SILENT MÖBIUS: THE MOTION PICTURE

DESCRIPTION

CAST

MOVIE AdventureSilent Möbius 2: THE MOTION PICTURE
MANGA ActionSilent Möbius
ANIME ActionSilent Möbius

REVIEWS

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  ShibuyaConfidential

  80/100
  A beautiful experience even when compared to modern fantasy/sci-fi panoramas.

  I admit that I am positively biased toward this anime. Kia Asamiya has been with me for most of my life as an author. I first "met" him in the 1990s through the Italian magazine Kappa Magazine, which was publishing Assembler OX, the follow-up to his delightful Compiler. Not long after, Panini Comics brought Silent Möbius to Italy, introducing many readers to what would become Asamiya's most iconic work.

  Asamiya has always struck me as one of the most honest creators in the industry. He has openly admitted to losing interest in projects over time and having a somewhat relaxed approach to deadlines, which helps explain why Silent Möbius took nearly twelve years to complete despite spanning only twelve volumes.

  For many international viewers, Asamiya remains a relatively obscure name today. However, readers in countries such as Italy and France were fortunate enough to experience many of these creators during the early manga boom of the 1990s. At the time, manga was still a niche market, and publishers had to be selective about what they licensed. As a result, many of the works that reached us left a lasting impression.

  With that context in mind, I will review the two Silent Möbius OVAs together, as they effectively form a single feature-length story.

  Set in 2024, the story follows Katsumi Liqueur as she travels to Japan to visit her dying mother. The futuristic setting carries a distinctly Blade Runner-inspired atmosphere, something Asamiya himself has acknowledged. Upon arriving in Tokyo, Katsumi becomes entangled in a conflict involving interdimensional monsters and mysterious powers tied to her own lineage. The OVAs chronicle both her awakening and the formation of the AMP, the police unit that serves as the heart of the franchise.

  What immediately stands out is the cast. There are familiar genre elements throughout, including dynamics that occasionally evoke Sailor Moon, which is hardly surprising given Asamiya's friendship with and admiration for Naoko Takeuchi. His background as an animator shines through in the character designs, which remain distinctive decades later.

  One aspect I particularly appreciate is how Asamiya writes women. His characters feel like adults rather than archetypes. They are charismatic, competent, flawed, and memorable. The members of the AMP each bring something unique to the table: Kiddy the cyborg, Nami the priestess, Yuki the psychic, Rally the intense and sometimes ruthless leader, Lebia her loyal second-in-command, and Katsumi herself—a young woman who dreams of a normal life but is ultimately forced to embrace powers she never asked for.

  The OVAs primarily serve as a prequel to the story that continues in the unfortunately overlooked 1998 television adaptation. Asamiya is not attempting to reinvent science fiction or fantasy here. His strengths have always been visual style, atmosphere, and character appeal rather than narrative innovation. Yet those strengths remain evident throughout.

  The soundtrack is somewhat uneven. Much of it is serviceable but not particularly memorable, and some pieces evoke works such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. The ending theme, however, is pure late-1980s city pop energy and remains a highlight.

  Silent Möbius is very much a product of its era, and I mean that as a compliment. If you enjoy retro anime, I strongly recommend watching these two OVAs before moving on to the 1998 series. They provide an excellent introduction to the world, the characters, and Asamiya's distinctive style. Even today, they remain an engaging blend of fantasy, science fiction, and supernatural action that stands comfortably above much of the modern competition.

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