Metropolis is a 2001 Japanese animated science fiction film directed by Rintaro and written by Katsuhiro Otomo. The movie is set in a futuristic city called Metropolis that is built on top of an old city that was destroyed in a war. The city is divided into two classes, the rich and the poor, with robots serving as a servant class to the wealthy.
Duke Red, the leader of the city, plans to extend his power and influence throughout the world by constructing a massive Ziggurat, a towering edifice intended to showcase his power. At the heart of his plan is Tima, a humanoid robot built in the image of his deceased daughter. Tima is programmed to wield a powerful weapon that can control the massive construction machines and thus complete Red's plans for global domination.
However, a fire breaks out in the laboratory where Tima is being developed and she escapes, encountering Kenichi, a young boy who has come to Metropolis with his detective uncle to investigate a scientist suspected of illegal organ trafficking. Initially, Kenichi is unaware that Tima is a robot but they soon become good friends, and he tries to protect her from those who would do her harm.
Meanwhile, Duke Red is determined to retrieve Tima and complete his Ziggurat, using force if necessary. However, as Tima begins to make discoveries about her own existence, and the relationship between the rich and the poor of Metropolis becomes increasingly complex, it becomes clear that her destiny may be very different from that which had been planned for her.
In the end, the fate of Metropolis hangs in the balance, as the forces of greed, technology, and humanity collide in a desperate struggle for control. The movie is a powerful commentary on the dangers of unchecked ambition, class divides, and the fundamental nature of what it means to be human.
