Reflective Encounters

“Right off the bat, anime fans will note the direct callbacks to Otomo Katsuhiro’s Akira in the composition of *Nuevo Rico’*s cityscapes. However this connection to the seminal 1988 film runs deeper through its evocation of apocalyptic anxiety, as viewed from the perspective of two outcasts who have a sibling-like relationship with each other. Moreover, Nuevo Rico blends its near-future dystopia setting with mythological narrative elements, giving it a spiritual undertone that’s similar to the Shinto influences in Akira and Oshii Mamoru’s Ghost in the Shell (1995).

A collage of stylistic influences are feverishly mixed in Nuevo Rico, making it feel familiar yet paradoxically fresh in the specificities of its combination. There’s a touch of retro-infused vaporwave in the opening scenes, with digital animation overlaid with a film grain effect. Nuevo Rico never stays in any one style for too long, but maintains a consistently energetic visual language throughout its breezy pace. These formal qualities could easily be paired with a triumphalist tone in the story, but in the end Nuevo Rico takes a turn that is both unexpected and emotionally resonant.”

— Cathy Brennan