYHowever, Dr. Lloyd is overwhelmedby the power of their new invention,which drives him to insanity for a brief moment. Dr. Edward, Dr.Lloyds son, becomes a victim of the Steam Ball that disfigures him. Dr.Lloyd sees the errors of his waysthrough this tragic event and tries toprotect his son and the Steam Ball by sending them to his family andescaping the OHara Foundation. 15. GRANDFATHERS LETTER In Manchester, England, 13-year oldmechanical genius and prodigy JamesRay Steam anxiously awaits the return of his father (Dr. Edward)and grandfather (Dr. Lloyd)(Steamboy). When Ray receives theSteam Ball in the mail, two men fromthe OHara Foundation arrive shortly after. Fortunately, Ray read the letter his grandfather sent with the SteamBall warning him about the OHaraFoundation and to keep the SteamBall safe until he returns. 16. DARING ESCAPE #1 Ray does exactly as the letter statesand protects the Steam Ball byescaping on his steam-poweredmonowheel, but unfortunately the OHara Foundation is a bit moreprepared as they send their steam-powered locomotive after Ray. Thanks to the help of Robert Stephenson and David his assistant, Ray is able to escape the clutches ofthe OHara Foundation for a brief moment. 17. CAPTURED The OHara Foundation soonreturns with a zeppelin that hasmechanical arms, which are used to help kidnap Ray. Arriving in Londonprior to the London Exhibition, they arrive at the Steam Castle where Ray meets Scarlet OHara and is firstintroduced by his father to the power and capabilities of the Steam Castle;Ray is recruited by this father to help finish the Steam Castle without fully knowing the intentions of it. 18. WAR MACHINE Dr. Lloyd, who was re-captured by the OHara Foundation, is able to escape thecell in which he was withheld in and rushes to destroy his invention. When Dr. Edwards discovers this, he directs hisassistants to shut off certain valves and his son to close a hard-to-reach valve that his assistants cannot reach. Ray discovers his grandfather opening valves and loosening bolts when he almost reaches the specificvalve. Confused by what his grandfather is doing, Ray interrogates him but hisgrandfather explains to him that the SteamCastle is really nothing more than a war machine meant to destroy mankind. 19. DARING ESCAPE #2 Now enlightened, Ray decides thatthe Steam Castle and the Steam Ballmust be destroyed. He follows his grandfather to the center of the Steam Castle where the Steam Ballruns the entire castle. As he watches his grandfather begin to unlock theSteam Ball from its prison, theOHara Foundation begins shootingat Ray and his grandfather. Ray takes the Steam Ball and makes a daringescape by jumping off of the platform and freefalling until hecatches on a wire. 20. IN THE END Rescued by Mr. Stephenson, Ray discoversthat he has other intentions for the SteamBall which are similar to that of the OHaraFoundation. With the beginning of the London Exhibition, a battle soon ensues between the OHara Foundation andScotland Yard; Ray must find a way to re- retrieve the ball and save his family as wellas Ms. Scarlet. Modeling off his genius, Rayis able to construct a flying contraption that he uses to reach the control room of theSteam Castle. With the help of his grandfather, father, and Ms. Scarlet, Ray isable to steer the steam-powered castle awayfrom its Armageddon on London. 21. CHARACTERIZATION By Miranda Scott 22. JAMES RAY STEAM Main Character 13 years old Lives in Manchester An inventor following the pathsof his father and grandfather. Has youthful idealisms andsincerely dislikes the employmentof technology for harmfulpurposes. 23. SCARLET OHARA Selfish, misguided, annoyinglyspoiled yet whimsical and notcompletely heartless. 14 years old Granddaughter of the chairmanof the OHara Foundation Matures as a result of herencounter with Ray. Based upon the fictional characterof the same name from theclassical novel Gone with theWind. 24. DR. EDWARD STEAM Rays Father The accident that occurred as a resultof the development of the Steam Ballleft Edward in a state where he neededto have machinery replace some of hisbody. The accident also left him with severelytwisted morals, driving him to believethat science is an expression ofmankinds ultimate power. Edwards father calls him Eddy He uses the Foundation and theExhibition as a springboard to launchhis ultimate invention: a monstrous,flying war machine called the SteamCastle. 25. DR. LLOYD STEAM Rays idealistic grandfather The original conceiver of theSteam Ball, which he succeeded indeveloping with his son Edward. Lloyd wishes to use science tohelp people. Lloyd intended the Steam Castleto be a sort of flying amusementpark. 26. ROBERT STEPHENSON Edward and Lloyd Steams friendand rival A major player in the IndustrialRevolution He claims that he wishes to usethe Steam Ball for the good ofthe British Empire, but exactlyhow he plans to do it isquestionable. Possibly based upon the real-lifeRobert Stephenson. 