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I love Japanese anime.
I’ve always enjoyed cartoons since my early childhood, like many other ‘80’s kids’; I loved things like G.I.Joe, Transformers, Thundercats, He-Man, Battle of the Planets etc. When I was growing up (though many people might say I haven’t actually grown up!) and becoming more ‘adult’, I switched my attention to other types of cartoons, namely Japanese anime.
As we all know, many people have misconceptions about videogames, dismissing them as violent things that rot your brain or children’s toys that don’t have any real value.
There’s a similar misunderstanding with Japanese Anime (It’s NOT called Manga: Manga is a company that releases Japanese anime or manga is the word for Japanese comics.)
People who don’t properly know about anime (i.e my dad!) think it’s either:
Really excessively violent and disgusting like ‘Urotsukidoji’ or ‘Akira’.
Or,
Pokemon & Dragon Ball Z style hyperactive stuff with characters possessing huge eyes and leaping about like zany fools.
Well, some anime is like that, but most isn’t. There are many intelligent dramas like Patlabor 1 & 2 and Wings of Honneamise that have fantastic animation and brilliant characters with no hint of violence or madcap craziness, and great adventure films like The Castle of Cagliostro.
Studio Ghibli are a well known anime production studio who are probably best described as “The Nintendo of Anime”, led and influenced by Hayao Miyazaki (himself once described as the Walt Disney of Japan). Ghibli, like Nintendo, pride themselves on making anime films for all the family, My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, The Castle of Cagliostro, Princess Mononoke and Porco Rosso are all fine examples of pure harmless fun for all the family. Any person who believes the old anime stereotypes should watch those films to have a proper informed opinion and not be too hasty to judge anime on misled ideas or false impressions.
I first became interested in anime back in the early nineties when Manga were releasing VHS titles on an almost weekly basis. I suppose to many people it was a craze to be buying ‘mature’ cartoons, as most of the titles released were slightly adult orientated, but to me it became a hobby I still enjoy today. I have seen some truly great anime films down the years, many rivalling live action films in terms of quality of plot and believable characters.
Though some anime is still being released on dvd in the UK, if you’re a big fan you’ll probably have to buy region 1 dvds from the internet to fully experience the best anime that’s out there.
Here’s my little rundown of some of my most treasured anime films/series:
MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO: Miyazaki’s seminal classic, that’s one of the most amazing animated films you could possibly hope to see. Set sometime in the 1950’s in a rural town outside Tokyo, Mei and her older sister Satsuki are settling in after moving into their new house with their father and their mother is recovering in hospital from an illness. Exploring her new surroundings little Mei comes across a little blue creature collecting acorns. She follows the little creature down a path, which leads inside a giant camphor tree. There she finds a huge sleeping creature, which she names Totoro. Satsuki and Mei become friends with Totoro and the other sprit creatures of the forest, through a series of chance meetings with him.
One day though, Satsuki receives a telegram saying that her mother's condition may be taking a turn for the worse, Mei decides to run off to the hospital to visit her by herself. With Mei missing, the townsfolk search high and low for her without success, so Satsuki asks Totoro to help her find her young sister.
Miyazaki has created some wonderful sequences involving Totoro and his friends. In one, Totoro helps a seed grow into an enormous tree and then gives the two girls a fun aerial ride with his magic umbrella whilst standing on a small spinning wheel thingy. Another scene sees the girls waiting in the heavy rain for their father to arrive at the bus stop from work, though they are tired they wait for a long time, but the bus arrives without their father on it, so they wait further. Totoro then appears and becomes fascinated by the falling raindrops on the umbrella. The other memorable sequence involves the “Cat Bus”, which is what it sounds like; a giant cat that’s like a bus.
It’s really hard not to love the enormous grinning grey and white creature named Totoro. Miyazaki portrays him as a very kind, playful and thoughtful creature with an odd sense of humour and an amazingly loud roar and huge mouth. He’s the kind of furry, huggable monster that most kids would love to play with. (If they released the film in the UK there would be lots of soft toys sold.)
Despite almost having no plot to speak of, this is an excellent and heart warming little film, which is great film to show kids as well as adults.
In a harsh modern world with many troubles happening around the globe, it’s a real treat to be able to watch this brilliant little gem that transports you into a really gentle and carefree world that will captivate audiences young & old..
KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE: One of Miyazaki's most internationally beloved films. Kiki is a young witch who turns thirteen, and it's customary for her to fly away from home to find a city to settle in and to learn what to do with her witch’s abilities, and to find her niche in life.
Animation or not, it's one of the best movies ever made that can again be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike. It's amazing that a film totally devoid of violence and villains can be so exciting and heart pounding, but that's exactly what Miyazaki creates in films like this and Totoro.
The story of Kiki as she heads out into the world to find her place and her calling is something that a lot of people, young and old, can easily relate to. In the European setting of the film, things are done in a very captivating way. The city, though large, is very quaint, gentle and idyllic place.
Having Kiki arrive to the town to begin her trade, which she learns to be doing flying deliveries on her broom for a local bakery.
Watching the story unfold, as Kiki discovers the city by the sea that she's chosen, we get introduced to a lot of interesting characters. Of importance of course is her black cat Jiji, who gets to deliver some of the best lines in the movie.
It’s a wonderful tale of self-discovery and the idea that you shouldn’t worry about outward appearances as real strength of character comes from within.
Kiki's Delivery Service is another classic, which I highly recommend to people.
PRINCESS MONONOKE: Yet another Miyazaki classic.
Princess Mononoke is the epic tale set a long time ago when the people of Japan were warring tribes, fighting for land and resources. A young man named Ashitaka sets out to the forests of the west in search of a cure that will save his life after he is infected with a deadly curse when he kills a boar god that was attacking his village.
After his long journey he arrives in iron town, he then gets involved in a battle between the humans led by Lady Eboshi, a proud and strong leader, and the forest's animal gods, led by a wild girl raised by wolves called San.
The humans are trying to build a life for themselves, exploiting the forest in the process, thus an epic struggle between man and the gods begins.
