Vexille 2007

Animation

Box Office

$1.2M

Runtime

109 mins

Language

Japanese

Directed by

Fumihiko Sori

Made by

Avex Entertainment

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Vexille Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Vexille (2007). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

In the 2060s, robotics and cybernetics have advanced to a level that changes how people think about technology and control. Global opinions grow uneasy about autonomous machines, and in 2067 the United Nations issues a unilateral ban on further robotics research. Japan, home to the powerhouse Daiwa Heavy Industries, pushes back with strong protests but cannot overturn the ban, ultimately withdrawing from international politics. To safeguard its secrets, Daiwa drives a bold, cloaked program led by Toshiyuki Morikawa as Kisaragi, a figure whose research pushes the envelope even as the rest of the world looks away. At the same time, the world watches as the R.A.C.E. network—270 offshore installations—casts a vast energy field over Japan, severing all external communications and making satellite surveillance nearly impossible. In effect, Japan vanishes from the global stage, living behind a shimmering barrier while its people and prospects become the subject of quiet, watchful concern.

A decade later, the United States Navy’s elite SWORD unit pursues a Japanese informant tied to Daiwa’s secretive program, traveling to Colorado in a high-stakes chase. The informant, known as Saito, escapes by cutting off his own leg, which researchers later reveal is made of bio-metal. The raid hints at a hidden, forbidden spectrum of technology that Japan might be concealing, and SWORD vows to uncover the frequency of the oppressive R.A.C.E. network to learn what Daiwa has truly accomplished behind the veil. In this moment of tension, the fate of a whole nation hangs in the balance as the mission risks triggering a broader global confrontation.

Among the few who slip through the net is Vexille, a capable SWORD operative portrayed by Meisa Kuroki. She is almost unique in her ability to move within Daiwa’s shadowed world, and she survives where others fall. Her only ally in the chaos is her lover, Leon, played by Shosuke Tanihara, who endures long enough to be brought into Daiwa’s inner circle. When Vexille awakens in Tokyo, she finds a city that has transformed into a stark, lawless town ruled by the corporation, while a stubborn resistance remains. The resistance is led by Maria, portrayed by Yasuko Matsuyuki, who reveals a decade of calculated secrecy and the chilling truth behind Japan’s post-2067 landscape: a supposed pandemic was really a pretext for unleashing nanotechnology that would convert everyday citizens into obedient life-like machines. The result is a desolate archipelago where the only line of defense is a ceramic wall guarding Tokyo, the last bastion of life on the islands.

As the resistance strengthens its stance, Vexille and Maria plan to draw the unfeeling Jags—vast, spinning constructs of semi-sentient metal—toward Daiwa’s corporate stronghold, a fortress now standing in the middle of Tokyo Bay. Vexille agrees to pilot her flight-enabled armor in a dangerous staging of evacuation and attrition, guiding the Jags toward the service bridge that links Daiwa to the outside world. The plan succeeds only up to a point: the bridge is detached from the headquarters, and the Jags tumble into the sea, while Vexille and Maria are captured and brought before Kisaragi, the master of Daiwa. The stalwart leader boasts that his research is nearly finished and calculates a future expansion—an invasion of America—before his own test subject networks turn against him. In a brutal turn, Saito secretly strangles him, exposing the fragility of even the most ambitious schemes.

The town council then forces open the ceramic gates, allowing the Jags to storm Daiwa’s headquarters. Kisaragi, though presumed dead by the audience, appears to have survived and manages a final act of escape by shooting Saito and slipping away with the research. With the gates open and the city overrun, the Jags flood into the Daiwa stronghold, yet Vexille and Maria remain unbroken. The remaining resistance fights on as Daiwa’s fortress collapses into the bay, taking with it the last of the lifelike machines that once ruled the land. In the end, Vexille and Leon are rescued by a SWORD helicopter, lifting away from a Japan that now lies quiet and lifeless beneath a vanished horizon. As they depart, Vexille reflects on the persistence of human spirit, insisting that no force can ever extinguish it.

Vexille Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Vexille (2007) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

UN declares unilateral robotics ban

The United Nations announces a unilateral ban on further robotics research in 2067, signaling a turning point in world opinion against automation. Nations begin to impose stricter controls and redirect funding away from robotic development. The ban sets the stage for a broader political crisis surrounding Japan's robotic industry.

2067 New York, United Nations

Japan protests but withdraws; R.A.C.E network begins

Japan strongly protests the ban but cannot prevent its passage, retreating from active international politics as a consequence. Foreigners are deported and immigration is halted. The R.A.C.E network is constructed, an energy field of 270 offshore installations that isolates Japan from external communications and satellite surveillance.

