(Shinji Aramaki/ 2004 / Japan / 106mins / 12a)
(Tues 4th-Thurs 6th / 7pm / £2)

Old and new worlds collide in this action packed sci-fi animation. Beautiful female soldier Deunan Knute, a guerrilla fighter in a brilliantly realised ruined city, is recruited to protect a utopian society built on a populous of human and "bioroid" citizens. Fans of the genre will have their appetites more than satisfied by the usual serving of lemon-headed, almond-eyed girl heroes with peachy behinds, plus muscular wall-smashing robot soldiers.

The film features a groundbreaking style known as "3D Live Anime", a blend of motion-capture technology and 3D computer animation, with mind blowing results. In the West Anime hasn't yet received the recognition it enjoys in its native Japan, perhaps due to its alternative plot and storytelling devices. And of course it poses an obvious threat to the likes of Disney and other industry heavyweights.