That is the basic plot for one of the most magical films of all-time, animated or otherwise.
It seems that every Miyazaki film has this kind of atmosphere and wonderful storytelling mixed with fine animation and themes such as love, hate, friendship and the power of nature.
The attention to detail in every frame will amaze everyone; from the rain drops on the stones, butterflies flitting across the screen, to the grass waving in the wind, and the hundreds of tiny Kodama forest spirits who each seem to display different appearances and characteristics.
Although it's not my personal favourite anime film, it probably regarded as the best.
If you don't know who Hayao Miyazaki is, I suggest you buy these titles. Watch and enjoy, then try to get hold of some of his other films (more could be coming to dvd in the u.k soon hopefully), because it would be a shame if people missed out on some of the best that Japanese anime has to offer.
WINGS OF HONNEAMISE: An epic tale of a civilization's first faltering steps into space set in an alien world that is strangely familiar to our own. When cadet Shiro Lhadatt signs up with the Royal Space Force, he encounters mockery and indifference from manipulative leaders and a cynical public. An encounter with a devout young woman spurs Shiro on towards his destiny - to become the first man in space.
While military leaders conspire to use the space program to spark an all-out war, Shiro and a team of aging scientists race against time to complete the first launch. The countdown has begun in a spectacular feast for the senses. Breathtaking animation, sumptuous design and a great vision combine to ensure that Wings Of Honneamise will be forever remembered as a classic.
The storyline is set against the backdrop of two competing empires, and the group of soldiers and scientists who are trying to turn the dream of space travel into a reality end up being played like pawns in the whole situation.
The movie opens with a young Shiro, watching the planes fly off the deck of an aircraft carrier. Through his inner monologue, he tells of his family and his life (both quite ordinary and unexceptional). He seems to want to strive for something more, but is unsure of just what it is in his life that he needs to do. As he can't fly jets due to his low grades, he ends up enrolling in the Royal Space Force, a group that is more a joke than anything else.
At this point, the movie takes a turn from the animation to do a series of wonderfully done pieces of still images while the opening credits play. The rough charcoal style images show the history of this world, its people and its leaders. The style used to do this, combined with the stunning music of Ryuichi Sakamoto sets the tempo for what this film is.
It's not just about the characters and their goals. It's about a near fully realized world, sometimes quite odd, and its inhabitants and their goals. The sheer amount of detail that goes into the backgrounds of each scene to the uniforms of various people to their casual clothes is remarkable.
The stunning climax to the film is one of the best last 20 minutes of ANY film, it's superb stuff.
I think Wings of Honneamise is an absolutely amazing film that holds a very special place in my heart. A truly wonderful film.
COWBOY BEBOP: Many anime fans have already seen this amazing show and will already know how good it is, but for all the non fans, read this then buy the dvds, I promise you wont be disappointed.
Cowboy Bebop took the anime world by storm back in 1998 when it was one of the biggest hits of all time in Japan. Bebop delivered a fantastic series with very high production values and 26 episodes were produced.
Cowboy Bebop restores your faith & interest in anime, as it’s just so fresh and original. It’s a series that will make you want to introduce non-anime fans to see it.
One of the coolest and most characteristic offerings to come out of Japan, Cowboy Bebop oozes cool from the moment the credits open in a blast of funky jazz music, split screened pictures and character compilations.
Put simply, it’s an anime show about a mixed bunch of intergalactic bounty hunters.
The hero is Spike Speigel, a laid-back bounty hunter with a mysterious past and an uncertain future; Spike isn't your typical anime hero. And with his rakish & gangly build, breezy demeanour, retro fashion sense and mess of untidy hair, he's not your typical action hero either. Somehow though, he pulls off being both, performing truly spectacular feats of physical agility in combat and his relaxed attitude towards putting himself (and occasionally others) at risk. Spike's past is a puzzle that gradually unfolds throughout the course of the series. Primarily all that's known is that Spike worked for the Red Dragon Syndicate on Mars, and three years ago faked his own death in order to escape the group. Once out he ended up meeting with Jet Black, a former ISSP (a sort of interstellar police force) officer who quit the force after a double cross cost him his arm (he now has a bionic left arm). Together they decided to dodge the edge of the law as bounty hunters.
Their home is the Bebop, a big heap of junk spaceship and they always appear close to poverty as Spike is forever paying damages out of his bounty earnings to repair buildings, cars etc that he wrecked when he caught his bounty.
Jet is a calm, thoughtful man, who keeps a cool head throughout the many ordeals he's found himself in since teaming up with Spike. Much preferring to tend his bonsai tree than to go speeding off on a risky case, he’s also the captain of the Bebop.
The heroine of the series is Faye Valentine, an attractive, intelligent and deadly woman. Faye's past is also a mystery, even to her. With a huge bounty price on her head, Faye found her calling as a bounty hunter. She hangs out on the Bebop crew, eating constantly, and generally making life difficult for everybody while trying to pay back the creditors that track her every move. Faye is actually quite sensitive, and quickly grows attached to the crew of the Bebop, despite her difficult temperament.
Ed is the Bebop’s resident computer expert and hacker. An orphan who grew up on the devastated remains of the Earth, Ed lived underground in the technologically advanced society that remained on the Earth. Growing up without parental boundaries in a land of technology, Ed quickly picked up the tools of the hacker trade, and quickly became feared as the hacking genius "Radical Edward". Spike, Jet and Faye met Ed while chasing a bounty. Ed's personality is best described as "completely insane" and is often prone to random bursts of unintelligible nonsense, strange songs and weird acts of flexibility.
Ein is the ship’s pet. A genetically engineered "data dog", a super intelligent Corgi developed illegally by a dodgy corporation for unknown reasons. Though no one on the show seems to realize exactly how special Ein is.
What exactly makes Cowboy Bebop so special?
There is a lot to be praised with this series. What comes to mind first is the style. Every episode of Bebop explodes with so much style that it’s a new treat for the senses every episode. Each planet, each world, each city all have a unique atmosphere to it that make them their own. From the dilapidated and gritty cities, flashy high-rise futuristic cities, to the huge flash orbiting casino; each locale has a style and appearance all its own.
