Genius Party

Anthology movie of various animation greats. Very hit and miss set of shorts here, but if you're looking to expand your animation repertoire, this is probably not something you should skip.

Genius Party - great recognizable symbology that serves perfectly for the movie. Really appreciate the idea of outward inspiration, internal passion, and the electric spread of ideas that is so inherent to art. Great technicality in effects animation.

Shanghai Dragon - I hate narratives involving incompetent children as a focal point as it often involves watchers' frustration, but I was shut up by the end. The importance of "incompetent" children unfettered by ... practicality and society, allowed to exhibit their own creativity, was actually really well told by this short and I appreciated it. The heavy use of CGI spaceships was... a bit excessive, but I think it fit the overall idea well, and the style used for the drawing animation was a good addition.

Deathtic 4 - sorta horrific visuals but I guess that's the point of a zombie movie. Audibly laughed at some of the slapstick humor so I guess this short succeeded in what it desired to achieve. Campy? but fun.

Doorbell - meh concept, meh execution. The ideas introduce a concept of creepiness, but just not overall directed well enough to give more atmospheric vibes. Animation is also clunky. Like some of the end concepts (the idea of many selves chasing each other?) but not enough to redeem the whole thing.

Limit Cycle - the most pretentious animation I've ever watched, by far. Just let me read a philosophy book bro.

Happy Machine - Yuasa wanted practice for Kaiba I guess. Really amazing animation, concepts were clearly pulled out of a hat though. Major Scavengers Reign vibes, with a sorta dark ending regarding the futile? cycle of life.

Baby Blue - now this is youth!! Probably one of Watanabe's best directorial works, ironically enough. Poignant, nostalgia-driven, and some nice laughs here and there without excessive melodrama. But why the hell does he have a grenade?

Genius Party [Opening]: groovy music, I like it

Shanghai Dragon : it's cute I guess

Deathtic 4 : you ugly, not much to say

Doorbell: Saramago called, he said he did it better; some interesting ideas by the end though

Limit Cycle: Oh my god, shut up, this was so pedantic and dull. 20mins in length but felt like an hour

... Happy Machine : might feel a bit draught out but Yuasa always manages to compel you to stick around

Baby Blue : Shinkai in shambles. The most "short and sweet" out of all of them. Would love to see another anthology film or OVA by Watanabe.

If I could sum this collection up in three words its "not for me"

I detest art and metaphor. Just come out and say what you mean, the only people who need to hide behind fancy words are those who have nothing to truly say.

Most of the shorts fall under "please interpret me" art. Even my favourite the one called "Happy Machine" feels like just an overlong metaphor for birth, life and death.

Two of the three I liked, Happy Machine and Deathic4 really suffer from it but come out ahead because they feel like someone was actually trying to tell a story with Deathic4 ... and Happy Machine was at least cute looking.

My favourite Baby Blue has an actual plot. It's about a boy and a girl cutting class and going on an adventure, mostly just for the heck of it but there are some deeper themes that are very heartfelt and actually work because BB allowed itself to have some characters and a plot! Who knew that BASIC STORY STRUCTURE IS A GOOD THING!!!!
But the ending was absolutely ruined by being played at like, three frames and with a nasty grain effect over the whole thing that really undercut any of the emotion it was building to.

But the rest are crap.
There is one where green eyed John Travolta rambles nonsensically for like thirty minutes straight and that was the absolute nadir of quality.
All the shorts have a weird problem with CGI. Its always done at a lower frame rate and multiple shorts re-use the same CGI car models as Initial D.

I dont know, maybe if you really like art house stuff you'll be able to put up with it.