Steamboy
Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
Rei is a young inventor living in the U.K. in the middle of the nineteenth century. Shortly before the first World Expo, a marvelous invention called the "Steam Ball", behind which a menacing power is hidden, arrives at his door from his grandfather Roid in the U.S. Meanwhile, the nefarious O'Hara Foundation has sent men to acquire the Steam Ball, so that they can use its power towards their own illicit ends.
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Steamboy Ratings & Reviews
- RichardAugust 3, 2025Steamboy is a visual feast wrapped in brass and steam, set in an alternate 19th-century England where invention teeters on the edge of destruction. Young Ray Steam receives a mysterious device, the Steam Ball from his grandfather and suddenly finds himself caught between rival factions who see technology as either salvation or weapon. What unfolds is part historical fantasy, part cautionary tale. The animation is jaw dropping. Every gear, piston and plume of smoke is rendered with obsessive detail, making the world feel alive and mechanical in equal measure. The cityscapes pulse with energy and the action sequences, especially the final showdown are pure spectacle. It’s steampunk turned up to eleven. This isn’t just about cool machines, it’s about the cost of progress, the ethics of invention and the weight of legacy. But for all its grandeur, the characters sometimes feel like passengers in their own story. Ray and Scarlett never quite evolve and the middle act drags with chase scenes that blur together. The film leans hard into its visuals, occasionally at the expense of emotional depth. It’s beautiful, but a bit cold, like admiring a perfectly built engine that never quite roars to life. Still, if you’re into animation, alternate history, or just want to get lost in a world of steam-powered ambition, Steamboy delivers. It may not reach the philosophical heights of Akira, but it’s a thrilling ride through a world where science and conscience collide.
Steamboy Trivia
Steamboy was released on July 17, 2004.
Steamboy was directed by Katsuhiro Otomo.
Steamboy has a runtime of 2h 6m.
Steamboy was produced by Shinji Komori, Hideyuki Tomioka.
Rei is a young inventor living in the U.K. in the middle of the nineteenth century. Shortly before the first World Expo, a marvelous invention called the "Steam Ball", behind which a menacing power is hidden, arrives at his door from his grandfather Roid in the U.S. Meanwhile, the nefarious O'Hara Foundation has sent men to acquire the Steam Ball, so that they can use its power towards their own illicit ends.
The key characters in Steamboy are Ray's Mother (voice) (Keiko Aizawa), Thomas (voice) (Aiko Hibi), Scarlett O'Hara St. Jones (voice) (Manami Konishi).
Steamboy is rated PG-13.
Steamboy is an Animation, Fantasy, Science Fiction film.
Steamboy has an audience rating of 6.8 out of 10.
Steamboy had a budget of $26M.
Steamboy has made $18.9M at the box office.