Bebop manages to contain so many different story lines, from the serious to the downright bizarre. One episode, the show will be about an environmental fanatic group threatening a planet or a character searching for their identity and mysterious past, the next it’ll be about the adventures of the crew trying to find food and running into a mushroom smuggling operation or fighting an evil psychotic clown who has a paralysing fear of cats. Some episodes are funny, some are serious, some are tragic, and some are exciting.
Each of the other stories is self-contained, and gives immense pleasure to the viewer in seeing where the characters will be next, and in what kind of crazy caper.
The heart of Bebop’s main story resides in a set of five episodes featuring an exploration of Spike’s past involving his lost love Julia and a mysterious figure known as Vicious.
Straightforward stories become fantastic through awesome direction and cinematography. But it isn’t enough to just speak of the visual style of Bebop, as one of the best parts of the series is the soundtrack. Composed by Yoko Kanno, the music of Bebop features a range of jazz, bebop, blues, bluegrass, and other types of music you would never have associated with an anime production before. The soundtrack is truly original and enhances the series that much more, adding to the style of the series and creating an incredible atmosphere.
Bebop truly is unlike anything before it. I suggest this series for any anime fan, and even non-anime fans. For anyone who’s getting into this series, just sit back, and take in the series with no fixed idea about anime and enjoy the masterpiece that is Cowboy Bebop. There are six Cowboy Bebop region 1 dvds available, if you have a multi-region player, buy the first one, enjoy it so much that you’ll buy the rest.
AKIRA: Ask most anime fans what film introduced them to the genre, and they will say one word…Akira.
In the early nineties Akira, the pioneer film of the U.K and American anime scene, was captivating audiences worldwide. It was a landmark in modern animation and a thrilling experience to those who watched it.
Akira is directed by Katsuhiro Otomo and is a translation of his own cyberpunk Manga (comic) epic.
2019, Neo Tokyo, amidst the post WWIII ruins is a ‘Blade Runner’ type cityscape in the midst of a revolution against a harsh and corrupted government, where bright neon signs and huge, futuristic skyscrapers contrast with terrible pollution and streets that are overrun with violent biker gangs and rebels. Childhood friends Tetsuo and Kaneda’s motorcycle gang encounters a military operation to retrieve an escaped experimental subject.
The military capture the subject, but also take Tetsuo away to conduct experiments on him.
The Japanese government discovered a supernatural force called Akira, they were running secret tests on individuals to see if they can create a kind of human super weapon, using peoples latent psychic abilities.
However, the tests on Tetsuo prove too successful, his powers rage out of control resulting in an already bitter and disenchanted young man with the power to destroy buildings and armies with his mind. Tetsuo lashes out at the harsh world that has oppressed him.
Although Tetsuo is headstrong, he soon realises that he’s got himself involved with powers he can’t possibly comprehend, and when the powers of Akira completely envelop him, he is swept off into a terrible vortex of destruction.
Kaneda doesn’t give up on Tetsuo and with the help of some resistance fighters, spends the latter half of the film chasing Tetsuo, trying to rescue him from the powers of Akira.
Akira, as well as being a tale of friendship and loyalty, also tells the story of Western sciences mishandling of technology and powers beyond their control, leading to disastrous consequences for mankind. Governments haven’t learnt from the mistakes of WWIII and the unleashing of Akira’s energy on an unprepared world could be our downfall.
Akira is not always pleasant viewing as it contains uncompromising & sometimes extreme violence & disgusting gore, so try to have a strong stomach when watching it.
Due to its complex nature, 100% concentration and even multiple viewings are required to fully understand the plot.
The amazing animation and soundtrack collide with a complex, albeit sometimes confusing, and driving narrative in this grim post-holocaust feature length fable.
One of the most amazing and compelling films ever made, animated or live action.
THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO: Master thief Lupin III & his right-hand gunman Jigen are hot on the trail of a counterfeiter. They head off to the secluded European country of Cagliostro, where it's rumoured that the infamous Goat Bills, legendary counterfeit money, is created. Lupin and Jigen sneak their way into the country but they find far more than they bargained for. Lupin unwittingly attracts the attention of the nation’s mysterious monarch when he tries to help a damsel in distress escape the Count’s henchmen, and in the process stumbles upon the key to finding the lost fortune of the Cagliostro clan.
With the help of the beautiful Fujiko, the loyal swordsman Goemon and the bumbling Interpol inspector Zenigata, Lupin tries to penetrate the defences of the Count's fortress, rescue the girl, break up a counterfeiting scheme and escape with the hidden treasure of the Castle Of Cagliostro.
Written and directed by anime pioneer and visionary Hayao Miyazaki, anime fans will enjoy this light-hearted romp, which Steven Spielberg once called one of the greatest adventure movies of all time.
The Castle of Cagliostro is one of the best adventure/romance movies to come out of the anime world. It's got everything a movie should have for this genre: fast action, great car chase sequence, daring rescues and wit. It's not aimed at children & it's not aimed at adults. It's a broad movie that most anyone can enjoy.
If you want to spend a fun two hours watching a great adventure movie with all the signature things that make them great, this is the best way to do it. Highly recommended.
PATLABOR: The year is 1999 and Tokyo's Mobile Police have a new weapon in the war on crime - advanced robots called Labors are used to combat criminals who would use the new technology for illegal means. The suicide of a mysterious man on the massive Babylon Project construction site sets off a series of events that may signal the destruction of Tokyo.
Patlabor is mostly a dialogue movie, that’s part mystery solving to a large extent, with not entirely clear villains.
The overall design of the show is more rooted in a reality setting as well, with less fantastic elements not being introduced. While the movie takes place in 1999, you can watch this and easily envision it happening anytime in the next twenty years. It's a near-future story that was penned ten years ago, and its overall themes of humanity losing its history something that has been the basis of lots of the 90's science fiction writing.
