User reviews

This was a surprisingly good thriller for adults; I wasn't expecting such attention to detail and story.

The animations and backgrounds are well-made. Although they may not stand out by modern art standards, they are enhanced by carefully designed details and innovative ideas. The characters are very well written and designed - I really liked Carlos. The way the futuristic world functions is also thoughtfully constructed; there are many small details that make the movie feel very realistic.

On the other hand, everything moves quite fast, and some important characters or events are only briefly shown. 'Mars Express' needed a bit more screen time to better develop these elements.

Overall, it is a solid sci-fi film.

While this might not be a genre bending film there is much to like about it. Starting with the beautiful animation style that is very fluid, colorful and detailed at every turn. The 2D art style meshes well with the story and its futuristic vibe. The music and sounds also compliment the overall feel of the film. The English dubbed version is well done with each voice suiting the characters perfectly. The dialogue is always purposeful providing context or aiding in the characters development. The characters however are not strong enough to be memorable. Even the villain is very stereotypical.

There are some funny moments but just enough to keep things light hearted. The pacing and structure allow for an easy viewing experience. There are some action and chase sequences which break up the exposition but nothing too over the top. The film was fine when it was a mystery thriller but when it changes course to try and be something with a deeper meaning it takes a plunge. Ultimately the ending was a letdown leading to a lower rating. This is still a good film but the ending was underwhelming.

The world building really elevated this movie. It felt like there was a tv season's worth of material compressed into a 1.5 hour movie, but it worked, and it worked wonderfully. The world world was well thought-out, everything fit together well.

It's about a private investigator and her robot partner investigating the disappearance of a college student. As we learn more about the case, we also learn about the world this story is set in. This movie is like a perfect showcase for "show, don't tell". There's very little exposition, if any.

It's one of the best sci-fi movies I've watched recently, animated or otherwise. Highly recommended.

For many sci-fi animated movies, audience captivation is driven purely by world building. Neon scenes and expansive horizons are often used to draw attention from a weak story. Not so in this beautifully animated sci-fi detective drama. The story finds the perfect balance between much loved detective clichés and unexpected turns in a story line, that has no need for smoothing by over hyped futurism. Despite this, the imaginative graphics cleanly place the viewer into the future, pushing us just far enough into the 'what could be' to retain a believability that compliments the story. This should be on your list of sci-fi movies to see before you die.

Visual style reminiscent of Promare, sci fi-cyberpunk world building reminiscent of I,Robot. Immersive soundtrack. That's what this movie does the best.

I also loved all the little details of the future tech: TV screen that moves to wherever you're looking, a bottle topper that acts as another barrier to prevent AA members from drinking, etc.

The weak point is the plot in my opinion, it's just average and I don't think the characters have enough backstory to really make us care deeply about them. These don't ruin the movie, but it does everything else better.

Overall, I would recommend this one. Especially for Sci Fi lovers.

Good animation, excellent worldbuilding, interesting characters, exciting action sequences and an intriguing plot. What else could we hope for? A good ending, instead of this rushed convoluted mess, that makes the entirety of the characters actions in the movie completely inconsequential. I'm not kidding. Everything our protagonists do, every mystery they uncover, is ultimately pointless. I understand what the filmmakers where going for and perhaps it could've worked in a longer format, but less than 90 minutes wasn't enough time to properly stick the landing. I don't regret watching Mars Express, because 90% of it was awesome. But that ending is such a letdown I'll never watch it again and I can't recommend it to others.

The movie made me feel the full spectrum of emotions. I laughed, cried a bit, was moved by the deep repercussions of the story. Could've run for 30 minutes more and I wouldn't have been mad

It's definitely a beautiful movie too. Animation is good, despite a few low-fps sequences, it still works because of the hand drawn art style and crazy backgrounds. Knowing what the crew went through, I understand the need for some simpler parts. Designs are inspired, threading perfectly between the obvious references and something really personal. Music's very good and the overall sound mixing was perfect.

For a first movie, Périn and Sarfati really put the bar extremely high, I'm really wondering what their next move/movie will be. But first, time to rewatch this one.

All the Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep? Tropes are well-worn by now (notwithstanding the updated understanding--and not--of these technologies), but this French anime is worth existing if only for being another example in major motion picture theater chains of how much cooler a world we could be living in.

The movie is most successful when it's being a thriller.

I do appreciate the makers of this picture actually trying to depict the more metaphysical cyberpunk scenes (jacking into a brain-farm; transcending one's robot body into a collective digital conscious), even if the success is only relative (anti-climactic lines of code; a 2001: A Space Odyssey redux, respectively).

