Anime that makes sense to Westerners

Elspode · 03-29-2003, 12:12 AM

I'm a cartoon fan. There's just no getting around it, I love animation in most of its forms. However, I have tried and failed for many years now to see what it is that so many people, especially those younger than myself, see in Japanese animation (my 16 year old stepson is very nearly consumed with it). Having just returned from viewing the recent winner of this year's Animated Feature Oscar, "Spirited Away", I am now well on my way to a better understanding and appreciation for the unique art form that is Anime.

I had an inkling of what the director of this film could do, having seen Hayao Miyazaki's delightful "Princess Mononoke" a couple of years ago. Miyazaki has an amazing eye for detail, and an almost impressionistic view of the profusion of nature which fills his work. Many of his backgrounds are breathtakingly beautiful, evoking the same sort of feeling that I first experienced with the PC game "Myst", even though the 3D-realistic world of Myst has little in common with Miyazaki's sprawling, organic renderings. "Princess Mononoke" was lovely, but "Spirited Away" is jaw-dropping at times.

Miyazaki's attention to the slightest detail in every scene is impeccable. Bits of detail in the environments, indoor or outdoor, are exactly as they should be, even when they are intentionally surreal or otherworldly. The many and varied bits of business which are undertaken by the characters in most scenes contained in "Spirited Away" are a throwback to the classic days of animation. Such an activity level requires far more individual renderings and fewer static images in a production. Indeed, I now realize that those largely unchanging character images so prevalent in most Anime may be the biggest reason I've not been able to find much value in the form before now. The result of the extra efforts is far greater depth to the film, and many more opportunities for character elaboration. I'm certain that the process of doing this in today's animation production finance environment necessitates the use of computers, but the greatest part of the film shows not the slightest hint of digital production, except where one might expect it (as during the passage by the two main characters down a long path bordered on both sides with gigantic and colorful flowers).

The most truly satisfying factor in this director's work is his wonderful storytelling. Since I am a Pagan, I am very much attracted to the spirits which populate Miyazaki's work. If he has succeeded in doing anything, Miyazaki has succeeded in presenting uniquely Japanese folklore in Western-accessible terms via his lovingly crafted tales. Well-developed characters work, and it doesn't matter if they are flesh and blood or pen and ink (or pixels, for that matter).

"Spirited Away" is a well-spent evening, and will undoubtedly join my burgeoning DVD collection in a few weeks.

Check it out here, but be warned that the stills contained therein do not give the slightest inkling of what awaits you in the darkened movie theater.
www.spiritedaway.net

wolf · 03-29-2003, 12:43 AM

Did you made a point of running the mouse pointer along the title bar of each of those pop-up windows? Very cool.

vsp · 03-29-2003, 10:37 AM

Miyazaki hasn't made a bad movie yet. If you liked Spirited Away that much, I highly recommend that you check out some of his <a href="www.nausicaa.net">other works</a>:

* Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
(released in seriously mangled form as "Warriors of the Wind" in the US)
* Laputa: Castle in the Sky
* My Neighbor Totoro
* Kiki's Delivery Service
* Porco Rosso
* Princess Mononoke
* and my personal favorite, Castle of Cagliostro (since I'm a Lupin III fanatic)

Elspode · 03-29-2003, 10:59 AM

My online browsing last night pointed out to me that I had also seen Tortoro (my stepson's Japanese teacher loaned it to him, so we all watched it together at home), and I saw clips of Kiki and Castle in the Clouds, which look amazingly cool.

Miyuzaki's Studio Ghibli has apparently entered into a distribution deal with Disney, so Kiki and Castle are coming out on DVD in a couple of weeks.

perth · 03-29-2003, 12:38 PM

ghost in the shell is good. vampire hunter d and its sequel are great, arguably the inspiration behind the castlevania series of video games (theres no doubt in my mind). i never found myself all that interested in akira, but hard-core anime fans i know seem to swear by it.

I really enjoyed princess mononoke and cant wait to see spirited away. the previews ive seen are simply stunning.