The basic plot of the movie is that the labors, the industrial robots that are used throughout Japan, have started going on rampages within the past few months. The Patlabor team, the police in charge of labor crimes, are on the case and trying to solve it. Since it's a mystery movie for the most part, it's hard to really go into the plot too much without giving away key elements of it.
One of the best elements to the Patlabor series is the rag-tag bunch of characters working in the Patlabor team: we have the sly & supremely clever Captain Goto whose always one step ahead of everyone (one of the best characters in movie history), the usual anime young girl called Noa, the straight grade A boy called Asuma, the gentle giant Hiromi, the tech-brain Shege, and many others.
PATLABOR 2: The date is 2002, three years after the events of Patlabor 1. The destruction of a United Nations Labor team in South East Asia signals the beginning of a deadly terrorist plan that threatens to send shockwaves throughout Japan’s military. With evidence of an impending military takeover, the scattered member of the original Patlabor team must gather to defend the city against danger. To make matters worse, the mastermind behind the operation is none other than one of the teams former teacher and ex-lover. Can she stay true to her oath to uphold the law in the face of her ex-lover’s destructive plan for revenge?
The storyline is almost entirely dialogue driven with the exception of the final ten minutes or so. Some brief bits of action are scattered throughout, but they primarily serve the storyline. The bulk of the story also focuses on the two Captains of Section 2. Through investigation and the changing level of panic in the country, the two work their way towards unravelling who is behind the terrorist attacks.
Patlabor 2 is another highly intelligent anime film that requires great amount of concentration when viewing it, but if you watch it you will be rewarded with another very special film.
For anyone interested in anime, I’ve made a little list of some of my favourites and what format they are available on:
My Neighbour Totoro (Japanese region 2 dvd & USA VHS)
Kiki’s Delivery Service (Japanese region 2 dvd & USA VHS)
Princess Mononoke (region 2 dvd)
Wings of Honneamise (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Cowboy Bebop (region 1 dvd)
Akira (region 2 dvd)
The Castle of Cagliostro (region 2 dvd)
Patlabor 1 & 2 (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Patlabor Mobile Police TV Series (region 1 dvd)
Riding Bean (region 2 dvd)
Gunsmith Cats (region 2 dvd)
Ninja Scroll (region 2 dvd)
Cyber City Oedo 808 (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Apleseed (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Panda Go Panda (region 1 dvd)
Venus Wars (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Ghost in the Shell (region 2 dvd)
Lupin III: Goodbye Lady Liberty (UK VHS)
Lupin III: The Secret of the Twilight Gemini (region 1 dvd)
Lupin III: The Fuma Conspiracy (UK VHS)
Macross Plus (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Porco Rosso (Japanese region 2 dvd)
Space Adventure Cobra (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Powerstone series (region 1 dvd)
If you would like to dicuss your favourite anime films/series then please feel free, I’d like to hear what other people like watching:)
I’ve always enjoyed cartoons since my early childhood, like many other ‘80’s kids’; I loved things like G.I.Joe, Transformers, Thundercats, He-Man, Battle of the Planets etc. When I was growing up (though many people might say I haven’t actually grown up!) and becoming more ‘adult’, I switched my attention to other types of cartoons, namely Japanese anime.
As we all know, many people have misconceptions about videogames, dismissing them as violent things that rot your brain or children’s toys that don’t have any real value.
There’s a similar misunderstanding with Japanese Anime (It’s NOT called Manga: Manga is a company that releases Japanese anime or manga is the word for Japanese comics.)
People who don’t properly know about anime (i.e my dad!) think it’s either:
Really excessively violent and disgusting like ‘Urotsukidoji’ or ‘Akira’.
Or,
Pokemon & Dragon Ball Z style hyperactive stuff with characters possessing huge eyes and leaping about like zany fools.
Well, some anime is like that, but most isn’t. There are many intelligent dramas like Patlabor 1 & 2 and Wings of Honneamise that have fantastic animation and brilliant characters with no hint of violence or madcap craziness, and great adventure films like The Castle of Cagliostro.
Studio Ghibli are a well known anime production studio who are probably best described as “The Nintendo of Anime”, led and influenced by Hayao Miyazaki (himself once described as the Walt Disney of Japan). Ghibli, like Nintendo, pride themselves on making anime films for all the family, My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, The Castle of Cagliostro, Princess Mononoke and Porco Rosso are all fine examples of pure harmless fun for all the family. Any person who believes the old anime stereotypes should watch those films to have a proper informed opinion and not be too hasty to judge anime on misled ideas or false impressions.
I first became interested in anime back in the early nineties when Manga were releasing VHS titles on an almost weekly basis. I suppose to many people it was a craze to be buying ‘mature’ cartoons, as most of the titles released were slightly adult orientated, but to me it became a hobby I still enjoy today. I have seen some truly great anime films down the years, many rivalling live action films in terms of quality of plot and believable characters.
Though some anime is still being released on dvd in the UK, if you’re a big fan you’ll probably have to buy region 1 dvds from the internet to fully experience the best anime that’s out there.
Here’s my little rundown of some of my most treasured anime films/series:
MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO: Miyazaki’s seminal classic, that’s one of the most amazing animated films you could possibly hope to see. Set sometime in the 1950’s in a rural town outside Tokyo, Mei and her older sister Satsuki are settling in after moving into their new house with their father and their mother is recovering in hospital from an illness. Exploring her new surroundings little Mei comes across a little blue creature collecting acorns. She follows the little creature down a path, which leads inside a giant camphor tree. There she finds a huge sleeping creature, which she names Totoro. Satsuki and Mei become friends with Totoro and the other sprit creatures of the forest, through a series of chance meetings with him.
One day though, Satsuki receives a telegram saying that her mother's condition may be taking a turn for the worse, Mei decides to run off to the hospital to visit her by herself. With Mei missing, the townsfolk search high and low for her without success, so Satsuki asks Totoro to help her find her young sister.
