HUMAN LOST

HUMAN LOST

Characters

Takeichi

MAIN

Youzou Ooba

MAIN

Yoshiko Hiiragi

MAIN

Madam

SUPPORTING

Tsuneko

SUPPORTING

Shibuta

SUPPORTING

Atsugi

SUPPORTING

Masao Horiki

SUPPORTING

Human Lost: A Cyberpunk Requiem for the Human Condition

Human Lost (2019), directed by Fuminori Kizaki and produced by Polygon Pictures, is a bold, visually arresting anime film that reimagines Osamu Dazai’s seminal novel No Longer Human (1948) through a cyberpunk lens. This adaptation, penned by Tow Ubukata, transports Dazai’s existential despair into a dystopian 2036 Tokyo, where nanotechnology and the S.H.E.L.L. system promise immortality but deliver a fractured society teetering on collapse. While the film’s ambition is undeniable, its dense narrative and philosophical musings create a polarizing experience that is as thought-provoking as it is perplexing. This review delves into the film’s unique strengths, its challenges, and its place in the anime canon, offering a fresh perspective on its exploration of humanity’s fraught relationship with technology and identity.

A Dystopian Canvas: Setting and World-Building

Set in a futuristic Japan, Human Lost envisions a world where medical advancements have eradicated death for those connected to the S.H.E.L.L. system, a network of nanomachines that heals injuries and diseases in real time. This privilege, however, is reserved for the elite living in “The Inside,” a pristine enclave starkly contrasted with the polluted, crime-ridden “Outside,” where the disenfranchised toil for 19-hour workdays. The film introduces the “Human Lost” phenomenon, where disconnection from S.H.E.L.L. transforms individuals into monstrous “Lost” creatures, threatening societal stability.

The world-building is one of Human Lost’s standout features. The cyberpunk aesthetic, with its neon-drenched cityscapes and stark class divides, evokes comparisons to Akira and Ghost in the Shell, yet it carves its own niche through its focus on biological rather than mechanical augmentation. The film’s visuals, a blend of 3D CGI and traditional 2D animation, are a technical triumph. Polygon Pictures’ CGI, often criticized for its stiffness, feels fluid here, enhanced by moody lighting and a color palette that shifts from oppressive reds to hopeful blues, reflecting the protagonist’s psychological journey. A particularly striking sequence—a high-octane highway chase—channels Mad Max and Minority Report, delivering visceral action that feels both chaotic and purposeful.

However, the world’s rules are often ill-defined, with exposition-heavy dialogue struggling to clarify the mechanics of S.H.E.L.L. or the “Human Lost” phenomenon. This opacity can alienate viewers, as the film prioritizes atmosphere over coherence, leaving some plot threads—like the societal implications of immortality—underexplored.

Reimagining Dazai: Narrative and Themes

At its core, Human Lost is a loose adaptation of No Longer Human, a novel that chronicles the alienation and self-destruction of Yozo Oba, a man hiding his true self behind a façade. The anime retains the names and emotional core of Dazai’s characters but transplants them into a sci-fi narrative. Yozo Oba (voiced by Mamoru Miyano) is a drug-addled artist plagued by nightmarish visions, drawn into a rebellion against S.H.E.L.L. by his friend Takeichi. After a catastrophic encounter with a Lost, Yozo discovers his own supernatural abilities, guided by Yoshiko Hiiragi (Kana Hanazawa), a member of the anti-Lost agency H.I.L.A.M.

The film grapples with Dazai’s themes of alienation, identity, and the human cost of societal pressures, reframing them through a technological lens. It asks: What does it mean to be human when death is obsolete? The S.H.E.L.L. system, while a marvel, amplifies inequality and ethical decay, as the absence of mortality breeds apathy and violence. Yozo’s journey mirrors Dazai’s protagonist, wrestling with despair and a yearning for authenticity, but the sci-fi trappings add a layer of existential horror: becoming a “Lost” literalizes the fear of losing one’s humanity.

Yet, the narrative’s ambition often outpaces its execution. The screenplay juggles too many ideas—class warfare, technological hubris, personal trauma—without fully resolving them. Yozo’s character arc, meant to be transformative, feels rushed, with pivotal decisions lacking emotional grounding. Lines like “I was always jealous of you” fall flat when relationships are underdeveloped, undermining the film’s emotional stakes. The influence of other anime, particularly Psycho-Pass (also penned by Ubukata), is evident in its surveillance-state dystopia, but Human Lost struggles to match that series’ narrative clarity.

Visual and Auditory Spectacle

Visually, Human Lost is a feast. Director Kizaki, known for Afro Samurai, infuses the film with a gritty, kinetic energy. The 3D CGI, while divisive among purists, is among Polygon Pictures’ best, with fluid character animations and detailed environments that bring 2036 Tokyo to life. The use of depth-of-field and dynamic camera work creates a cinematic immersion, particularly in action sequences like the climactic battle, which echoes the bombast of Marvel films. The color design—reds symbolizing destruction, blues hinting at hope—adds a psychological depth that complements Yozo’s inner turmoil.

The soundtrack, featuring a stirring score and a standout music video by m-flo and J Balvin, elevates the film’s emotional and action beats. The music underscores the tension between humanity’s aspirations and its self-destructive tendencies, making key moments—like Yozo’s transformation—feel epic yet poignant.

Strengths and Shortcomings

Human Lost shines in its ambition to tackle profound questions about mortality and identity within a cyberpunk framework. Its visual and auditory elements are top-tier, and its loose adaptation of Dazai’s novel offers a fresh perspective for fans of the source material. The film’s exploration of a society without death is timely, reflecting real-world anxieties about technology’s overreach and social inequality.

However, its narrative complexity often feels like a liability. The plot’s reliance on verbose exposition and reality-bending set pieces can obscure its themes, making it a “chore for the brain” for some viewers. Character development, particularly for Yozo and Masao Horiki (a chaotic antagonist), feels incomplete, with motivations that are more archetypal than nuanced. The film’s pacing falters in its second half, as it rushes toward a grand but muddled finale that leaves some conflicts unresolved.

A Polarizing Gem

Human Lost is not a film for everyone. Its dense, sometimes convoluted storytelling demands active engagement, and its bleak tone may alienate those seeking lighter fare. Yet, for fans of cyberpunk, psychological thrillers, or Dazai’s work, it offers a unique, if imperfect, experience. It’s a film that dares to ask big questions—about humanity, technology, and the cost of immortality—while delivering a visual spectacle that pushes the boundaries of anime’s technical capabilities.

Compared to its influences, Human Lost lacks the narrative precision of Psycho-Pass or the raw emotional power of Akira, but it stands out for its audacious reimagining of a literary classic. It’s a film that invites discussion, even if it doesn’t always provide clear answers. For those willing to embrace its complexities, Human Lost is a haunting meditation on what it means to be human in a world that seeks to erase death.

Rating: 7.5/10

Recommended for: Fans of cyberpunk anime, philosophical sci-fi, and adaptations of classic literature.

Watch it on: Crunchyroll, Blu-ray/DVD, or select streaming platforms.