All You Need Is Kill anime trades action for striking visuals, thin plot

Polygon reports that All You Need Is Kill, an anime adaptation of Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s 2004 light novel directed by first-time filmmaker Kenichiro Akimoto, opens in theaters on Jan. 16 and is screening in select theaters now.

Akimoto’s version takes a more meditative approach than previous adaptations, centering on Rita (Ai Mikami), a sleepwalking worker caught in a time loop after an alien plant called Darol landed in Japan. Studio 4°C animated the film, eschewing traditional styles for sharp edges and a purposeful ugliness while rendering Darol and its surroundings in spectacular, psychedelic detail; action is staged with explicit video-game and roguelike touches as Rita repeats and refines her attempts to survive.

The review calls the results surreal and beautiful but a little shallow, noting a thin plot that shifts into a rushed love story with Keiji (Natsuki Hanae), under-90-minute runtime that limits character development, and distracting robot sidekicks. Though not as tight or fun as Edge of Tomorrow, the visuals and moody tone make it immersive, and the critic says it’s worth watching once even if it likely won’t reward repeated viewings.

Key Topics

Culture, Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Kenichiro Akimoto, Darol, Ai Mikami