Miyazaki has created some wonderful sequences involving Totoro and his friends. In one, Totoro helps a seed grow into an enormous tree and then gives the two girls a fun aerial ride with his magic umbrella whilst standing on a small spinning wheel thingy. Another scene sees the girls waiting in the heavy rain for their father to arrive at the bus stop from work, though they are tired they wait for a long time, but the bus arrives without their father on it, so they wait further. Totoro then appears and becomes fascinated by the falling raindrops on the umbrella. The other memorable sequence involves the “Cat Bus”, which is what it sounds like; a giant cat that’s like a bus.
It’s really hard not to love the enormous grinning grey and white creature named Totoro. Miyazaki portrays him as a very kind, playful and thoughtful creature with an odd sense of humour and an amazingly loud roar and huge mouth. He’s the kind of furry, huggable monster that most kids would love to play with. (If they released the film in the UK there would be lots of soft toys sold.)
Despite almost having no plot to speak of, this is an excellent and heart warming little film, which is great film to show kids as well as adults.
In a harsh modern world with many troubles happening around the globe, it’s a real treat to be able to watch this brilliant little gem that transports you into a really gentle and carefree world that will captivate audiences young & old..
KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE: One of Miyazaki's most internationally beloved films. Kiki is a young witch who turns thirteen, and it's customary for her to fly away from home to find a city to settle in and to learn what to do with her witch’s abilities, and to find her niche in life.
Animation or not, it's one of the best movies ever made that can again be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike. It's amazing that a film totally devoid of violence and villains can be so exciting and heart pounding, but that's exactly what Miyazaki creates in films like this and Totoro.
The story of Kiki as she heads out into the world to find her place and her calling is something that a lot of people, young and old, can easily relate to. In the European setting of the film, things are done in a very captivating way. The city, though large, is very quaint, gentle and idyllic place.
Having Kiki arrive to the town to begin her trade, which she learns to be doing flying deliveries on her broom for a local bakery.
Watching the story unfold, as Kiki discovers the city by the sea that she's chosen, we get introduced to a lot of interesting characters. Of importance of course is her black cat Jiji, who gets to deliver some of the best lines in the movie.
It’s a wonderful tale of self-discovery and the idea that you shouldn’t worry about outward appearances as real strength of character comes from within.
Kiki's Delivery Service is another classic, which I highly recommend to people.
PRINCESS MONONOKE: Yet another Miyazaki classic.
Princess Mononoke is the epic tale set a long time ago when the people of Japan were warring tribes, fighting for land and resources. A young man named Ashitaka sets out to the forests of the west in search of a cure that will save his life after he is infected with a deadly curse when he kills a boar god that was attacking his village.
After his long journey he arrives in iron town, he then gets involved in a battle between the humans led by Lady Eboshi, a proud and strong leader, and the forest's animal gods, led by a wild girl raised by wolves called San.
The humans are trying to build a life for themselves, exploiting the forest in the process, thus an epic struggle between man and the gods begins.
That is the basic plot for one of the most magical films of all-time, animated or otherwise.
It seems that every Miyazaki film has this kind of atmosphere and wonderful storytelling mixed with fine animation and themes such as love, hate, friendship and the power of nature.
The attention to detail in every frame will amaze everyone; from the rain drops on the stones, butterflies flitting across the screen, to the grass waving in the wind, and the hundreds of tiny Kodama forest spirits who each seem to display different appearances and characteristics.
Although it's not my personal favourite anime film, it probably regarded as the best.
If you don't know who Hayao Miyazaki is, I suggest you buy these titles. Watch and enjoy, then try to get hold of some of his other films (more could be coming to dvd in the u.k soon hopefully), because it would be a shame if people missed out on some of the best that Japanese anime has to offer.
WINGS OF HONNEAMISE: An epic tale of a civilization's first faltering steps into space set in an alien world that is strangely familiar to our own. When cadet Shiro Lhadatt signs up with the Royal Space Force, he encounters mockery and indifference from manipulative leaders and a cynical public. An encounter with a devout young woman spurs Shiro on towards his destiny - to become the first man in space.
While military leaders conspire to use the space program to spark an all-out war, Shiro and a team of aging scientists race against time to complete the first launch. The countdown has begun in a spectacular feast for the senses. Breathtaking animation, sumptuous design and a great vision combine to ensure that Wings Of Honneamise will be forever remembered as a classic.
The storyline is set against the backdrop of two competing empires, and the group of soldiers and scientists who are trying to turn the dream of space travel into a reality end up being played like pawns in the whole situation.
The movie opens with a young Shiro, watching the planes fly off the deck of an aircraft carrier. Through his inner monologue, he tells of his family and his life (both quite ordinary and unexceptional). He seems to want to strive for something more, but is unsure of just what it is in his life that he needs to do. As he can't fly jets due to his low grades, he ends up enrolling in the Royal Space Force, a group that is more a joke than anything else.
At this point, the movie takes a turn from the animation to do a series of wonderfully done pieces of still images while the opening credits play. The rough charcoal style images show the history of this world, its people and its leaders. The style used to do this, combined with the stunning music of Ryuichi Sakamoto sets the tempo for what this film is.
It's not just about the characters and their goals. It's about a near fully realized world, sometimes quite odd, and its inhabitants and their goals. The sheer amount of detail that goes into the backgrounds of each scene to the uniforms of various people to their casual clothes is remarkable.
The stunning climax to the film is one of the best last 20 minutes of ANY film, it's superb stuff.
I think Wings of Honneamise is an absolutely amazing film that holds a very special place in my heart. A truly wonderful film.
COWBOY BEBOP: Many anime fans have already seen this amazing show and will already know how good it is, but for all the non fans, read this then buy the dvds, I promise you wont be disappointed.
Cowboy Bebop took the anime world by storm back in 1998 when it was one of the biggest hits of all time in Japan. Bebop delivered a fantastic series with very high production values and 26 episodes were produced.
Cowboy Bebop restores your faith & interest in anime, as it’s just so fresh and original. It’s a series that will make you want to introduce non-anime fans to see it.
