Malice@Doll
A doll's dream of humanity in a world of machines.
Malice@Doll is a Japanese computer-generated original video animation from 2001. Keitarou Motonaga directed it, and Chiaki Konaka wrote the script.
The story takes place after an apocalypse has wiped out all humans. Only machines remain, carrying out their programmed duties as they fall apart. One of them is Malice, a robot designed as a prostitute, who still searches for clients in a decaying red-light district. Her companions include Joe Administrator, a governing robot; Freddy, a cleaning unit; and Meliza Piper, a plumbing robot.
After experiencing what she thinks is a memory replay—a dream of a bouncing ball—Malice goes looking for customers. Joe Admin notices her damage and sends her to a repairer in an upper area, warning her about Devo Leukocyte, a former bodyguard unit that has turned hostile. Malice narrowly escapes Leukocyte with Meliza's help. She then discovers a new area, guided by a ghostly little girl holding a ball, and enters a room with a large stone-like machine. When she speaks to it, a tentacle monster bursts out and attacks her brutally. She blacks out as the girl watches.
Malice wakes up in her room, now human. She enjoys her new body at first, but Joe Admin rejects her. Upset, she runs away. Leukocyte attacks, and Joe Admin is defeated trying to save her. Meliza hides Malice, but Malice accidentally reveals their position, and Leukocyte cuts Meliza in half. Heartbroken, Malice kisses Meliza, who revives and mutates into a monster that kills Leukocyte but dies in the process.
Malice seeks comfort from the other Dolls, but they shun her. Back in her room, she hallucinates about her life as a prostitute. Heather, a Doll who usually teases her, comforts her. After talking, Malice kisses Heather, who also mutates into a living being. Together, Malice and Heather spread this infection to all machines, hoping to bring them happiness. Only Joe Admin resists. He shows Malice the pain and madness the infection causes. The ghost girl leads Malice to Heather, dying in an alley. Heather confesses her love and dies.
With Joe Admin, Malice returns to the room with the tentacle monster. Joe Admin cannot see the room or the ghost girl. He asks Malice to kiss him so he can see her world. She pretends to agree but pushes him away and runs inside, closing the door.
Inside, the tentacle creature lies dead.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Dark fantasy · Science fiction
- Creator
- Chiaki J. Konaka
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Prior to the film, an apocalyptic event eradicated all of humanity from the world. The only animate things left are machines, who continue their programmed tasks as they slowly deteriorate. Among these machines is Malice, a Doll (prostitute robot) who resides in a derelict red-light district with her fellow Dolls and continues looking for clients. Her friends include Joe Administrator, Freddy, and Meliza Piper.
After having a 'dream' of a bouncing ball, Malice goes looking for clients. She is sent to a repairer by Joe Admin, who warns her about Devo Leukocyte, a hostile former bodyguard unit. After narrowly escaping Leukocyte, Malice is guided by a spectral girl to a room containing a large stone-like structure. A tentacle monster bursts out and assaults her, causing her to black out. She awakens having become human, but is rejected by Joe Admin. Leukocyte attacks, killing Meliza, but Malice's kiss revives Meliza as a monster that defeats Leukocyte.
Malice later kisses Heather, another Doll, causing her to mutate and become alive. Malice and Heather spread the infection to all machines, but Joe Admin shows Malice the pain within the hosts. Malice returns to the tentacle monster's room, discovers a glowing version of herself, and fuses with the structure. She becomes a glowing angelic being, flies away, and the machines are restored. Malice vanishes from her friends' memories, but later appears to kiss Joe Admin before disappearing from his radar.
Reader's Guide
Malice@Doll stands as a notable entry in early 2000s Japanese computer-generated animation, directed by Keitarou Motonaga and written by Chiaki Konaka. The work presents a post-human narrative where machines continue their programmed tasks in a world devoid of humanity. Its central character, Malice, a prostitute robot, undergoes a transformation that blurs the line between machine and human, exploring themes of memory, identity, and the desire for connection. The film's use of a 'dream' motif and the spectral girl guide raises questions about reality and perception. The infection spread by Malice's kisses, which mutates machines into organic beings, serves as a metaphor for the transmission of emotion and consciousness. The ambiguous ending, where Malice becomes a voice and disappears from memory, leaves the narrative open to interpretation. The work is referenced in external links including the official website and Anime News Network.
Did You Know?
- Malice is a Doll, a prostitute robot, who continues looking for clients after humanity is eradicated.
- Malice's kiss causes Meliza Piper to revive and mutate into a monster that defeats Devo Leukocyte.
- At the end, Malice becomes a glowing angelic being and vanishes from her friends' memories, referred to only as 'a voice'.
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