Review Metallic Rouge 🤖Mars, Machines, and Meaning

Welcome to another art post here in the community.

If there’s one thing I love, it’s anime with a futuristic touch, full of dilemmas between humans and machines, like in Akira or Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. When I discovered Metallic Rouge, I watched it without much expectation just because of the pretty visuals I saw in a promo image. But honestly? I was quite surprised. It might not be perfect, but it's an anime that delivers a unique experience, especially if you're into themes like identity, freedom, and artificial intelligence. So let me tell you a bit about what went down and why I think it’s worth giving this story a shot.

The plot begins on Mars, in a future where humans live alongside androids known as Neans. They were created to serve, do the hard labor, and of course, obey. But some of these Neans began to awaken consciousness, their own will, and even feelings. Naturally, Earth’s government didn’t like that one bit and ordered the elimination of the so-called Immortal Nine, rebellious Neans considered dangerous.

That’s where the protagonist comes in: Rouge Redstar.

Rouge is a different kind of Nean. She looks human, acts human but she’s a weapon. An agent created to eliminate the rogue Neans. Accompanied by Naomi Orthmann, a mysterious and stylish woman who handles intelligence and undercover work, Rouge goes after her targets across the Martian colony. But along the way, she starts to question everything. Is she really doing the right thing? Are the Immortal Nine truly enemies? And most importantly: who is she really?

What caught my attention right away was the overall aesthetic.

The anime is gorgeous.

Everything has a futuristic feel mixed with a slight noir touch. Neon-filled cities, Martian deserts, spacecraft, stylish outfits… and all very well animated. The studio Bones did an incredible visual job, as expected. But it’s not just pretty it has substance too. Each episode reveals a piece of the puzzle. Don’t expect the story to give everything away upfront, because Metallic Rouge loves to hold on to its mysteries. Sometimes you’ll ask yourself, “what’s going on?”, but with time, things start to make more sense. It’s the kind of anime that demands attention but rewards those who stick with it.

One thing that really struck me was how the anime handles the theme of identity, since Rouge doesn’t exactly know who she is. She was created for a purpose, but isn’t sure she believes in it. And that’s something many people can relate to even without being a robot. The idea of “am I what I was made to be, or can I choose to be something else?” comes up multiple times. And what’s great is that the characters she faces also have their own stories very human ones even though they’re Neans.

The fights are also a highlight. They’re not super frequent, but when they happen, they’re really well done. Rouge has a combat mode that’s kind of like a superhero transformation, where she takes on a more robotic and destructive look. The choreography is fluid, and you can tell they put care into every movement. But the anime’s main focus is the narrative, so don’t expect non-stop action. Now, to be honest, Metallic Rouge has its slow moments. Some episodes feel more “quiet,” with long dialogues and less action. Some people might find this boring. Personally, I enjoy when the anime slows down to develop characters or explore the world more. But I get that this might turn off those looking for something more fast-paced.

Another interesting element is the relationship between Rouge and Naomi. There’s a chemistry between the two that lingers throughout. It’s not forced or explicit, but you can feel there’s something deeper there whether it’s friendship, partnership, or maybe even something more intimate. And that kind of well-built relationship is rare in works like this.

In the end, Metallic Rouge was an experience that was worth it. It’s not an anime to binge expecting action in every episode, but rather a story that grows slowly, raises interesting questions, and makes you reflect. It’s the kind of anime that ends and makes you think: “will there be more?”, because the universe clearly has room to expand.

If you like anime like Ghost in the Shell, Ergo Proxy, Blame!, or even Carole & Tuesday (also from Bones, but lighter), you might enjoy Metallic Rouge. It mixes action, drama, sci-fi, and a dose of mystery that keeps you hooked until the end.