One of the coolest and most characteristic offerings to come out of Japan, Cowboy Bebop oozes cool from the moment the credits open in a blast of funky jazz music, split screened pictures and character compilations.
Put simply, it’s an anime show about a mixed bunch of intergalactic bounty hunters.
The hero is Spike Speigel, a laid-back bounty hunter with a mysterious past and an uncertain future; Spike isn't your typical anime hero. And with his rakish & gangly build, breezy demeanour, retro fashion sense and mess of untidy hair, he's not your typical action hero either. Somehow though, he pulls off being both, performing truly spectacular feats of physical agility in combat and his relaxed attitude towards putting himself (and occasionally others) at risk. Spike's past is a puzzle that gradually unfolds throughout the course of the series. Primarily all that's known is that Spike worked for the Red Dragon Syndicate on Mars, and three years ago faked his own death in order to escape the group. Once out he ended up meeting with Jet Black, a former ISSP (a sort of interstellar police force) officer who quit the force after a double cross cost him his arm (he now has a bionic left arm). Together they decided to dodge the edge of the law as bounty hunters.
Their home is the Bebop, a big heap of junk spaceship and they always appear close to poverty as Spike is forever paying damages out of his bounty earnings to repair buildings, cars etc that he wrecked when he caught his bounty.
Jet is a calm, thoughtful man, who keeps a cool head throughout the many ordeals he's found himself in since teaming up with Spike. Much preferring to tend his bonsai tree than to go speeding off on a risky case, he’s also the captain of the Bebop.
The heroine of the series is Faye Valentine, an attractive, intelligent and deadly woman. Faye's past is also a mystery, even to her. With a huge bounty price on her head, Faye found her calling as a bounty hunter. She hangs out on the Bebop crew, eating constantly, and generally making life difficult for everybody while trying to pay back the creditors that track her every move. Faye is actually quite sensitive, and quickly grows attached to the crew of the Bebop, despite her difficult temperament.
Ed is the Bebop’s resident computer expert and hacker. An orphan who grew up on the devastated remains of the Earth, Ed lived underground in the technologically advanced society that remained on the Earth. Growing up without parental boundaries in a land of technology, Ed quickly picked up the tools of the hacker trade, and quickly became feared as the hacking genius "Radical Edward". Spike, Jet and Faye met Ed while chasing a bounty. Ed's personality is best described as "completely insane" and is often prone to random bursts of unintelligible nonsense, strange songs and weird acts of flexibility.
Ein is the ship’s pet. A genetically engineered "data dog", a super intelligent Corgi developed illegally by a dodgy corporation for unknown reasons. Though no one on the show seems to realize exactly how special Ein is.
What exactly makes Cowboy Bebop so special?
There is a lot to be praised with this series. What comes to mind first is the style. Every episode of Bebop explodes with so much style that it’s a new treat for the senses every episode. Each planet, each world, each city all have a unique atmosphere to it that make them their own. From the dilapidated and gritty cities, flashy high-rise futuristic cities, to the huge flash orbiting casino; each locale has a style and appearance all its own.
Bebop manages to contain so many different story lines, from the serious to the downright bizarre. One episode, the show will be about an environmental fanatic group threatening a planet or a character searching for their identity and mysterious past, the next it’ll be about the adventures of the crew trying to find food and running into a mushroom smuggling operation or fighting an evil psychotic clown who has a paralysing fear of cats. Some episodes are funny, some are serious, some are tragic, and some are exciting.
Each of the other stories is self-contained, and gives immense pleasure to the viewer in seeing where the characters will be next, and in what kind of crazy caper.
The heart of Bebop’s main story resides in a set of five episodes featuring an exploration of Spike’s past involving his lost love Julia and a mysterious figure known as Vicious.
Straightforward stories become fantastic through awesome direction and cinematography. But it isn’t enough to just speak of the visual style of Bebop, as one of the best parts of the series is the soundtrack. Composed by Yoko Kanno, the music of Bebop features a range of jazz, bebop, blues, bluegrass, and other types of music you would never have associated with an anime production before. The soundtrack is truly original and enhances the series that much more, adding to the style of the series and creating an incredible atmosphere.
Bebop truly is unlike anything before it. I suggest this series for any anime fan, and even non-anime fans. For anyone who’s getting into this series, just sit back, and take in the series with no fixed idea about anime and enjoy the masterpiece that is Cowboy Bebop. There are six Cowboy Bebop region 1 dvds available, if you have a multi-region player, buy the first one, enjoy it so much that you’ll buy the rest.
AKIRA: Ask most anime fans what film introduced them to the genre, and they will say one word…Akira.
In the early nineties Akira, the pioneer film of the U.K and American anime scene, was captivating audiences worldwide. It was a landmark in modern animation and a thrilling experience to those who watched it.
Akira is directed by Katsuhiro Otomo and is a translation of his own cyberpunk Manga (comic) epic.
2019, Neo Tokyo, amidst the post WWIII ruins is a ‘Blade Runner’ type cityscape in the midst of a revolution against a harsh and corrupted government, where bright neon signs and huge, futuristic skyscrapers contrast with terrible pollution and streets that are overrun with violent biker gangs and rebels. Childhood friends Tetsuo and Kaneda’s motorcycle gang encounters a military operation to retrieve an escaped experimental subject.
The military capture the subject, but also take Tetsuo away to conduct experiments on him.
The Japanese government discovered a supernatural force called Akira, they were running secret tests on individuals to see if they can create a kind of human super weapon, using peoples latent psychic abilities.
However, the tests on Tetsuo prove too successful, his powers rage out of control resulting in an already bitter and disenchanted young man with the power to destroy buildings and armies with his mind. Tetsuo lashes out at the harsh world that has oppressed him.
Although Tetsuo is headstrong, he soon realises that he’s got himself involved with powers he can’t possibly comprehend, and when the powers of Akira completely envelop him, he is swept off into a terrible vortex of destruction.
Kaneda doesn’t give up on Tetsuo and with the help of some resistance fighters, spends the latter half of the film chasing Tetsuo, trying to rescue him from the powers of Akira.
