Today’s quick review: Spriggan. As a Spriggan, Yu Ominae (Christopher Patton) protects ARCAM, an organization that hunts the secrets of a prehistoric civilization. After an attack on one of his friends, Yu travels to Turkey, the site of ARCAM’s latest excavation, in search of answers. There he fights Colonel MacDougall (Kevin Corn), a psychic boy working for the U.S. Machine Corps, for control of Noah’s Ark, an ancient device of unknown purpose.
Spriggan is a Japanese animated sci-fi action adventure. The film chronicles one incident in the ongoing war between two clandestine organizations that are fighting for control over ancient technology. The action pits Yu, a teenage soldier with enhanced strength and agility, against a team of cyborgs and soldiers led by MacDougall. Lofty speculation, grounded conflict, and kinetic action make Spriggan an entertaining piece of science fiction.
Spriggan strikes the right balance with its story. It has high stakes and a sense of mystery to hook the viewer, but the conflict grounds out in concrete fighting. The result is an action-packed adventure that reaches the same speculative heights as other science fiction, but without being as abstract or confusing. Spriggan also feels like a single story set in a larger world, although this leads to a steep learning curve for the viewer.
Give Spriggan a shot if you’re a fan of action-oriented science fiction. Its fights are violent and energetic, its characters are well-matched with each other, and the overarching plot manages to be speculative without being incomprehensible. Steer clear if you’re sensitive to violence or are looking for a more personal, philosophical sci-fi story.
For mature animated sci-fi with deeper philosophical underpinnings, try Ghost in the Shell. For an anime movie done in a similar style with more of a horror bent, try Akira. For a gentler, more beautiful story about a brush with ancient technology, try Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
[6.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164917/). I give it a 7.0 for solid action and an intriguing story.