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I know, I promised more Satoshi Kon stuff. I got busy / lazy. They'll all get done, eventually. ;)
Tokyo Godfathers is probably the least anime-like anime you're likely to find. Fantasy and SciFi devotees will find no joy here. On the other hand, it's probably one of the best introductions to Japanese animation for anyone prejudiced against the genre. It is simply a good movie and most unbiased observers will probably enjoy it.
In many ways, it could be Hollywood comedy. It's mostly light, with enough bitter sweet drama to keep the diabetic shock from setting in. Even violent incidents are couched in humor. It is driven by unlikely coincidence and serendipity that on it's own is fun to watch unfold. Most comedies rely on a few unlikely events, this has enough to make an 18th century novelist proud.
While it struck me as apropos for mainstream America, to the point of one commentator calling it "3 Bums and a Baby", it is still very Japanese. It does contains elements that might be a hard sell in Tinsel Town. Our main characters are three homeless people, a young girl, an old codger, and a very flamboyant transvestite.
Hana, or Uncle Bag as the girl calls her, is pretty much pure comic relief, but also the fearless leader of the trio. Everyone has a somewhat tragic back story, though Hana's not so much. We ultimately care about all these characters, they are real, warts and all.
A note about warts. This film could have been live action with zero script changes, maybe. The animation is superb and highly realistic. Perhaps too realistic. None of our actors are beautiful people. They run the gambit from average looking to downright homely. It's refreshing, in a way, and not something you could do with standard actor types.
This is a truly charming movie. As well as an honest, laugh out loud, romp. It takes place during xmas time, so you might want to hang onto it for December. Then again, you probably won't mind watching it more than once.
Tokyo Godfathers is probably the least anime-like anime you're likely to find. Fantasy and SciFi devotees will find no joy here. On the other hand, it's probably one of the best introductions to Japanese animation for anyone prejudiced against the genre. It is simply a good movie and most unbiased observers will probably enjoy it.
In many ways, it could be Hollywood comedy. It's mostly light, with enough bitter sweet drama to keep the diabetic shock from setting in. Even violent incidents are couched in humor. It is driven by unlikely coincidence and serendipity that on it's own is fun to watch unfold. Most comedies rely on a few unlikely events, this has enough to make an 18th century novelist proud.
While it struck me as apropos for mainstream America, to the point of one commentator calling it "3 Bums and a Baby", it is still very Japanese. It does contains elements that might be a hard sell in Tinsel Town. Our main characters are three homeless people, a young girl, an old codger, and a very flamboyant transvestite.
Hana, or Uncle Bag as the girl calls her, is pretty much pure comic relief, but also the fearless leader of the trio. Everyone has a somewhat tragic back story, though Hana's not so much. We ultimately care about all these characters, they are real, warts and all.
A note about warts. This film could have been live action with zero script changes, maybe. The animation is superb and highly realistic. Perhaps too realistic. None of our actors are beautiful people. They run the gambit from average looking to downright homely. It's refreshing, in a way, and not something you could do with standard actor types.
This is a truly charming movie. As well as an honest, laugh out loud, romp. It takes place during xmas time, so you might want to hang onto it for December. Then again, you probably won't mind watching it more than once.
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BTW..Paprika was a mind-trip..