Akira, as well as being a tale of friendship and loyalty, also tells the story of Western sciences mishandling of technology and powers beyond their control, leading to disastrous consequences for mankind. Governments haven’t learnt from the mistakes of WWIII and the unleashing of Akira’s energy on an unprepared world could be our downfall.
Akira is not always pleasant viewing as it contains uncompromising & sometimes extreme violence & disgusting gore, so try to have a strong stomach when watching it.
Due to its complex nature, 100% concentration and even multiple viewings are required to fully understand the plot.
The amazing animation and soundtrack collide with a complex, albeit sometimes confusing, and driving narrative in this grim post-holocaust feature length fable.
One of the most amazing and compelling films ever made, animated or live action.
THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO: Master thief Lupin III & his right-hand gunman Jigen are hot on the trail of a counterfeiter. They head off to the secluded European country of Cagliostro, where it's rumoured that the infamous Goat Bills, legendary counterfeit money, is created. Lupin and Jigen sneak their way into the country but they find far more than they bargained for. Lupin unwittingly attracts the attention of the nation’s mysterious monarch when he tries to help a damsel in distress escape the Count’s henchmen, and in the process stumbles upon the key to finding the lost fortune of the Cagliostro clan.
With the help of the beautiful Fujiko, the loyal swordsman Goemon and the bumbling Interpol inspector Zenigata, Lupin tries to penetrate the defences of the Count's fortress, rescue the girl, break up a counterfeiting scheme and escape with the hidden treasure of the Castle Of Cagliostro.
Written and directed by anime pioneer and visionary Hayao Miyazaki, anime fans will enjoy this light-hearted romp, which Steven Spielberg once called one of the greatest adventure movies of all time.
The Castle of Cagliostro is one of the best adventure/romance movies to come out of the anime world. It's got everything a movie should have for this genre: fast action, great car chase sequence, daring rescues and wit. It's not aimed at children & it's not aimed at adults. It's a broad movie that most anyone can enjoy.
If you want to spend a fun two hours watching a great adventure movie with all the signature things that make them great, this is the best way to do it. Highly recommended.
PATLABOR: The year is 1999 and Tokyo's Mobile Police have a new weapon in the war on crime - advanced robots called Labors are used to combat criminals who would use the new technology for illegal means. The suicide of a mysterious man on the massive Babylon Project construction site sets off a series of events that may signal the destruction of Tokyo.
Patlabor is mostly a dialogue movie, that’s part mystery solving to a large extent, with not entirely clear villains.
The overall design of the show is more rooted in a reality setting as well, with less fantastic elements not being introduced. While the movie takes place in 1999, you can watch this and easily envision it happening anytime in the next twenty years. It's a near-future story that was penned ten years ago, and its overall themes of humanity losing its history something that has been the basis of lots of the 90's science fiction writing.
The basic plot of the movie is that the labors, the industrial robots that are used throughout Japan, have started going on rampages within the past few months. The Patlabor team, the police in charge of labor crimes, are on the case and trying to solve it. Since it's a mystery movie for the most part, it's hard to really go into the plot too much without giving away key elements of it.
One of the best elements to the Patlabor series is the rag-tag bunch of characters working in the Patlabor team: we have the sly & supremely clever Captain Goto whose always one step ahead of everyone (one of the best characters in movie history), the usual anime young girl called Noa, the straight grade A boy called Asuma, the gentle giant Hiromi, the tech-brain Shege, and many others.
PATLABOR 2: The date is 2002, three years after the events of Patlabor 1. The destruction of a United Nations Labor team in South East Asia signals the beginning of a deadly terrorist plan that threatens to send shockwaves throughout Japan’s military. With evidence of an impending military takeover, the scattered member of the original Patlabor team must gather to defend the city against danger. To make matters worse, the mastermind behind the operation is none other than one of the teams former teacher and ex-lover. Can she stay true to her oath to uphold the law in the face of her ex-lover’s destructive plan for revenge?
The storyline is almost entirely dialogue driven with the exception of the final ten minutes or so. Some brief bits of action are scattered throughout, but they primarily serve the storyline. The bulk of the story also focuses on the two Captains of Section 2. Through investigation and the changing level of panic in the country, the two work their way towards unravelling who is behind the terrorist attacks.
Patlabor 2 is another highly intelligent anime film that requires great amount of concentration when viewing it, but if you watch it you will be rewarded with another very special film.
For anyone interested in anime, I’ve made a little list of some of my favourites and what format they are available on:
My Neighbour Totoro (Japanese region 2 dvd & USA VHS)
Kiki’s Delivery Service (Japanese region 2 dvd & USA VHS)
Princess Mononoke (region 2 dvd)
Wings of Honneamise (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Cowboy Bebop (region 1 dvd)
Akira (region 2 dvd)
The Castle of Cagliostro (region 2 dvd)
Patlabor 1 & 2 (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Patlabor Mobile Police TV Series (region 1 dvd)
Riding Bean (region 2 dvd)
Gunsmith Cats (region 2 dvd)
Ninja Scroll (region 2 dvd)
Cyber City Oedo 808 (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Apleseed (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Panda Go Panda (region 1 dvd)
Venus Wars (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Ghost in the Shell (region 2 dvd)
Lupin III: Goodbye Lady Liberty (UK VHS)
Lupin III: The Secret of the Twilight Gemini (region 1 dvd)
Lupin III: The Fuma Conspiracy (UK VHS)
Macross Plus (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Porco Rosso (Japanese region 2 dvd)
Space Adventure Cobra (region 1 dvd & UK VHS)
Powerstone series (region 1 dvd)
If you would like to dicuss your favourite anime films/series then please feel free, I’d like to hear what other people like watching:)
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You left Street Fighter out of the list Totoro. That is the greatest Anime film I've seen. I saw loads of good ones on Channel 4 a few years ago, but can't remember the name, so SF takes it.