~james

Whit · 03-29-2003, 02:32 PM

     Don't forget about Ninja Scroll http://us.imdb.com/Title?0107692 It's a classic. Well worth the time.
     Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is better than the original. Both are worth seeing. VHD Bloodlust and Princess Mononoke are both great intros to people who haven't watched much anime, or assume cartoons are for kids. Ghost in the Shell is incredible, you can get into the heavy thinking in it or just watch the action, your call.
     The Trigun series that's coming to Cartoon Network late night next week rocks. It's goofy, it's philosophical, it's got plenty of action and not everyone gets out alive. I love it. Heck, I've even got a Wolfwood hanging from my rearview window. Of course I don't know how much CN will edit it, but it shouldn't be too much.
     Demon City Shinjuku http://us.imdb.com/Title?0094995 is also pretty cool, but in a really campy way. Also not for the kids, even if there isn't any nudity. The english translation one liners go from, "Would she preferred I fucked her silly all night?" to "I'm going to kill you for the worlds sake!" I love that. It even starts off with a good guy getting shredded. Fun stuff.
     Oh yeah, as far as cartoons go The Iron Giant is pretty damn cool. I don't have any more to say about that.
     By the by, I picked up Castle of Cogliostro 'bout five years ago in a bargain bin for three bucks. Now I see it for sale for $20. Heh.

vsp · 03-30-2003, 12:18 AM

And if you liked Cagliostro... you can <a href="http://www.daphne-emu.com/">play the game</a>, if you can get your hands on the laserdisc image. (Click "Screenshots" and check out Cliff Hanger. The game was based mostly on Cagliostro, with a few clips from Lupin III: Mystery of Mamo.)

Whit · 03-30-2003, 04:18 PM

     The kids and I went to see Spirited Away last night. It was a sad, sweet little tale. As one reviewer said, "A Japanese Alice in Wonderland." On the way out my boy said, "Hey, is it still anime if it has a happy ending?" Hmm... Maybe this is a comment about my preferences... Still, good movie, safe for kids, even if my girl-child did hide under my jacket during No-face's rampage. Of course my daughter's first crush was "Future-Trunks" from DBZ. That's my girl.

Beestie · 03-09-2005, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perth

ghost in the shell is good.

Just watched the 2004 sequel, Ghost in the Shell: Innocence. A new standard has been set - the animation is beyond spectacular. And the story is pretty good too.

Troubleshooter · 03-09-2005, 04:17 PM

Oh come on guys! How can you leave out Fist of The North Star?

xoxoxoBruce · 03-09-2005, 05:40 PM

Is that some of the "hard-core anime" Perth mentioned?

Troubleshooter · 03-09-2005, 05:45 PM

Not this one anyway.

I could find it for you if you want me to.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-12-2005, 12:02 AM

No thanks. :hafucking

jaguar · 03-12-2005, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Don't forget about Ninja Scroll http://us.imdb.com/Title?0107692 It's a classic. Well worth the time.

First anime I ever saw. Had no idea what to expect, within 5 minutes about 50 guys had be graphically slashed to bits and one was being raped violently by some kind of giant mutant type fellow if memory serves me correctly. Not one for the kids. That was an intersting experience. That said, Ghost in the shell rocks, Cowboy Bebop is great, Akira is awesome & Perfect Blue is worth your time.

03-29-2003, 12:12 AM	#1
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Anime that makes sense to Westerners I'm a cartoon fan. There's just no getting around it, I love animation in most of its forms. However, I have tried and failed for many years now to see what it is that so many people, especially those younger than myself, see in Japanese animation (my 16 year old stepson is very nearly consumed with it). Having just returned from viewing the recent winner of this year's Animated Feature Oscar, "Spirited Away", I am now well on my way to a better understanding and appreciation for the unique art form that is Anime. I had an inkling of what the director of this film could do, having seen Hayao Miyazaki's delightful "Princess Mononoke" a couple of years ago. Miyazaki has an amazing eye for detail, and an almost impressionistic view of the profusion of nature which fills his work. Many of his backgrounds are breathtakingly beautiful, evoking the same sort of feeling that I first experienced with the PC game "Myst", even though the 3D-realistic world of Myst has little in common with Miyazaki's sprawling, organic renderings. "Princess Mononoke" was lovely, but "Spirited Away" is jaw-dropping at times. Miyazaki's attention to the slightest detail in every scene is impeccable. Bits of detail in the environments, indoor or outdoor, are exactly as they should be, even when they are intentionally surreal or otherworldly. The many and varied bits of business which are undertaken by the characters in most scenes contained in "Spirited Away" are a throwback to the classic days of animation. Such an activity level requires far more individual renderings and fewer static images in a production. Indeed, I now realize that those largely unchanging character images so prevalent in most Anime may be the biggest reason I've not been able to find much value in the form before now. The result of the extra efforts is far greater depth to the film, and many more opportunities for character elaboration. I'm certain that the process of doing this in today's animation production finance environment necessitates the use of computers, but the greatest part of the film shows not the slightest hint of digital production, except where one might expect it (as during the passage by the two main characters down a long path bordered on both sides with gigantic and colorful flowers). The most truly satisfying factor in this director's work is his wonderful storytelling. Since I am a Pagan, I am very much attracted to the spirits which populate Miyazaki's work. If he has succeeded in doing anything, Miyazaki has succeeded in presenting uniquely Japanese folklore in Western-accessible terms via his lovingly crafted tales. Well-developed characters work, and it doesn't matter if they are flesh and blood or pen and ink (or pixels, for that matter). "Spirited Away" is a well-spent evening, and will undoubtedly join my burgeoning DVD collection in a few weeks. Check it out here, but be warned that the stills contained therein do not give the slightest inkling of what awaits you in the darkened movie theater. www.spiritedaway.net __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

