In the anime world, some movies are remembered for their action, while others stay popular because of the stories they tell. Metropolis is one of those movies that managed to do both. Released in 2001, the sci-fi anime film became known for its beautiful animation, emotional story, and deeper ideas about humans and robots.
Directed by Rintaro and Metropolis was also praised by legendary film critic Roger Ebert, who called it “one of the best animated films I have ever seen.” Yet 25 years later, this acclaimed anime has become surprisingly difficult to find on major subscription streaming services
Metropolis Is Missing From Streaming Despite Ebert’s Praise
Metropolis is based on Osamu Tezuka‘s 1949 manga of the same name. However, the movie is not a simple retelling of the original story. Rintaro and Otomo built a much bigger science-fiction world around Tezuka’s ideas, while also taking inspiration from Fritz Lang’s famous 1927 movie Metropolis.
The story takes place in a huge futuristic city where humans and robots live side by side. But the two groups are far from equal. Robots are treated as second-class beings, while the rich and powerful control much of the city. The story follows detective Shunsaku Ban and his nephew Kenichi as they search for a mysterious robot girl named Tima. At the same time, Duke Red has his own plans for Tima, while his adopted son Rock sees robots as a threat that must be destroyed.
That mix of science fiction, social conflict, robots, and human emotion helped make Metropolis stand out. Ebert was especially impressed by the movie’s huge futuristic world and detailed animation. He also praised the way the film explored questions about technology and humanity . He wrote about the 2001 film –
Metropolis is not a simple-minded animated cartoon, but a surprisingly thoughtful and challenging adventure that looks into the nature of life and love, the role of workers, the rights (if any) of machines, the pain of a father’s rejection, and the fascist zeal that lies behind Ziggurat. This is not a remake of the 1926 classic, but a wild elaboration. If you have never seen a Japanese anime, start here. If you love them, Metropolis proves you are right.
Moreover, the movie still has a strong reputation among critics. It holds an 87% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes . However, finding the film today is a different story. Metropolis is currently unavailable for streaming on major subscription platforms in the US Its availability also changes from one country to another, making it difficult for fans to know exactly where they can watch it
This is a common problem with older anime movies. Even when a film remains popular, its streaming rights can expire or move between distributors. As a result, a movie can be highly praised but still disappear from the biggest streaming libraries.
Metropolis Is Still Available
The good news is that Metropolis has not completely disappeared. Fans can still find the movie through some digital storefronts, although availability depends on the country.
Barnes & Noble currently lists the Blu-Ray version of Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis in the US at around $27.49 , giving fans a possible way to buy the movie physically. Similarly, on Amazon, the Blu-Ray purchase currently costs around $25.79, depending on the edition. Thus, for fans who want to keep the movie permanently, a physical copy may actually be the safer choice
Streaming libraries can change at any time, but a DVD or Blu-ray does not suddenly disappear because a licensing deal ends. All in all, more than two decades after its release, Metropolis remains an important anime film. It may no longer be easy to find on subscription streaming services, but its reputation has not disappeared.
Now the big question: Would you hunt down a digital or physical copy to finally watch the anime movie Roger Ebert praised so highly? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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