Sadat-X wrote:
> I really want more Ghibli dvds, I have Princess Mononoke &
> Cagliostro but really want Nausicaa and My Neighbour Totoro. Where
> did you get these Japanese dvds from? CDjapan? Hong Kong retailers
> often have a few chinese versions but the quality can be shocking at
> times (although the only place to get nausicaa with english subs is
> from part of a chinese collection...)
I haven't actually got the Japanese Ghibli dvds, though I know where you can get them. You can buy them from United Publications or Otaku (site details below)
I get my anime from:
www.movietyme.com <--fairly cheap & VERY prompt and reliable
www.up1.co.uk <--fairly expensive, but very reliable
www.otaku.co.uk <-- " " " " "
www.dc-dvd.net <--haven't used them much, but I recieved one of my anime dvds a day before it came out in the US!
> I really want more Ghibli dvds, I have Princess Mononoke &
> Cagliostro but really want Nausicaa and My Neighbour Totoro. Where
> did you get these Japanese dvds from? CDjapan? Hong Kong retailers
> often have a few chinese versions but the quality can be shocking at
> times (although the only place to get nausicaa with english subs is
> from part of a chinese collection...)
I haven't actually got the Japanese Ghibli dvds, though I know where you can get them. You can buy them from United Publications or Otaku (site details below)
I get my anime from:
www.movietyme.com <--fairly cheap & VERY prompt and reliable
www.up1.co.uk <--fairly expensive, but very reliable
www.otaku.co.uk <-- " " " " "
www.dc-dvd.net <--haven't used them much, but I recieved one of my anime dvds a day before it came out in the US!
I watched a good anime film a few weeks ago called blood: the last vampire. It had good animation and an interesting story and was perhaps the best anime film I've seen, although it was my first. I'm not to sure on anime in general, its not a genre that really appeals to me, though I may give a few of those films a try and see if I can be persuaded.
Great post Totoro. I wasn't really interested in Anime until I recently saw Princess Mononoke. Thanks for the other Anime reccomendations, I'll have to check them out sometime.
Goatboy wrote:
> I read this before when you posted it.
> And I replied with "Cartoons for people to embarassed to buy
> porno"
go pikachu
*jazz music begins to play in the background*
go bulbasour
*music gets a little louder*
bulbasour begins to stroke pikachu's tail before removing its bulb on its back
*pikachu unzips his fur and.......
i think we've gone far enough...
> I read this before when you posted it.
> And I replied with "Cartoons for people to embarassed to buy
> porno"
go pikachu
*jazz music begins to play in the background*
go bulbasour
*music gets a little louder*
bulbasour begins to stroke pikachu's tail before removing its bulb on its back
*pikachu unzips his fur and.......
i think we've gone far enough...
I never really read about Anime before, that was quuite interesting though, I might give it a try.
Plus we know where you got your name from now don't we?
Plus we know where you got your name from now don't we?
Here's how it works. The Japanese treat Anime and Anime based cartoon books as their form of literature. Businessmen can be seen reading comics on the train and many shows on TV are anime based.
The Japanese have animated porn because it is easier to create and friendlier than the real thing, this is highly acceptable in their society and there are forms of Anime porn for straight or gay viewers. But porn isn't the only output, its just that Anime in Japan is so huge that it's treated as any normal live action programme is here, so you can expect to see a sit-com style cartoon or something deadly serious.
My personal favorite pieces of Anime are Ninja Scroll, Dragon Half (which is hilariously funny, especially the fight scene at the end) and of course, the daddy of all the Anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which I have now managed to get the whole box set of from the US (good ol' parents!).
I really can't express enough how good Evangelion is and how much sense the end episode doesn't make (you have to then try to get hold of the video CD of the two movies to understand it (you can get them from the Amazon US trading site), but even these are confusing since the translations are iffy). It really is a massive storyline which takes religion, personal belief and growing in to adulthood as just some of its subjects.
The Japanese have animated porn because it is easier to create and friendlier than the real thing, this is highly acceptable in their society and there are forms of Anime porn for straight or gay viewers. But porn isn't the only output, its just that Anime in Japan is so huge that it's treated as any normal live action programme is here, so you can expect to see a sit-com style cartoon or something deadly serious.
My personal favorite pieces of Anime are Ninja Scroll, Dragon Half (which is hilariously funny, especially the fight scene at the end) and of course, the daddy of all the Anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which I have now managed to get the whole box set of from the US (good ol' parents!).
I really can't express enough how good Evangelion is and how much sense the end episode doesn't make (you have to then try to get hold of the video CD of the two movies to understand it (you can get them from the Amazon US trading site), but even these are confusing since the translations are iffy). It really is a massive storyline which takes religion, personal belief and growing in to adulthood as just some of its subjects.
More Anime for you to watch:
Vampire Hunter D & Bloodlust
Spriggan (excellent action sequences)
Metropolis (now my second favourite film ever)
Jin-Roh
Trigun
Any of the Slayers tv Shows/specials
Memories (if you can find it - try hong kong retailers)
Barefoot gen
I really want more Ghibli dvds, I have Princess Mononoke & Cagliostro but really want Nausicaa and My Neighbour Totoro. Where did you get these Japanese dvds from? CDjapan? Hong Kong retailers often have a few chinese versions but the quality can be shocking at times (although the only place to get nausicaa with english subs is from part of a chinese collection...)
Vampire Hunter D & Bloodlust
Spriggan (excellent action sequences)
Metropolis (now my second favourite film ever)
Jin-Roh
Trigun
Any of the Slayers tv Shows/specials
Memories (if you can find it - try hong kong retailers)
Barefoot gen
I really want more Ghibli dvds, I have Princess Mononoke & Cagliostro but really want Nausicaa and My Neighbour Totoro. Where did you get these Japanese dvds from? CDjapan? Hong Kong retailers often have a few chinese versions but the quality can be shocking at times (although the only place to get nausicaa with english subs is from part of a chinese collection...)
I've seen Akira about 10 times and still don't fully understand it!
That's another problem with anime, sometimes they're just too darn complicated!
That's another problem with anime, sometimes they're just too darn complicated!
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