Roujin Z is a somewhat underappreciated film from a time when anime was unafraid to directly satirize or undermine the shortcomings of industrial society, instead of obfuscating its criticism by way of fanciful terminology and fantasy world-building. The premise has only become more relevant with time: in the near future, an appliance that serves all the physiological and mental needs of the elderly is invented, finally liberating families from the bothersome task of taking care of the old. The consequences of ultra-busy contemporary society invalidating the emotional needs of the elderly and infirm spiral into a nuclear-powered disaster straight out of mecha anime. The fairlyshort movie's story gets to the point fast, and intends to have its message clearly heard. However, in its rush to indict the profit-motivated healthcare industry and the people who see their grandparents as a burden, it doesn't develop enough emotional impact to be very memorable. Still, in an age where mainstream anime sometimes feels like a propaganda vehicle for the Japanese government, Roujin Z feels like a rebellious outlier.