Cosmolina: Payback

Cosmolina: Payback is a 2006 Japanese animated superhero black comedy film written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda, animated by Studio Ghibli for the Nippon Television Network, Dentsu, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Mitsubishi and Toho, and distributed by the latter company. The film is the third installment in the Cosmolina franchise and stars Ashley Johnson, Tara Strong, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, Vincent Cassel, Glenn Close, Radha Mitchell, Daryl Sabara, Brendan Fraser, Jennifer Connolly, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sam Rockwell, Morgan Freeman, Sigourney Weaver, Embeth Davidtz, Ray Stevenson, Jamie Brothwick, Ray Wise, Don Cheadle, James Marsters, Nicole Kidman, Johnny Yong Bosch, Stephanie Sheh, Ron Perlman, James Franco and Andy Samberg. Taking place a year after the events of the previous film, the story follows Emica Kugano and the Meerkats now working for Elizabeth Newton's Bureau of Superhero Affairs to apprehend problematic Supes, having been at peace with the Mighty Seven. However, the conflict is resumed once Atkinson begins to investigate the truth about the apparent death of Army Man, one of Klein's first American superheroes, with the hope of killing Captain Supreme for good. Meanwhile, Maximan's mental stability begins to deteriorate as Klein attempts to restrict his power, while other Mighty Seven members such as Sunshine and Queen Claire assist Emica and the Meerkats in their plots against him. The film received largely positive reviews from critics with praise for the animation, screenplay, dark humor, action sequences, character development, storyline, and performances, particularly Johnson, Oldman, Fraser and Marsters. The film was also a commercial success, grossing $340 million on a production budget of $45 million.

Cast
Ashley Johnson as Emica Kugano / Cosmolina

Tara Strong as Samantha Vareny / Sunshine

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Suki Morutaki

Gary Oldman as Henry Atkinson


 * Matthew Beard as teen Henry
 * Josh Bolt as young Henry

Samuel L. Jackson as Anthony Williams

Vincent Cassel as Guillaume

Glenn Close as Jenny Harrison, the original team leader of the Meerkats.


 * Radha Mitchell as young Jenny

Brendan Fraser as Tom Craner / Captain Supreme

Jennifer Connolly as Chloe Graham / Queen Claire

Cuba Gooding Jr. as Neil Mattson / Torpedo

Sam Rockwell as Jasper Brokowski / H2O

Morgan Freeman as Mark Jenkins

Embeth Davidtz as Elizabeth Newton

Sigourney Weaver as Tammy Vareny

Ray Stevenson as Phillip Atkinson

Jamie Borthwick as Johnny Atkinson, Henry's younger brother and the son of Phillip and Marion Atkinson. Johnny was one of the few people able to calm was one of the few people to calm Henry when he went berserk. He committed suicide years prior to the franchise due to constant abuse from his father, and appears in Henry's hallucinations.

Ray Wise as The Ultimate, the former Vice President of Hero Management at Klein before he was ousted prior to the series by Eleanor Schaeffer and Mark Jenkins.

Don Cheadle as Marvin / Dark Void

James Marsters as Rick Winston / Army Man

Nicole Kidman as Ms. Photon

Johnny Yong Bosch as Danny Dynamite

Stephanie Sheh as Delilah Dynamite

Ron Perlman as Killshot

James Franco as Silver Hawk

Andy Samberg as Dave / Turbojet

Release
The film was released on March 5, 2006.

Music
Payback was the final film in the Cosmolina franchise to be composed by Marco Beltrami. Score performed by The Hollywood Studio Symphony; conducted by Pete Anthony.

Transcript
Cosmolina: Payback/Transcript

Opening logos




Critical reception
The film has an approval rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Gallery
Cosmolina: Payback/Gallery