Hideo Kojima’s Favorite New Sci-Fi Movie Is a Mind-Blowing Masterpiece

When a visionary like Hideo Kojima—the creative force behind the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding legacies—enthusiastically champions a science fiction project, the world tends to listen. This was the case in late January when Kojima took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his admiration: “The aesthetic, the world-building, the narrative depth. It captures the spirit of the hard sci-fi anime I adore—the legendary 80s and 90s OVA era defined by masters like Mamoru Oshii, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Satoshi Kon.”

The film in question is Mars Express, a 2023 French neo-noir animated feature from director Jérémie Périn. Despite a modest box office performance of roughly $1.5 million, the film has found new life following its theatrical debut in Japan. Critics have been equally captivated; the Japan Times recently hailed it as “the best anime film of recent years.” It is a remarkable achievement for a French production, one that openly pays homage to genre pillars like Ghost in the Shell and Akira. As it turns out, the hype is justified—Mars Express is a polished, cerebral masterpiece that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern.

The story unfolds in the year 2200, following private investigator Aline Ruby and her synthetic partner, Carlos Rivera. What begins as a routine search for a wayward hacker quickly spirals into a complex web involving rogue AI, illicit “brain farms,” and a missing student whose secrets threaten the social order of Noctis, the Martian capital. The setting is a vivid blend of The Animatrix and Cyberpunk 2077, where humanity and androids coexist in a volatile peace. Amidst the neon-lit streets, a quiet mechanical revolution is simmering, and as Aline digs deeper, she discovers the precarious nature of what it truly means to be alive.

Running a lean 90 minutes, Mars Express is a love letter to its cinematic predecessors. Périn cleverly integrates nods to Terminator 2: Judgment Day through a high-stakes chase involving liquid-metal weaponry, while sharp-eyed viewers might spot an assault rifle reminiscent of Halo 2. The film’s biological horrors, specifically the organic constructs of tech mogul Chris Royjacker, evoke the visceral mutations seen in the climax of Akira. Technically, the film borrows from Satoshi Kon’s playbook, utilizing subtle 3D animation to lend a cinematic weight and fluidity to even the most mundane character movements.

While firmly rooted in sci-fi, Mars Express functions beautifully as a hard-boiled noir in the vein of Chinatown. It unspools a conspiracy hidden within the Martian underbelly, maintaining a moody, atmospheric tension throughout. It is easy to see why Kojima—a man famously “70% made of movies”—found such a kinship with this film. There is even a specific visual cue where Carlos’s prosthetic arm mirrors the iconic red limb of Venom Snake from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

Mars Express is destined for cult classic status once it hits major streaming platforms. However, for those unwilling to wait for the algorithm to catch up, take Kojima’s advice and seek this film out via digital retailers today.

Mars Express is currently available for purchase or rental on YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

Source: Polygon