First-off, we look at the characters. Gin is a drunkard who abandoned his family long ago due to outrageous gambling debts; Hana is a transsexual(pre-op) whose husband [redacted to avoid spoilers]; and Miyuki is a run-away. All 3 have different stories and come from different walks of life, and as different as they are, its the group dynamic which works best. The comedy while short, and drama as it happens, are well-placed at each climax to each of their stories. When the film gets close to ending, we see how their individual stories play into the overarching plot.
The music isn't to my liking, but it's not really a major fault, in my opinion. While there are clearly some inspirations taken from early 1900's noire films, the soundtrack has a kind of modern twist to it that works well here. The fact that the music compliments each scene only adds to how good this film truly is. The soundtrack does get loud in places, so be prepared for that.
The art is beyond beautiful. Every scene feels alive and full of energy while maintaining that "dirty" feeling. You get a sense that while it is Christmas and quickly approaching the New Years, the whole of Tokyo still has a dirty underbelly that few people actually see. That the art embraces this dirtier side of things and reflects it it with a gold mirror is quite the trick.
Overall, Tokyo Godfather's is a must-see for ANY anime fan, and ESPECIALLY if you're looking to see what all the fuss about Satoshi Kon is about!
