Human Lost

It’s 2036, and major breakthroughs in medical science have dramatically altered Japanese society. Nanomachines, linked to the SHELL system, defend and repair the body, ensure lifespans of well over a century. The privileged few enjoy the comfort and clean air of the Inside, their protective habitat, while the Outsiders, the luckless masses, contend with terrible pollution, overwork, and the consequences of disconnection from SHELL — the nightmarish transformation of the Lost. Youzou, an edgy young artist gripped by anomie and unsettling visions, can’t even kill himself — one phone call and the SHELL system revives him by remote control. With that option off the table, what’s left to do but join his rambunctious pal Takeichi and his cyborg biker gang on a daring raid to breach the defenses of the Inside? From the conflagration of the attack, however, shocking new truths emerge…

Overseen by Katsuyuki Motohiro, a veteran of the FLCL and PSYCHO-PASS franchises, and directed by Fuminori Kizaki (AFRO SAMURAI), HUMAN LOST is a stand-alone anime feature that won’t soon get lost in the shuffle. Springboarding wildly off the classic Japanese novel of post-war alienation, Osamu Dazai’s No Longer Human, HUMAN LOST is packed with political intrigue, philosophical challenges, savage techno-horror and exciting action. The film’s cel-shaded CG animation capitalizes on the strengths of the medium, thanks to the talented team at the studios of Polygon Pictures (the GODZILLA anime trilogy). A gripping animated cyberpunk thriller like only the Japanese can make, HUMAN LOST is a real find for anime fiends this summer! – Rupert Bottenberg