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, Julie Benz, Sigourney Weaver, Embeth Davidtz, John Goodman, Ray Stevenson, Jamie Borthwick, 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 voice acting performances, particularly Johnson, Oldman, Fraser and Marsters. The film was also a commercial success, grossing $340 million on a production budget of $45 million.
Plot[]
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
Lance Reddick as young Mark Jenkins
Julie Benz as Lana Varrick
Embeth Davidtz as Elizabeth Newton
John Goodman as Thomas Singer
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
Production[]
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
Credits[]
Cosmolina: Payback/Credits
Opening logos[]
.jpg){kind=link}
Critical reception[]
The film has an approval rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Accolades[]
Gallery[]
Cosmolina: Payback/Gallery