@Courtesy of Anniplex USA

In the 1970s, they would have called Ubu Kamigori “bionic.” In the year 2099, she can be described as a biological-hybrid android reconstructed with Somadea technology. Regardless of the terminology, Kamigori did not ask for her new “enhanced” condition. Her new boss definitely took some creepy liberties, which is why their working relationship will be quite tense in director-character designer-layout artist Yasuomi Umetsu’s brand-new anime project, Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl, produced by the Shaft Animation Studio, which has special nationwide screenings this week through Fathom Events.

Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl only clocks in at 35-minutes, but the special Fathom presentation supplements it with a full hour of filmmaker interviews. It previously screened in Japanese theaters, even though Umetsu and his producers often refer to “Clockwork Girl” as the first “episode” of the Virgin Punk series. They also call it a “film,” so maybe the term “installment” would be most apt. Regardless, it will take them years to generate a full season, judging from the time and effort they lavished on th relatively self-contained Clockwork Girl.



Regardless, Virgin Punk also holds the distinction of being a rare anime property that is totally original, rather than adapted from a manga franchise or a novel. Still, most anime fans will easily relate to Umetsu’s narrative, co-written by screenwriter Yuya Takahashi. In fact, Virgin Punk arguably shares thematic similarities with the Kite anime films helmed by Umetsu, which probably represent his best-known work, at least up to now.

Instead of an assassin, Kamigori technically works as a bounty-hunter, but her day-to-day responsibilities are quite similar., Like Sawa, the lethal Kite protagonist, she is also an orphan. Originally, Kamigori aspired to become an engineer, but she had to fend for herself when Mr. Elegance killed the seemingly kindly director of her orphanage. It turned out the old man was secretly a renegade Samadea-augmented criminal.

Ever since he saw her that day, Mr. Elegance has been obsessed with her—and she has been disgusted by him. Ten years later, they still vividly remember each other. In fact, Kamigori often tries to claim-jump the bounties pursued by Mr. Elegance’s employees. For him it is not about the money. He has a perverse fascination with Kamigori, as he remembered her that day, so he abducts and re-engineers her to become a Samadea-version of her fourteen-year-old self.

Much to Kamigori’s frustration, the Samada programming also comes with an on-off switch that Mr. Elegance controls. Like it or not, she is part of his organization, chasing down Samadea criminals with her new partner, Lewis Gaudi. Their first assignment, the spectacularly unhinged Tommy J., offers the new bounty-hunting team a genuine baptism of fire.

@Courtesy of Anniplex USA


Umetsu has a reputation for realizing high-quality anime action and he delivers accordingly throughout Clockwork Girl. However, the Kamigori’s bitterly dysfunctional relationship with Mr. Elegance represents the central, defining conflict. Obviously, their antagonism and his unhealthy preoccupation hold great promise for future drama.

Clockwork Girl also boasts some intriguing world-building. For instance, the cable cars and airship ferries add some steampunk seasoning to an otherwise decidedly cyberpunk setting. It all looks super-slick, but richly detailed.

To bulk out the screenings, Fathom packaged Clockwork Girl with extensive behind-the-scenes interviews. Unfortunately, diminishing marginal returns quickly set in. Initially, fans might enjoy meeting Ugetsu, who radiates the vibes of an anime elder statesman. However, the talky bonus material soon grows repetitive. Frankly, the first twenty minutes would have been more than sufficient.

Regardless, there is no slack in the actual film/episode. It serves up the kind of action that converted many anime fans to medium in the first place. Yet, its subversive and very mature sensibilities truly set it apart from other dystopian franchises. Indeed, this potential series was clearly conceived for adults (even though teen boys would most appreciate the “fan service”). Recommended without reservation for cyberpunk fans, Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl screens again this Thursday (11/13), via Fathom Events.

Grade
The film judged solely on its own merits: A-
The entire screening package: B

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Here’s the trailer of the film.