With most of early January 2024’s slate focused on fantasy, Metallic Rouge is a fairly decent cyberpunk refresher. With fantastic, mostly 2D animation, studio Bones’ 25th Anniversary project has spectacular mecha match-ups between government android Rouge Redstar versus various members of the excellently designed Immortal Nine, as well as humorous, expository banter from Rouge’s human partner Naomi Orthmann. But it’s the mystery that drives interest in the show, as Nean androids and humans share a world, but not the same status, and the origins of the artificial intelligence bots seem to link with a previous alien invasion that pushed humanity into further space exploration. It’s an interesting premise, and the structure is definitely unusual, but with Bones’ track record, we’re expecting that it’ll all come together by the end of Metallic Rouge.
Synopsis
In a world where humans coexist with androids called Neans, a group known as the Immortal Nine rises up against society. Tasked with disposing of the revolters, a Nean named Rouge Redstar (aka Metal Rouge) and investigator Naomi Orthmann head to Mars to track them down…but first, Rouge wants some chocolate.
Storyline
2128 AD. In a world where humans and artificial beings called Neans co-exist, android Rouge Redstar and her human partner Naomi Orthmann are on route to Mars for a secret mission to kill a group of hostile, anti-government rebel Neans called the Immortal Nine.
TLDR
It’s still setting up, but I’m looking forward to Rouge and Naomi’s dynamic!
What stands out
Metallic Rouge isn’t an adaptation of another work, nor is the world familiar, so its immediate show-not-tell approach can feel confusing at first. But, it feels like it’s part of the mystery, since there’s definitely something off with the show's world and the mission Rouge was assigned.