This superflat animation--which dips into some digital animation action and vehicle sequences--calls attention to itself.

No pun intended - this Science Fiction animated movie is really going for it. Asking questions, but also being as hardcore as it can be. No prisoners taken - starting off quite mean and lean ... and not really stopping. To the degree where you may wonder (at least in the beginning), who is supposed to be the main character here. You take your pick ... maybe you are right.

Animation is well, but it is the themes that do work. What is life? What are our dreams? And can they live on? What would that mean for the remaining population and our loved ones? It is not that those questions are in your face .. but there are there ... and there may be a solution the movie proposes ... a lot to digest, a lot to take in ... and a lot to let out ... out in the open (space) ... no pun intended.

"Mars Express" is set in 2200, stars Aline Ruby, a headstrong private detective, and her partner Carlos Rivera, an android with vital memories of his previous human existence, who after his death has been reincarnated as a robot. As private detective Aline Ruby and her android partner Carlos Rivera are hired by a wealthy businessman to track down a notorious hacker. Both of them embark on a race against time to Mars in search of a cybernetics student on the run, Jun Chow. Throughout, they unravel dark decrees on their way that can break the fragile balance between man and machine, and compromise the future of Mars and even all of humanity.

Nominated for the Cesar for the best animated film of 2024, Jérémie Périn's debut film is a science fiction film with a stunning animation close to 'Anime' and including metaphysical cyberpunk frames, set in the year 2200 during the colonization of Mars, a planet dominated by money. There our two protagonists, Aline and Carlos, descend deep into the underbelly of the planet's capital city where they uncover a darker story of brain farms, corruption, pursuits , sinister conspiracy, and a missing girl who holds a secret about the robots that threatens to change the face of the universe. The film is quite good, it is difficult to get into at times, but little by little it improves until it reaches a great ending in which all the clues and red herrings that had been left to us throughout are resolved, in a truly attractive and rewarding conclusion. The film displays many influences here and there from other films such as Blade runner, 2001: A space odyssey, and even Terminator 2 with the inclusion of a killer robot. Leá Drucker as Aline, Mathieu Amalric, Marie Bouvet, and the veteran Marthe Keller as Beryl are in charge of putting voice in the original version of this film.

¨Mars Express¨ contains an interesting script from Laurent Sarfati who uses the Three Laws of Robotics from Asimov's Robots novel series to explain the robots' behavior and relationship with humans; adding breathtaking art direction by Mikael Robert, and evocative musical score by composers Fred Avril and Philippe Monthaye. The motiong picture was competently directed by Jérémie Périn. Being first feature length movie for director Jérémie Périn. He had already directed episodes of the TV show Lastman (2016). The film premiered in the Cinéma de la Plage section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May 2023. Furthermore: Winner Fantasy Filmfest 2023 Fresh Blood Audience Award Jérémie Périn. Winner Viborg Animation Festival 2023 Best Feature Film Competition Jérémie Périn (director, writer) Laurent Sarfati (writer). Nominated International Cinephile Society Awards 2024 ICS Award Best Animated Film Jérémie Périn. Nominated Lumiere Awards, France 2024 Best Animated Film (Meilleur film d'animation) Jérémie Périn. Festival du nouveau cinéma 2023 winner Prix du Public Temps Jérémie Périn. Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2023 Nominated Cristal Best Feature Jérémie Périn and César Awards, France 2024 Nominated César Best Animated Film (Meilleur film d'animation). Rating: 7.5/10. Better than average. The film will appeal to Sci-Fi enthusiasts.

I wasn't prepared for the level of attention to detail and plot in this adult animated thriller sci-fi. The Three Laws of Robotics, which are included in Asimov's Robots novel series, were even used by the writers to explain the behaviour and interactions of the robots with humans.

There is a lot to enjoy about this movie even though it may not be a genre-bending one. Let's start with the exquisite animation style, which is incredibly colourful, flowing, and detailed throughout. I thought Carlos was one of the best-written and most well-designed characters. A lot of attention has gone into creating the futuristic environment, down to the smallest elements, which provide realism to the film.

However, everything happens very quickly, and several significant personalities or events are merely skimmed over. 'Mars Express' needed a bit more screen time to better develop these elements, but official sellection of the Cannes Film Festival usually doesn't like overlong animations, and this was one of those films in 2023!

Overall, it was a great animated feature to enjoy!

It's the future. Robots are ubiquitous. Aline Ruby is a private investigator working from Mars. Her partner is an older model robot with the memories of Carlos Rivera. Chris Royjacker is the tech guru of robotics. Aline gets hired to find two missing girls and that leads to a vast conspiracy in the robotic world.

