Ray comes from a family of inventors who have been experimenting with steam technology. When a mysterious steam ball arrives, men try to steal it, but Ray escapes with his grandfather. He learns the ball's power and must decide whether to give it to his corrupted father or to Mr. Stephenson, who wants to weaponize it. During the battle between his father's organization and Mr. Stephenson, Ray prevents the ball from being used for war and keeps it from falling into the wrong hands.

1. STEAMBOY
by Alex Tongue

2. STEAMBOY
• Written/Directed: Katshuiro
Otoma
• Release Date: Japan, 2004
• Steamboy is a steampunk style
movie following a by and and
battle to keep technology out o
the wrong hands.

3. Overview
Ray (Steamboy) come from a family of inventers in Br
Both this father and grandfather have been experimenting
with steam technology their whole lives. One day, a
mysterious “steam ball” arrives at his door. Shortly therea
men from the O’Hara foundation come to his house and
attempt to steal it. Ray manages to escape thanks to his
grandfather, though several attempts to steal the ball are
made. Little does Ray know of the power the steam ball
holds. He runs into a man named Mr. Stephenson (whom
ball was originally intended for) during his escape. He ma
his way to London with him and there he faces the decisio
either give the ball to his father (working at the O’Hara
foundation who is now corrupted by greed, or to Mr.
Stephenson. (continued

4. Overview
He chooses to give the ball to Mr. Stephenson but then is
shown that everyone just wants to steam ball to use as a
weapon. He eventually steals the ball back while the O’Ha
foundation and Mr. Stephenson (British military) go to bat
While the two are in battle, Ray must prevent the O’Hara
foundation warship from destroying London. He manages
do so and keeps the steam ball from enemy hands. He
returns home a hero in the final scenes.

5. Animation
180,000 drawings & 440 CG cuts were used in
making Steamboy.
It remains to this day, one of the most expensive
animations made in Japan.
The film took 10 years to produce.

6. Characters
• Ray (Steamboy) –
• As the protagonist of the movie, Ray, possesses a natur
talent to work with steam technology. He uses that tale
to thwart the efforts of Mr. Stephanson and the O’Hara
foundation to use the steam ball to weaponize steam
technology.
• Lloyd Steam –
• Ray’s grandfather. He plays an important role in pushing
in the right direction. Lloyd want the steam ball to be u
for the right reasons and to be used for good in the wor

7. Characters
• Mr. Stephenson –
• He tells Ray that he wants to use the Steam ball for the
good of Britain. Ray in return hands it over. He then stat
that the good of Britain depends on a powerful Britain
and shows that he plans to use the steam ball to
weaponize steam.
• Edward Steam –
• Ray’s father. He becomes obsessed with the power the
steam ball contains and wants the power that comes w
possessing the steam ball. He works with the O’Hara
foundation and supports their desire to weaponize stea

8. Themes
Corruption
In Steamboy, we see two instances of corruption. In one
case, we see the corruption of Ray’s father, Dr. Edwards. He
manipulates steam technology for the O’Hara foundation so
can be used to create weapons.
In another instance of corruption, we see Mr. Stephenso
attempting to use steam technology as a weapon as well, bu
instead of for a profit, he is doing so for his country.
In either instance we see groups with private interests
attempting to take a revolutionary technology meant for goo
and turn it into something used to kill people. As Rays
grandfather says to him “save science from the wicked.”

9. Themes
War
Steamboy touches on the issue of war. We see how
corruption can lead to war, but we also see the darker side of
war. In one scene we see Scarlett O’Hara, a young girl obliviou
to what is going on, walk across the battlefield. He comes acro
a steam soldier and realizes that they are humans, not just ste
robots. This symbolizes how was can destroy innocence. It can
take something meant for good and turn it into unnecessary
conflict where lives are lost.
Another example of a hybrid of corruption and war is the
development of the atomic bomb. It was a technology meant
good that was transformed into a weapon.

10. Video Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eAk6oNBSMU

11. Sources
Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers: the story of success. New York:
Little, Brown and Co., 2008. Print.
Steamboy. Dir. Katsuhiro tomo. Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment, 2005. DVD.
Bellis, Mary. "History of the Atomic Bomb and The Manhatta
Project." About.com Inventors. About.com, 18 Apr. 2014. We
12 May 2014.
<http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventions/a/atomic_
mb.htm>.