2067-2068 Tokyo, Japan

A decade later: SWORD pursues a Daiwa informant in Colorado

The US Navy special operations unit SWORD tries to trap a Daiwa informant in Colorado. The informant, Saito, escapes by cutting off his own leg, which is revealed to be bio-metal. The incident heightens SWORD's suspicions that Japan harbors advanced, banned technologies.

2077 Colorado, United States

SWORD infiltrates Japan to gather data

SWORD operatives infiltrate Japan to learn the frequency of the R.A.C.E. network and to obtain intelligence about the country. They manage to slip in, but security forces detect them before data can be transmitted. Vexille is the only agent to evade capture, while Leon is captured and taken to Daiwa's headquarters.

2077 Japan

Vexille awakens in a Daiwa-ruled Tokyo

Vexille awakens to a Tokyo transformed into a shanty town under Daiwa's control. A small resistance movement opposes the company and uses Vexille's transmitter to broadcast a distortion frequency that disrupts Daiwa's control signals.

2077 Tokyo, Japan

Maria reveals ten years of secrecy

Maria, head of the resistance, details a decade of secrecy while SWORD studies Japan in shocked horror. She explains that the islands have become a lifeless wasteland as a result of Daiwa's secret experiments. The revelation reframes SWORD's view of the situation in Japan.

2077 Tokyo, Japan

Disease, vaccine, and nanotech origins

In 2067, an unknown disease struck Japan and was countered by an experimental vaccine. In truth, the disease was engineered by Daiwa, and the vaccine was used to begin testing nanotechnology. The nanotech spread leads to citizens being converted into semi-sentient lifeforms with limited free will.

2067 Japan

Jags emerge; Tokyo protected by ceramic wall

The nanotech contamination yields the Jags, giant semisentient metal constructs that prowl the wilderness. Tokyo remains protected by an almost impenetrable wall of ceramic, while the rest of Japan decays around it.

2067-2068 Japan

Resistance lures Jags to the service bridge

The resistance lures the Jags toward a service bridge that connects to Daiwa's corporate headquarters in Tokyo Bay. Vexille volunteers to assist, using her flight-capable armor to guide the trap and draw the Jags toward the bottleneck.

2077 Service bridge, Tokyo Bay

Bridge detaches; Vexille and Maria captured

The service bridge detaches from the headquarters, and the Jags plunge into the sea. Vexille and Maria are captured amid the chaos as security forces push back the Daiwa forces, marking a major setback for the resistance.

2077 Service bridge / Tokyo Bay

Kisaragi shoots Saito; escapes with research

Kisaragi, the Daiwa mastermind, shoots Saito and escapes with his research. It becomes clear that Kisaragi has somehow survived earlier confrontations and remains determined to complete his project. The pursuit intensifies as both sides maneuver for the upper hand.

2077 Daiwa HQ, Tokyo

Gates open; Jags invade Daiwa HQ; Vexille and Maria released

The town council forces the ceramic gates open, destroying Tokyo and enabling the Jags to enter Daiwa's headquarters. An underling releases Vexille and Maria from captivity before dying. The invasion marks the turning point as Daiwa's fortress begins to falter.

2077 Daiwa HQ / Tokyo

Vexille pursues Kisaragi; Leon is freed

Vexille pursues Kisaragi while Maria frees Leon, who shows concern for Vexille, angering Maria. The tension between personal loyalties and the mission escalates as the final confrontation approaches.

2077 Daiwa HQ vicinity

Vexille stops Kisaragi; Jag devours them

Vexille prevents Kisaragi's escape in a helicopter, and Maria grapples him as a Jag devours them both. The moment signifies the collapse of Daiwa's immediate threat and the end of Kisaragi's bid for supremacy.

2077 Daiwa HQ / Tokyo Bay

SWORD rescues Vexille and Leon; Tokyo collapses

A SWORD helicopter arrives to rescue Vexille and Leon, lifting them away from a now lifeless Japan. Daiwa's headquarters sinks into Tokyo Bay along with the Jags, and the landscape fades into ruin. As they escape, Vexille concludes that humanity's spirit can never be extinguished.

2077 Tokyo Bay / Japan

Vexille Characters

Explore all characters from Vexille (2007). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Vexille (Meisa Kuroki)

Vexille is a top SWORD operative tasked with infiltrating Japan to uncover evidence of hidden technologies. She pilots a flight-capable battle armor and proves to be a formidable fighter in the transformed landscape. Her quest reveals the human cost behind Daiwa’s ambitions, and she evolves into a crucial ally for the resistance.

🗡️ Protagonist 🛡️ Warrior 🤖 Cybernetics

Leon (Shosuke Tanihara)

Leon is Vexille's partner and ally, whose loyalty runs deep. He survives the initial incursion but is captured and taken to Daiwa's headquarters, highlighting the personal stakes of the conflict. His relationship with Vexille adds an emotional counterpoint to the larger political struggle.

