In 2019, Kaito Yashio and Akiho Senomiya are the sole members of the Robotics Club at Central Tanegashima High School in Kyushu, Japan. Kaito is a laid back student and a skilled gamer who is just trying to help Akiho, his childhood friend. She is an energetic positive-thinking girl who yearns to complete the ongoing project of the club: building a functional replica of Gunvarrel, the main robot of a once popular TV series. As they gather new members and try to assemble the robot, Kaito starts stumbling upon secret reports that might reveal a conspiracy of large proportions. Unaware of what he is actually dealing with, Kaito little by little starts discovering clues laid by the mysterious Ko Kimijima.
| Alternative Titles | 铁甲梦工场, ロボティクス・ノーツ, ROBOTICS;NOTES ロボティクス・ノーツ |
| First Air Date: | 2012-10-12 |
| Last Air Date: | 2013-03-22 |
| Number of Episodes: | 22 |
| Number of Seasons: | 1 |
| Genres: | Animation, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy |
| Status: | Ended |
| Networks: | $Fuji TV |
| Casts: | Rie Kugimiya, Kaori Nazuka, Ryohei Kimura, Sora Tokui, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Yoshino Nanjo |
I particularly like most of Mike Leigh’s movies, so it is surprising that I took so long to get around to watching Topsy Turvy. A few of his films are on my list of favorite films out there, but sadly this effort did not threaten to crack that list. Not that I didn’t enjoy it overall. It was entertaining and fun, though it hovered on minor scenes sometimes on its way to lasting two hours and forty minutes. And it was interesting to see how the Gilbert and Sullivan characters worked together, assuming it is somewhat accurate portrayal of the actual historical duo. Finally, it features four of my favorite British actors: Lesley Manville, Timothy Spall (who disappears into the role of the Mikado), Alison Steadman and Jim Broadbent. One element that kept me from enjoying the movie even more was the tendency for the characters to mutter to each other when conversing. I turned up the volume at those times, which not only failed to solve the problem completely, but then when the scene changed into one of the great choruses from the Mikado, it blasted me out of my seat. Then I’d turn it down, wait and repeat. So I cautiously recommend watching Topsy Turvy, especially if you like understated British movies, or for that matter, The Mikado.