This is a French animated film. The world building is amazing. It has a bit of Asimov, neo-noir, and Philip K. Dick. I wouldn't mind somebody try to bring this world into cinematic reality. I'm fine with the story mostly. I would like for it to hit harder on the neo-noir side. I also want Carlos to end up with something else. Mostly, I really enjoy this world.

Extremely derivative work but in a good way. It reminded me of The Matrix, Terminator, I, Robot, Fifth Element, Blade Runner, Scavengers Reign, Minority Report, Chinatown, Ghost in the Shell and other cyberpunk animes. And these are just a few I didn't even write down.

But the fact that it is derivative it doesn't matter that much. It's just a very interesting and kinetic animation about robots and robot A. I., all part of a big conspiracy conducted by a cool duo formed of a woman and her partner, Carlos, a human in the body of a robot. I can say I was just absorbed by the story and animation. It's not something new but it's just something I enjoy.

This anime plunges you into a futuristic world, brilliantly mixing elements from sci-fi legends like "The Matrix," "I, Robot," "Terminator," "Blade Runner," and "Ghost in the Shell." Even with these nods to the classics, it manages to carve out a fresh and original niche for itself. The animation detail is out of this world, capturing every gritty aspect of life in Mars' capital city. The team-up of private detective Aline Ruby and her android partner Carlos Rivera is both unique and captivating, making it hard to peel your eyes away from the screen.

What really caught me off guard was the depth of the storyline. There are layers of subtle hints and foreshadowing intertwined with multiple plot threads that converge flawlessly in the finale. The storytelling is both elegant and understated, perfectly executing a "show, don't tell" style. The ending wraps up the complex themes in a neat, satisfying way without being too explicit. From start to finish, "Mars Express" is an absolute masterpiece, with a rich, engaging narrative that keeps you thinking long after it's finished.

It's very cool when writers / directors have the guts to actually tell a proper adult science fiction story, and that's what's going on here. The story is intelligent, gripping and well paced.

The art design, settings and sounds are fantastic, believable and fairly original. This is a visually attractive cartoon in the style of a French graphic novel for mature audiences. So glad there are still people doing this kind of stuff. Mars Express reminds me a bit of Renaissance, the black and white cyberpunk thriller from the 2000s and this flick is just as good in it's own way.

Cool concepts, plot, script and acting. Over all great stuff. A really enjoyable Sci-Fi. :-)

I wanted to write a review immediately after watching the French animation film "Mars Express." Although it's not widely known or popular yet, it's clear that it will make a name for itself soon.

Firstly, I can say that it offers a gripping experience with its incorporation of science fiction and detective elements. The atmosphere is beautifully crafted, with vibrant and dynamic use of colors, giving you a sense of watching something both very plausible and highly creative for the future. I'm sure its approaches will inspire many films in the future. I must also mention that it provides a visual feast with its animation quality, character designs, and background drawings.

The film is based on a detective-themed story and successfully keeps the audience in suspense from beginning to end. The deep and meaningful friendship between the main character and their partner adds an emotional depth to the story. If you consider it from a story-focused perspective, the ending might feel a bit open to interpretation and rushed, which might not satisfy everyone; this is where I deducted a point.

Note: I've started following Jérémie Périn. He's behind a rather unknown animated series called "Lastman," which I'll give a chance.

Rarely you get to see a good sci-fi mystery thriller movie under animation category and if done right it could become one of the greatest movies ever made like for instance, Ghost in the shell, Evangelion, Akira, Spiderverse etc., and Mars Express came close to being one of those greats but turned out to be a really good movie in the end (like Wonderful days, Appleseed Alpha and Gantz O etc.).

The ideas are fresh, it's not your typical 'take over the world by AI Robots' and the way how the creators have written the story infusing a bit of comedy is really good. The world building is insane and the characters are really likeable and adding to all of the above that 'synthesiser' bgm is top notch and it takes the movie to a next level, especially during those fight sequences.

My only issue is with the ending, I mean the ending is superb and so original, no doubt about that, but what I don't understand is why did the creators had to do what they had to regarding the main protagonist 'Aline'. I felt that it wasn't necessary at all and still they could have continued with the same ending but the director had other thoughts and I assume that they decided to provide a shock value to the audiences watching which I don't see the point of doing that, I mean it had an impact on the 'Carlos' character but looking at a bigger picture I don't think it had much. It's may be because I had some expectations set and the director played with those I got disappointed ? I don't know!