❤️ Romantic bond 🛡️ Ally 🤖 Cybernetics

Maria (Yasuko Matsuyuki)

Maria leads the Tokyo resistance, guiding efforts to reveal the truth about Japan's transformation. She coordinates with Vexille and the SWORD-informed plan to lure the Jags toward Daiwa's base. Her determination anchors the human cost of the corporate takeover.

🧭 Leader 🗺️ Resistance 🌐 Ideology

Kisaragi (Toshiyuki Morikawa)

Kisaragi is the master of Daiwa, an ambitious scientist driving the nanotech program. He boasts about the research and seeks to expand its reach, perceiving humans as subjects for science. He ultimately clashes with Saito, meeting a grim fate as the plan unravels.

⚗️ Scientist 🧬 Nanotech 🏭 Corporate power

Saito (Akio Otsuka)

Saito is a ruthless Daiwa associate and the architect of the operational scheme to breach Japan. He escapes early by severing his own leg to pass as a casualty and later plays a pivotal role in the downfall of Kisaragi. His actions ripple through the climactic confrontation.

🕶️ Underling 💉 Bioengineering ⚔️ Plotter

Vexille Settings

Learn where and when Vexille (2007) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

2060s

The events unfold in the near-future 2060s, with a critical turn in 2067 when a disease is countered with a vaccine that doubles as a testbed for nanotech. Japan is transformed into a landscape of lifelike machines, and the Jags roam the wasteland outside Tokyo. The world watches as Tokyo and Daiwa's HQ face a climactic collapse.

Location

Japan, Colorado, Tokyo Bay

Set in a near-future Japan where robotics and cybernetics have reshaped society, the story shows Japan withdrawing from global diplomacy after a UN ban on robotics and the R.A.C.E. network sealing it off. A U.S. Navy SWORD unit operates in Colorado to trap a Daiwa informant, while Tokyo becomes a shanty town under Daiwa's rule. The service bridge to Daiwa's headquarters sits atop Tokyo Bay, and the city ultimately buckles as Jags breach the fortress walls.

🗺️ Near-future 🏭 Corporate-controlled 🌐 Isolated

Vexille Themes

Discover the main themes in Vexille (2007). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🧬

Technology vs Humanity

The film centers on nanotech and cybernetics that strip people of free will and reduce them to lifelike machines. It questions whether scientific progress should override individual autonomy. The struggle to preserve human spirit drives the resistance and protagonist actions. The narrative presents a cautionary tale about the costs of unchecked technological ambition.

🛡️

Resistance

A resistance movement within Japan coordinates with SWORD's observers and the alliance with Vexille. They orchestrate a plan to draw the Jags toward Daiwa's HQ and exploit the service bridge to regain control. Personal ties, loyalty, and sacrifice shape the resistance's resolve. The climax tests the endurance of those fighting for autonomy.

🌐

Isolation

Japan isolates itself from the world after the ban on robotics, with foreign access severed and communication cut by the energy grid. The tale examines how isolation reshapes national identity and stunts international collaboration. Daiwa's secrecy exposes the dangers of corporate monopolies wielding science as political power. The film ends with a shattered Japan, underscoring the fragility of connected civilization.

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Vexille Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Vexille (2007). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a near‑future where humanity’s obsession with robotics has sparked worldwide alarm, Japan chooses a radical path: it cloaks itself behind an impenetrable energy veil, cutting off all contact with the outside world. The continent‑spanning barrier, known as the R.A.C.E. network, renders the island nation a mystery, its cities frozen in a silent, high‑tech stasis while the rest of the globe watches with a mixture of dread and fascination. The atmosphere is unmistakably cyber‑punk—neon‑glow silhouettes against a bleak, metallic skyline, and the hum of unseen machines hints at a deeper, possibly dangerous, evolution of life itself.

Amid this enigmatic isolation, an independent task force called S.W.O.R.D. dispatches a handful of operatives to breach the veil and uncover what lies within. Their mission is driven by rumors of prohibited robotic biotechnology, a prospect that could reshape the balance of power if it ever escaped Japan’s hidden laboratories. The tone remains tense and speculative, emphasizing the clash between humanity’s yearning for progress and the fear of its own creations turning beyond control.

The story centers on Vexille, a skilled S.W.O.R.D. agent whose expertise makes her uniquely suited to navigate the concealed world of the archipelago. Her determination is matched only by a personal connection to Leon, a partner whose presence offers both emotional grounding and a reminder of the stakes beyond any single operation. Together, they embody the thin line between curiosity and caution, stepping into a landscape where every alleyway might conceal advanced technology or a glimpse of the human spirit persisting beneath steel.

As Vexille ventures deeper, the film paints a picture of a society suspended between isolation and innovation, where the silent streets of Tokyo echo with unanswered questions. The mood invites viewers to contemplate the price of secrecy and the fragile hope that even in a world dominated by machines, humanity’s resolve may still find a way to surface.

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