The animated film Metropolis, based on late cartoonist Osamu Tezuka's 1949 original, was released on May 26. It took five years and 1.5 billion yen (12.5 million U.S. dollars at 120 yen to the dollar) to make the film. Director Rintaro uses computer graphics and other cutting-edge technologies to create realistic images, spectacularly portraying a future world where men and humanoids live together. He depicts warm-hearted emotional exchanges between robots, who are considered to have no heart, and humans who have become less considerate toward others. The script was written by Katsuhiro Otomo, the scriptwriter of popular anime Akira. Rintaro was a pupil of Tezuka and directed TV animation series Jungle Taitei (Jungle Emperor Leo), depicting the symbiosis of men and animals, and the animated film Hi no Tori (Phoenix).

Metropolis portrays a Japanese private detective and his nephew who tail a notorious scientist to a future city called Metropolis. While in the city, the scientist is urged to make a robot that looks like the deceased daughter of the city's dictator. The dictator uses this robot to obtain enormous power in order to control the world forever.

This story is said to be the basis for Astro Boy, Tezuka's animation series depicting the peaceful coexistence of men and humanoids that is known around the world. Rintaro says that in his anime he aims to bring out the absurd and warm aspects of science fiction rather than emphasizing the more practical realities.

U.S. movie director James Cameron complimented the director of the movie, saying, "Metropolis is the new milestone in anime, a spectacular fusion of computer graphic backgrounds with traditional character animation. It has beauty, power, mystery and, above all, heart. Images from this film will stay with you forever. My congratulations to Rintaro-san for this masterpiece."

Rintaro said in an interview that it took him five years to finally complete the film: "Now I am a little tired but very satisfied with the work. Although I still can't watch the film from an objective point of view, I think the film was made in the way I wanted."

Script writer Otomo also commented in an interview: "When I heard that computer graphics were going to be used in many parts of the film, I was a little worried that the director may not be able to portray the feeling in Osamu Tezuka's works. However, I am very satisfied with the work because director Rintaro uses computer graphics to express something that can't be expressed by the old analogue method, and, at the same time, computer-graphic backgrounds fit very well with Tezuka's works. The movie is excellent and spectacular. I want to see it two or three times more."