The ending is a bit controversial but I'm guessing this could gain some cult status like how the 'Blade Runner' did over the years and be considered as one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made! A really awesome Sci-Fi film and if you're a fan of such films then it's right up your alley. Do not miss this at any cost!

The creators seem to have focused more on the visual spectacle than on crafting a cohesive and engaging narrative.

The inclusion of flying phones feels out of place. In a world where characters have embedded communication devices, having a robot pick up a physical phone seems inconsistent and undermines the believability of the universe. Additionally, the portrayal of hacking appears generic and uninformed, lacking the depth and realism one might expect in today's technologically savvy world.

Character motivations also feel weak and underdeveloped. The cop robot, for example, is never fully explained in terms of its functionality. This raises questions about why certain actions, like recovering a woman from the dead, aren't possible within the movie's own rules. The lack of clarity and adherence to established rules can be frustrating for viewers seeking a coherent narrative. The restriction mode on a woman's alcohol consumption is mentioned but never elaborated.

(... and I am cursing the IMDB's tiny suggestion box that makes me starve every time)

Pantheon (2022) stirred up the memory of long forgotten but deep engraved tales of Ghost in the Shell and associated titles that came after that.

The quality of the TV series and this french film is to be admired, as I wasn't sure that preexisting works could be matched or even being surpassed.

The well known elements of different genres that serve as a narrative engine are well knit together. Good detective work comes a long way, Mr. Deckard. And the revelation that is the journey that I was glad to be a part of.

The eye candy that is the visuals and the ingenuity of what to show and what do those elements contribute to the visual narrative got me hooked. Scavengers Reign (2023) came to mind, while watching this film. The presentation is very fluid, although rooted in the analog film tradition, with obvious and much needed updates to camera perspectives and such. A good dramatization, camera work and ingenious visuals are probably the highlights for me.

Due to watching with English subtitles, a rewatch is needed as my eyes were on the text most of the time. But, it would probably be necessary anyway because the intricacy of different hints is something my mind could marvel repeatedly.

To have the same level of quality of production in a serialized format is probably a pipe dream, as I imagine a lot of work went into this work already. But, to be a pilot to a more narrative driven TV miniseries is a good selling point to any network studio.

At first glance, Mars Express may seem like Blade Runner, having a similar premise, and indeed it homages previous cyberpunk stories, like one scene bringing to mind the Million Machine March from the Animatrix. However, it manages to be a fresh intro into this genre.

Great help in this department is the animation, which is almost infrographical in nature. There are surreal mental scenes, but some robots designs are appear in down to earth scenes as well, like the cat robot at the beginning.

Overall, a creative, imaginative science fiction world full of bright aesthetics and clever themes and motifs.

I was very excited right after I finished the movie. However, upon some reflection, I realised that the movie didn't present any new ideas. Many concepts in the film, such as AI, robots, and organic computers, can be traced back to its predecessors like "Ghost in the Shell," "Blade Runner," and "Dune." However, while these predecessors often presented these ideas one at a time, "Mars Express" combines them all, weaving them into an organic and dynamic world, thus still creating a sense of novelty and excitement. The numerous interesting settings and small details scattered throughout the movie make the world feel much more alive and believable.

The plot itself is decent in that it kept me engaged without making me doze off. The suspenseful moments sprinkled throughout the film were just enough to keep me interested in what would come next. However, a few flaws still remain. For instance, I don't quite understand why the female protagonist was so determined to finish the investigation. It seemed like too much altruism to me. Additionally, the major event at the very end, although visually impressive, being driven purely by corporate interests was incomprehensible. It appeared to be a gigantic value destruction for every actor involved in the conflict. There should have been much better ways to address the problem that could have brought in more revenue and income without creating such a big fuss. Despite these plot confusions, the overall experience during the movie was very smooth. The fascinating world it created mostly covered up these small issues. Whenever something off was about to surface in my consciousness, an interesting novel aspect of the world would jump out and capture my attention. Therefore, I won't deduct too many points from the movie in terms of storytelling.

Overall, it is one of the best sci-fi movies I've watched in recent years. It is definitely a good watch to recommend to any friends who are into sci-fi.

The little surprise turns out to be a nice big surprise, with a coherent universe and sacrament well tied, we can blame some parts that lack a little epic or magic, no matter the top of its final catch up well.

How can we ignore our pleasure at such a success? The action scenes are inventive, the rhythm is catching and the discovery of the characters is very pleasant although a little light. Tributes to japanimation are as subtle as they are fun, often reversing codes to better suspend us. No really Mars Express is really good, so if you like animation and japanimation, do not hesitate the SF is small oignions.