Based on the popular magazine of the same name, HEAVY METAL interweaves six visionary stories of science fiction, fantasy and sword-and-sorcerer overtones. Each has its own distinctive visual style created and brought to life by underground avant-garde comic-strip artists. As sci-fi/animation aficionado Brad Balfour wrote upon the original release of HEAVY METAL, "never before has such a diverse set of stories, themes, visual techniques, and drawing styles been sewn together in one integrated whole."

With its provocative animation sequences, HEAVY METAL pioneered the introduction in the West of what has come to be known as "Japanimation": an innovative, imaginative style, beyond erotica to exotica and always staggeringly beautiful, that was introduced by Japanese artists/animators starting in the early 80's.

In the years since its l981 release, HEAVY METAL reigns as an undisputed cult favorite by a large, fanatically dedicated army of hard-core, devoted fans. Its staggering visuals, featuring surreal animation and pushing-the-envelope eroticism, project an alternative reality that bombasts against the gestalt of "heavy metal" classics.

The animated cult film depicts a terrifying, futuristic universe set against the throbbing rhythms of such musical artists as Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Cheap Trick, Devo, Donald Fagen, Don Felder, Grand Funk Railroad, Sammy Hagar, Journey, Nazareth, Stevie Nicks, Riggs and Trust.