NYAFF REVIEW: ‘Tekkonkinkreet’ follows young orphans trying to protect Treasure Town
Image: Tekkonkinkreet is directed by Michael Arias and based on the manga by Taiyo Matsumoto. Photo courtesy of TEKKONKINKREET © 2006 Taiyo Matsumoto/Shogakukan, Aniplex, Asmik Ace, Beyond C, dentsu, TOKYO MX. All Rights Reserved.
The anime style of Tekkonkinkreet is one of its strongest points. The film, adapted from Taiyo Matsumoto’s manga by Michael Arias, follows two orphans — Black and White — as they navigate the buildings, alleyways and crowded streets of Treasure Town, a community overrun by yakuza. There is plenty of action in this animated feature, and the visuals are almost always stunning, especially when Black and White effortlessly glide through the landscape.
The 2006 movie recently screened at the New York Asian Film Festival, which continues through July 9.
Tekkonkinkreet is a welcome addition to the manga-to-anime adaptations. The story translates well to the screen because Black and White are dynamic characters that feel original and cutting edge. They have a strange relationship — part sibling, part friend, part protector-protected. They are young but ruthless, prone to childish whimsy but never immature. Most of all, they want to protect their streets from the looming dangers of the yakuza.
Besides the visuals and strong voice work from Kazunari Ninomiya, Yu Aoi, Masahiro Motoki and Min Tanaka, the story says a lot about the changing dynamics of this urban setting. What Black and White are truly fighting is inevitable change, commercialization and gentrification. They know and love their neighborhood, respecting the people who are earning a living. They don’t appreciate the outsiders who only see financial prospects when looking at the busy skyline. This derision for outside influences causes Black and White to fight — sometimes quite violently — against the yakuza.
It would be wrong to call Black and White traditional superheroes. They are flawed characters and not terribly righteous in their actions. Instead, it’s best categorize them as protectors, two young people with unbelievable, high-flying abilities. They use these special abilities, which include scaling high buildings and jumping to impossible heights, in the pursuit of neighborhood preservation. That’s superheroic but doesn’t necessarily make them superheroes.
Their villainous opponents are superhuman baddies who seemingly can rebuff Black and White’s skills. However, what the bad guys don’t have is knowledge of the neighborhood, and that might prove to be the deciding factor in this epic battle of warring sides.
I love the fact that these two orphans, who live on the outskirts of town in a dilapidated setting, are the ones called in to save Treasure Town. Children on the street look up to Black and White with awe. The reputation and urban legend of these two orphans precedes them wherever they go. Whether or not they can save the day is secondary because their young colleagues on the ground believe in their capabilities. No one questions how two young children can take on a team of yakuza and superhuman villains. That’s just par the course in Treasure Town.
However, Black and White are atypical. They hurt and feel pain like everyone else. There’s even a good chunk of the narrative when Black and White split apart, take a break from fighting villainy and recharge their batteries. This gives an opening for the yakuza and their plans to open an amusement park. It’s up to the two main characters to rejoin their efforts and stop the gangsters dead in their tracks.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Tekkonkinkreet (2006). In Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Michael Arias. Written by Anthony Weintraub; based on the manga by Taiyo Matsumoto. Featuring the voice talents of Kazunari Ninomiya, Yu Aoi, Masahiro Motoki and Min Tanaka. Running time: 110 minutes. Rated R for some violent and disturbing images, and brief sexuality. Rating: 
