History Manga / Tekkonkinkreet

''Tekkonkinkreet'' (a mispronunciation of the Japanese word for "reinforced concrete") is an anime film by Creator/Studio4C, the animation studio known for creating ''Anime/TheAnimatrix''. It was adapted from [[AdaptationDisplacement a manga]] that originally was called ''Black and White'' in English but nowadays is sold under its original title.

One of the central themes of the film is the duality of the orphaned brothers. White needs Black to help protect him and Black needs the upbeat White to [[MoralityChain remind him of his humanity]]. Once separated from White, Black [[FreakOut slowly succumbs]] to his [[TheDarkSide inner darkness]] and White must bring him back.

The film is notable for having an American director, a fellow by the name of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Arias Michael Arias]], who previously produced ''The Animatrix''.

* LegitimateBusinessmensSocialClub: Treasure Town used to be a yakuza stronghold, a haven of smut and vice. Snake convinces the boss to turn it into a theme park, similar to how the mafia was edged out of Vegas by conglomerates.

* RetroUniverse: The aesthetics of the city strongly evokes urban Japan in TheFifties and TheSixties (with a dash of pan-Asian elements mixed in), complete with period everyday items and vehicles. A minor hint of the years in which the show takes place does surface early on, explaining the aesthetics. Suzuki is depicted reading [[https://web.archive.org/web/20131115002714/http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2135/tekkonkinkreetastrology.jpg an astrology book for 1967/Showa 42]], implying the storyline unfolds between the summers of 1967 and 1968, yet, there's a scene from an arcade that has games that seem to belong to the 1980's.

* {{Yakuza}}: The yakuza act as unwelcome agents of change in Treasure Town. Before that, we did get gangsters who acted in a way like the yakuza, though they didn't look the part (i.e a lot of them didn't have the usual tattoos).

* AmbiguousDisorder: White, definitely. It's made clear early on that he's somehow... different, with his immature and occasionally obsessive behaviour.

* BerserkButton: "I can ''never'' forgive ''anyone'' who hurts White for ''any reason''", says Black in the manga.

* DramaticShattering

* IHaveTheHighGround: Black and White are often seen watching the city from somewhere high up.

* NiceHat: White is seen with a myriad of quirky hats throughout the film.

* SceneryPorn: UpToEleven!

* BeautyMark: Several characters have one, most noticeably White.

* {{Asexuality}}: Sawada says right out that he's asexual. He bucks the common stereotypes about asexuals (cold, uncaring, etc.) in that he's the most compassionate character in the movie.
** When he mentions it at a strip-show, Suzuki calls it a "sign of the times."

* {{Yakuza}}

* RetroUniverse: The aesthetics of the city strongly evokes urban Japan in TheFifties and TheSixties (with a dash of pan-Asian elements mixed in), complete with period everyday items and vehicles.
** A minor hint of the years in which the show takes place does surface early on, explaining the aesthetics. Suzuki is depicted reading [[https://web.archive.org/web/20131115002714/http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2135/tekkonkinkreetastrology.jpg an astrology book for 1967/Showa 42]], implying the storyline unfolds between the summers of 1967 and 1968.
*** However, there's a scene from an arcade that has games that seem to belong to the 1980's.

* ConspicuousCG: Noticeable still, but mitigated thanks to a blend of traditional graphics with 3D animation, and the appropriate use of [[ForTheCelOfIt cel shading]] (for vehicles) that goes fairly well with the design of the characters.

* BigBad: It's complicated. [[spoiler:Snake is the most obvious, but he states that he is taking orders from "the ultimate authority" then directly states he means God.]]

* BiggerBad: [[spoiler:The Minotaur]] is a good contender, he nearly [[spoiler:takes away Black's humanity.]]

The plot centers around two delinquent brothers called [[PolarOppositeTwins Black and White]]. Black acts as the tough, streetwise leader, while White is the childish and innocent half of the pair. Together they form the gang known as the Cats and rule Treasure Town, a decaying metropolis that is both colorful and dangerous. However, the {{yakuza}} known as the Suzuki "the Rat" and his boss move in and their plans to change Treasure Town with negative consequences for the Cats. With the yakuza's appearance come even bigger threats to Black and White, including superhuman aliens charged with hunting them down and a mysterious creature called the Minotaur with a reputation for cruelty.

* GrowingUpSucks

* HeelFaceDoorSlam: [[spoiler:Kimura]]. He's killed in a drive-by before he can skip town and start an honest life.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath

** A minor hint of the years in which the show takes place does surface early on, explaining the aesthetics. Suzuki is depicted reading [[http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2135/tekkonkinkreetastrology.jpg an astrology book for 1967/Showa 42]], implying the storyline unfolds between the summers of 1967 and 1968.

* BathroomEscape: Black and White escape one of Mr Snake's henchmen by climbing out of a bathroom window.

* CloudCuckoolander: White, big time.

* [[FingerInTheMail Ear In The Mail]]: Kimura's EstablishingCharacterMoment is chopping off a delinquents ears and sending them to his friends.

* GogglesDoNothing: Black does wear his sometimes, if only to look cool.

* LegitimateBusinessmensSocialClub: Treasure Town used to be a yakuza stronghold, a haven of smut and vice. Snake convinces the boss to turn it into a theme park, similar to how the mafia was edged out of Vegas by conglomerates.

* SuperpoweredEvilSide: [[spoiler:The Minotaur to Black.]]

* WormThatWalks: A pecular variation - a giant crow made out of hundreds of ordinary-sized crows flying in precise formation.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: "What if [[spoiler:Black]] is the [[spoiler:Minotaur]]?", says one character. Other scenes of the story, including the anime's opening, also foreshadow that.

* HopeSproutsEternal: [[spoiler:After failing to grow for much of the movie's duration, White's apple seed finally sprouts and blossoms during the end credits, after the brothers are reunited]]. [[spoiler:In the manga, Black finds out about it just before the confrontation with the Minotaur, which leads to him keep his promise to White and refuse the Minotaur's help]].

* [[SatisfiedStreetRat Satisfied Street Cats]] Though they do hope to someday escape Treasure Town.

--> '''Suzuki:''' At least believe in love, Kimura. [[JohnLennon Love is all you need.]]

''Tekkonkinkreet'' (a mispronunciation of the Japanese word for "reinforced concrete") is an anime film by [[Studio4C Studio 4°C]], the animation studio known for creating ''Anime/TheAnimatrix''. It was adapted from [[AdaptationDisplacement a manga]] that originally was called ''Black and White'' in English but nowadays is sold under its original title.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tekkon-kinkreet-743333.jpg