Deborah Install’s 2015 novel, “A Robot in the Garden,” was a modest success in the author’s native U.K., but it has taken on a life of its own in Japan. The comedic tale of one man and his robot has spawned an entire series of Japanese-language books, a radio play and a stage musical.
Now there’s “Tang,” a big-screen adaptation by journeyman director Takahiro Miki (who has somehow ended up with three films opening in cinemas this summer). It’s named after the hero of the story, an adorable little rust bucket that’s like the love child of Pixar’s “Wall-E” and one of those Japanese tin toy robots from the 1950s.
In a near-future society where sleek androids (and cyber dogs) mingle with the general public, Tang stands out — not just for his shabby chic style but because he displays the emotions that automatons aren’t supposed to feel. Brought to life by the visual effects team behind this year’s “Shin Ultraman,” he looks terrific, even if his interactions with the film’s human cast aren’t exactly seamless.