Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01

• メタルスキンパニック MADOX-01, Metaru Sukin Panikku Madokkusu Zero Wan
• Directed and Conceptualized by Shinji Aramaki
• December 16, 1987

Voice Cast (UK)

• Koji-Michael McGhee
• Kusumoto-Nadia DeLemeny
• Kilgore-Peter Woodward
• Onose-John Stefaniuk
• Shiori-Connie Nelson
• US Army General-Allan Wenger

A mechanic comes across a powered armor suit made to fight enemy tanks and when he becomes trapped inside must contend with a man seeking redemption for his defeat during the suit’s test test.

Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 came to my attention via a very short clip on social media demonstrating what was accomplished without the use of computers. In that area it is AMAZING. You see parts spin and hoses flex while lights flicker. Heck, there is even an Apocalypse Now poster in the background. Not a poor drawing hinting at one but an actual one!

The environment and mech designs are absolutely astounding. I think the designs fail in the look of the characters a bit. The noses are almost a mockery of the schnoz of Bob Hope but possibly deadlier. It was a common aesthetic then but not one I was ever happy with.

Short and to the point, this doesn’t waste time because of that some stupidity that occurs to keep things moving quickly. Weirdly the main character Koji and his friend play around with this machine not only ignorant of what it does, but ignorant of whether or not they should. The thing is there are all sorts of indications that they probably should not touch it like warning labels and so forth.

In 1999 Anakin Skywalker would stumble his way into stopping the Trade Federation. In 1987 Koji did it first and stumble into piloting the battle suit in a very similar way. Who steps inside a machine like that without knowing what they are doing? One ‘Oops’ after another gets him deeper and deeper into trouble. Like Anakin!

The initial chaos is caused by Koji going to meet his girlfriend Shiori on top of some building. Unfortunately there’s a guy named Kilgore with an axe to grind against the suit and its creator Ellie. Basically the core of the plot is a romcom meet up narrative smashed with a mech battle anime. Two distinct things that come together and work despite how they shouldn’t. It’s fun and exciting and has a good share of comedy moments.

As a character Shiori is a bit two dimensional, but she is not a main character in the story though her existence is what drives Koji to do all that he does. Normally I would be bothered by a female in these movies barely better than furniture but this is that rare exception I am fine with. Ellie on the other hand is relatively rounded. She comes off as capable and intelligent though inexplicably she decides to send the suit in transit in a state where, well, it can be turned on by a series of oopsies.

Kilgore is a pretty straightforward villain. His motivations were simple but in a 50 minute movie they wisely decided to not make him too complex. He just wanted to prove he was better than the machine as well as being better than Ellie even though he does not set his sights on Ellie first. Weird. He felt humiliated because in the opener he gets beaten by the suit. 

The sound design in this is excellent and really drives home the machine battle aesthetic. It’s a style they just don’t do any more. There is a greater push for authenticity in modern sound design in animation than there was when this came out. Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01‘s sound heightens the science fiction and almost fantasy aspects of what we get.

Despite the fantastical situation Koji’s motivations are pretty understandable. His girlfriend is gonna go off to school and he doesn’t want to lose her. Mech suit or not he’s going to be there and see her. This problem can be dealt with afterwards. The man has his priorities straight!

There is a sense of fun throughout. The movie takes itself just seriously enough without becoming weighted down by attempts at philosophical discourse or other elements that easily drift into pomposity.

This is not a wild thrill ride. What held my attention was just how beautiful this is. And the dialogue too. There’s no long-winded speeches or expedition dumps. The characters parse out just enough information that makes sense without coming off like they are trying to unload anything and speed things up more.

Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 may not be the greatest of Japanese animation but with a sense of fun and great art you will enjoy.

Voice Cast (US)

• Koji-Scott Simpson
• Kusumoto-Ellen Lee
• Kilgore-Zach Hanner
• Onose-Shaun O’Rourke
• Superior-Bill Sellers
• US Army General-Rick Forrester
• SDF-Pierre Brulator
• Okawasaki-Steve Vernon
• Chopper-Bobby Wilde
• Clerk-Melissa Stanley
• Elevator-Jane Sampson
• Motorist-Mac Ingraham
• Motorist-Steve Rassin
• Pilot-Chris Jarman
• Soldier-Nathan Gray
• Sunglasses-Gray Sibley
• Tech-Robert Wailes