03-29-2003, 12:43 AM	#2
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Did you made a point of running the mouse pointer along the title bar of each of those pop-up windows? Very cool. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-29-2003, 10:59 AM	#4
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	My online browsing last night pointed out to me that I had also seen Tortoro (my stepson's Japanese teacher loaned it to him, so we all watched it together at home), and I saw clips of Kiki and Castle in the Clouds, which look amazingly cool. Miyuzaki's Studio Ghibli has apparently entered into a distribution deal with Disney, so Kiki and Castle are coming out on DVD in a couple of weeks. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

03-29-2003, 02:32 PM	#6
Whit Umm ... yeah. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 949	Don't forget about Ninja Scroll http://us.imdb.com/Title?0107692 It's a classic. Well worth the time.      Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is better than the original. Both are worth seeing. VHD Bloodlust and Princess Mononoke are both great intros to people who haven't watched much anime, or assume cartoons are for kids. Ghost in the Shell is incredible, you can get into the heavy thinking in it or just watch the action, your call.      The Trigun series that's coming to Cartoon Network late night next week rocks. It's goofy, it's philosophical, it's got plenty of action and not everyone gets out alive. I love it. Heck, I've even got a Wolfwood hanging from my rearview window. Of course I don't know how much CN will edit it, but it shouldn't be too much.      Demon City Shinjuku http://us.imdb.com/Title?0094995 is also pretty cool, but in a really campy way. Also not for the kids, even if there isn't any nudity. The english translation one liners go from, "Would she preferred I fucked her silly all night?" to "I'm going to kill you for the worlds sake!" I love that. It even starts off with a good guy getting shredded. Fun stuff.      Oh yeah, as far as cartoons go The Iron Giant is pretty damn cool. I don't have any more to say about that.      By the by, I picked up Castle of Cogliostro 'bout five years ago in a bargain bin for three bucks. Now I see it for sale for $20. Heh. __________________ A friend will help you move. A true friend will help you move a body.

03-30-2003, 04:18 PM	#8
Whit Umm ... yeah. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 949	The kids and I went to see Spirited Away last night. It was a sad, sweet little tale. As one reviewer said, "A Japanese Alice in Wonderland." On the way out my boy said, "Hey, is it still anime if it has a happy ending?" Hmm... Maybe this is a comment about my preferences... Still, good movie, safe for kids, even if my girl-child did hide under my jacket during No-face's rampage. Of course my daughter's first crush was "Future-Trunks" from DBZ. That's my girl. __________________ A friend will help you move. A true friend will help you move a body.

03-29-2003, 10:37 AM	#3
vsp Syndrome of a Down Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Chester Posts: 1,367	Miyazaki hasn't made a bad movie yet. If you liked Spirited Away that much, I highly recommend that you check out some of his <a href="www.nausicaa.net">other works</a>: * Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind (released in seriously mangled form as "Warriors of the Wind" in the US) * Laputa: Castle in the Sky * My Neighbor Totoro * Kiki's Delivery Service * Porco Rosso * Princess Mononoke * and my personal favorite, Castle of Cagliostro (since I'm a Lupin III fanatic)

03-29-2003, 12:38 PM	#5
perth Strong Silent Type Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 1,949	ghost in the shell is good. vampire hunter d and its sequel are great, arguably the inspiration behind the castlevania series of video games (theres no doubt in my mind). i never found myself all that interested in akira, but hard-core anime fans i know seem to swear by it. I really enjoyed princess mononoke and cant wait to see spirited away. the previews ive seen are simply stunning. ~james

03-30-2003, 12:18 AM	#7
vsp Syndrome of a Down Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Chester Posts: 1,367	And if you liked Cagliostro... you can <a href="http://www.daphne-emu.com/">play the game</a>, if you can get your hands on the laserdisc image. (Click "Screenshots" and check out Cliff Hanger. The game was based mostly on Cagliostro, with a few clips from Lupin III: Mystery of Mamo.)

03-09-2005, 04:17 PM	#10
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Oh come on guys! How can you leave out Fist of The North Star? __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

03-09-2005, 05:40 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Is that some of the "hard-core anime" Perth mentioned? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-09-2005, 05:45 PM	#12
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Not this one anyway. I could find it for you if you want me to. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

03-12-2005, 12:02 AM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	No thanks. :hafucking __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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