27. TECHNICAL ASPECTSBy Miranda Scott and Hina Farooq 28. STEAMPUNKSteamboy is a steampunk kind offilm which shows the industrialization of Europe in 19 thcentury. Steampunk refers to thegenre of films which are inspired bythe steam powered machines. Filmsdirector and co-writer KatsuhiroOtomo has shown industrializationand its dangers. Film is a traditional animated style and mostly darkcolors have been used. All themachines are dark, mostly black and very huge and complex. 29. LAYOUT Film starts off as being very dark and dull.In the first few minutes of film, everythinghas been destroyed because of a steamexplosion except the steamball. Directorfocuses on steamball after the explosion toemphasize its importance. Very dull shadesof brown, black and grey have been used throughout the film. Director hasbeautifully shown the Victorian setting. When steam castle takes off, it leaves behind a layer of white fog on everything which makes everything appearlifeless. Rays father who is villain of film is a cyborg with one arm and eye made ofmetal. A special sort of music is associatedwith launch of steam castle. 30. Making of Steamboy 31. MAJOR THEMES By: Hina Farooq 32. TECHNOLOGYThe advancement in technology has helped societies to progress and enter into a newera of development. New and improvedtechnological inventions have made it possible to create machinery, progresseconomy and improve quality of life.Instead of manual labor, machines are able to do the same job more efficiently and in less time. They help countries to grow,expand and prosper. But these advancements have also caused moral and social issues like desire to gain power andcontrol the world. The invention of steam ball was considered one of the greatestinventions of nineteenth century. 33. MISUSE OF TECHNOLOGY Any invention or technology can be used in different ways; either forbenefitting or for harming. In this film all the new technologicalinventions are used for the solepurpose of making money instead ofimproving peoples lives. Humans have always been fascinated withpower to control and rule the world. Instead of using technological inventions like steam ball for thebetterment of humanity, they arebeing used to create weapons andarmies. 34. INVENTION OF TECHNOLOGY In Steamboy, Ray is interested in inventing steam powered machines for thebetterment of his people and country. He is fascinated with technologicalprogress and hopes to design something useful like his father, Dr. Edward and grandfather, Dr. Lloyd. Rays father on the other hand is busy with the OHara foundation in developing weapons and machinery to be sold to othercountries. These weapons and machineries are a passport to destruction. Theyare created to destroy countries and to gain power. Rays and his grandfathersviews are highly contrasting to his fathers views of these technologicaladvancements. Ray and his grandfather openly protest against his father. Theyknow that these productions will only lead to destruction and will causedevastation among people. Throughout the film we can see how Dr.Lloydopenly protests against the weapons, arms and other steam powered machines that his son has invented. 35. PROTESTING AGAINST MISUSE OFTECHNOLOGYRays father spends his entire life in inventing steam powered machinery and succeeds in achieving his goal. But he forgets that with such a huge inventionalso comes a big responsibility of truthfully using these inventions. He forgets his responsibility and starts working with O Hara foundation whose interestonly lies in making steam powered weapons, machines and army. They dont care about the outcomes of their actions. They just want to make money outof these machines. Ray and his grandfather are busy in trying to stop hisfather from his evil motives. They have teamed up and doing their best to stop the production of these weapons. Ray s grandfather has been openlyprotesting against his father because of his immoral actions. Despite all the efforts, Rays father finally succeeds in launching the steam castle which is the ultimate invention. 36. GREAT INVENTION COMES WITHA GREATER RESPONSIBILITY This film shows that technology, its misuse and the protest goes hand in hand. There is always someoneresponsible enough to take charge of everything. 37. BIBLIOGRAPHY Broadbent, Jeffrey. Environmental Politics in Japan: Networks of Power and Protest.Cambridge: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge, 1998. Doyle, Aidan. "Japanese Science Fiction." The Internet Review of Science Fiction. N.p., July 2008.Web. 4 Nov. 2012. . Doyle, Aubrey. "Filmmakers rely on the power and flexibility of Autodesk 3ds Maxsoftware to create Steamboy, the epic new film from renowned Japanese writer/directorKatsuhiro Otomo." Autodesk (2005). Gibson, William. The Future Perfect: How did Japan become the favored default setting forso many cyberpunk writers? Time, Apr. 30, 2001, vol. 157, no. 17. Kelts, Roland. Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S. Palgrave Macmillan,2006. Marshall, Marc and Marshall, Akemi. Steamboy. 28 November 2006. 4 November 2012. McKean, Margaret A. Environmental Protest and Citizen Politics in Japan. London:University of California Press, Ltd., 1981. Morris-Suzuki, Tessa. The Technological Transformation of Japan: From the Seventeenth tothe Twenty-first Century. Cambridge: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge, 1994.