Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal, a groundbreaking animated feature film from 1981, governs a unique cinematic atmosphere through a prismatic combination of science fiction, fantasy, and music, meshing together into an engaging presentation of storytelling like no other. Directed by Gerald Potterton, the film features voice talent from Richard Romanus, John Candy, and Joe Flaherty, among others.

Inspired by the imaginative visuals and daring narratives of the eponymous magazine, Heavy Metal tells multiple interlinked stories of epic proportions by means of distinct animation styles. The tales are contingent upon an animated anthology format, where different sections of the film have each story distinguishably represented. Each narrative thread spans from the stone-fisted power of medieval fantasy realms to the sleek, neon-infused landscapes of technologically advanced worlds in the far reaches of outer space, all tied together by an ominous, glowing artifact known as the Loc-Nar.

Positioned as the ultimate embodiment of evil, the Loc-Nar serves as the film’s narrative compass, guiding us through the movie’s episodic stories. The plot unfolds as the Loc-Nar, after landing on Earth, corrupts and influences the lives of various people from different eras and worlds, tugging the strings of their existence towards sometimes humorous, sometimes horrific directions enabled by the artifact’s ominously powerful capabilities.

The first voice that you hear in Heavy Metal is that of Richard Romanus, who brings life to the role of Harry Canyon, a hard-boiled, cynical taxi driver in a dystopian New York. Though Canyon’s world is corrupt and rotten to its core, his story portrays a blend of the grim and the fantastical, both classic tropes of Heavy Metal’s storytelling style. Featuring other memorable stories and characters, like the bookish teenager turned muscular warrior, Den, voiced by John Candy, and the hapless lawyer named Sternn, voiced by Joe Flaherty, the film leads us into an intriguing narrative spiral, showing the devastating effects of the demonic relic on a myriad of lives and eras.

The animation in Heavy Metal is a spectacle in itself. Ranging from gritty and noir to sleek and vibrant, it captures the essence of the narratives beautifully. Each piece of animation, created by different artists with their styles, adds to the film's kaleidoscopic view of its world, helping separate each story while also unifying them under the look and feel that embodied the original magazine.

Apart from the compelling storylines and spellbinding animation, one of the most defining features of Heavy Metal is indeed its soundtrack. With an array of rock music from the late 70s and early 80s, including artists like Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Cheap Trick, Devo, Donald Fagen, Grand Funk Railroad, Sammy Hagar, Journey, Nazareth, and Stevie Nicks, among others, the film is accompanied by tunes that not only punctuate the scenes but also perfectly encapsulate the era.

Heavy Metal pushes the boundaries of what could be expected from an animation film by veering from the typical kiddie fare. The movie is rated R for its strong language, sexuality, violence, and drug use, which adds an edge to the stories and identifies it as a film made for mature viewers. An integral element of this film's charm is its adherence to the adult comic book aesthetic, where it doesn’t shy away from darker tones and themes.

The movie has a strong cult following for its distinct and bold style of storytelling that effortlessly combines outlandish and phantasmagoric imagery with a rocking soundtrack. Ultimately, Heavy Metal is a cinematic experience that challenges traditional expectations of what animation is capable of. It's a fantasy and science fiction medley, a non-conformist narrative contrary to the mainstream, and perhaps most importantly, it is an ode to the potent power of loud, unruly rock 'n' roll music.

In the golden era of the 1980s when filmmakers were experimenting with styles, narratives, and genres, Heavy Metal stands out as a vivid, outrageous spectacle, a carnival of sights and sounds aiming to leave the viewer with an instilled sense of awe and wonder. Its influence is palpable even today in works that dare to merge music, animation, and fantasy in a way that is provocative, creative, and entirely unprecedented.