Robot Carnival

9 of Japan's leading animators were asked to create a short segment that followed the theme of "Robots," for their inclusion in this film. Essentially, this "movie" is 9 short films, all independant of one another. The common element is human interaction with robots, namely the consequences of creating life with one's own hands, played in nine very different ways.

(Source: ANN)

1: Opening (Atsuko Fukushima and Katsuhiro Otomo)
2: Franken's Gears (Koji Morimoto)
3: Deprive (Hidetoshi Omori)
4: Presence (Yasuomi Umetsu)
5: Star Light Angel (Hiroyuki Kitazume)
6: Cloud (Mao Lamdo)
7: A Tale of Two Robots (Hiroyuki Kitakubo)
8: Nightmare (Takashi Nakamura)
9: Ending (Atsuko Fukushima and Katsuhiro Otomo)

Shoujo Main

Shujinkou Main

Moritsugu, Kouji Japanese

Sankichi Main

Tomiyama, Kei Japanese

Fukusuke Supporting

Miwa, Katsue Japanese

Yayoi Supporting

Yokoyama, Chisa Japanese

Walkerson III, Jean-Jacques Supporting

Denjirou Supporting

Shiozawa, Kaneto Japanese

Daimaru Supporting

Nishio, Toku Japanese

Morimoto, Kouji Co-Director, Director, Screenplay, Character Design

Otomo, Katsuhiro Director, Script, Storyboard

Umetsu, Yasuomi Director, Screenplay, Key Animation, Character Design

Nakamura, Takashi Director, Screenplay, Character Design

Reviews

Mar 23, 2025

p_P_P_p

Recommended

Most favorite short to least favorite:

1. A Tale of Two Robots (Hiroyuki Kitakubo)
This one is really good with plenty of humor, unique characters, a story, voice acting, and decent visuals. I really enoyed it

2. Opening + Ending (Atsuko Fukushima and Katsuhiro Otomo)
It subverted expectations with a mix of humor, whimsy and violence.

3. Nightmare (Takashi Nakamura)
Has some really funky character designs.
...
4. Deprive (Hidetoshi Omori)
This short has some unapologetic 70s-80s vibes, similar to Star Light Angel. It knows what it is and just goes for it, I can respect that

5. Cloud (Mao Lamdo)
Visually interesting but I feel like it had potential to go even further than it did, both visually and in terms of storytelling.

6. Star Light Angel (Hiroyuki Kitazume)
7. Franken's Gears (Koji Morimoto)
8. Presence (Yasuomi Umetsu)

Note that the names of these shorts are a bit different than their original names but I just used the ones listed on the MAL page of this anime.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Oct 23, 2024

theroboxer

Recommended

This is one of those flicks where you're not entirely sure what the hell you're signing up for, but by the end, you’re sitting there, face stuck in an open-mouthed "WTF" moment, wondering if robots are your friends or if they’re ready to royally fuck us all over.

The beauty of Robot Carnival is how each segment has its own flavor of insanity—ranging from jaw-dropping visuals to absolutely bonkers storytelling. I mean, we’re talking about the kind of artistry that makes your eyes pop, right? It's like every artist got a dose of LSD and a blank canvas and said, "Let’s make this unforgettable." And it ... is, mostly.

The animation is top-tier for its time, even by today’s standards. It’s got that hand-drawn, painstakingly crafted vibe that just hits different compared to today’s polished CGI. And the robots? They're depicted in ways you never expect—sometimes graceful, sometimes terrifying, but always unforgettable.

Not every segment is a masterpiece, though. Some of them might make you go, “Alright, let’s wrap this up, shall we?” A few of the stories kind of meander, losing their punch halfway through. But man, when it hits? It hits hard.

So yeah. If you love robots, insane artistry, and a little bit of existential dread, this one’s a no-brainer. Just be prepared for some weird-ass shit along the way.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Feb 3, 2023

DISKOWN

Mixed Feelings

Robot Carnival is an anthology film featuring nine shorts. They are all well animated and have amazing visuals. I personally found the first half more enjoyable than the second but this is largely subjective. The individual narratives of the films are decent, but it's obvious that the main focus was on the animation. Robot Carnival is unique. It's hard to recommend to anyone who enjoys complex characters and stories. But for anyone who just loves raw animation and visual talent this OVA is a no brainer. If you're on the fence, Robot Carnival is definitely worth the watch ... purely for the talent presented.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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	Poll: Robot Carnival Episode 4 Discussion botch - Dec 2, 2010	18 replies	by Adnash »» May 5, 2024 6:59 AM
	Poll: Robot Carnival Episode 9 Discussion Veethorn - Jul 21, 2010	9 replies	by Figva »» Oct 17, 2023 3:14 AM
	Poll: Robot Carnival Episode 8 Discussion tofei - Mar 6, 2015	5 replies	by Orororurando »» Aug 5, 2023 12:40 PM

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