Jin-Rou

Mamoru Oshii is well known for his work on the Ghost in the Shell films. However, most people don't really know what other works he has been credited for. Sadly, it appears none of his other films have reached a western audience. If there was a film apart from the Ghost in the Shell series that he should be known for, it's this one.

Jin-Roh The Wolf Brigade is a film set in an alternative universe where Japan has gone to extreme lengths to rebuild itself after WW2. Within this dystopian backdrop, we meet Fuse; a soldier struggling to find himself, and Amemiya; a woman ... mourning the death of her sister. This is as far as I can go without delving into spoiler territory.

The story of Jin Roh is delivered without much dialogue. The storytelling is subtle, relying on imagery and sound, or lack of sound, to convey its message. The pacing is slow, but at no point is it boring. Contrary to the trailer, this film is all about building tension. The action sequences are few and far between and the violence is definitely not glorified. Instead, the action is brutal and realistic. Jin Roh is captivating from beginning to end.

One of the major highlights for this film is its sound department. The soundtrack was composed by Hajime Mizoguchi, who is credited for working on other projects such as Escaflowne and Texhnolyze. His work here is marvellous, especially the most notable track; Grace Omega. What shines the most are the sound effects themselves. Each gunshot sounds powerful and destructive, giving a real sense of fear during the action scenes. Watching this film is incredibly pleasing for the ears.

The animation quality in Jin Roh is just as high as its sound. The movements are fluid and the cinematography is fantastic. The are sets the tone; everything is dark and dreary. The characters themselves have a distinct Japanese look to them, making them feel real, as if this story could occur in Japan. The designs of the military armour are the stand out, as seen on the poster art used on this site. Not only is the design menacing, but it instantly lets the viewer know that the government has militarized the police to oppress the people. Then there's the gun porn, which speaks for itself.

The focus of Jin Roh is not the political commentary, but instead the lead two characters. The question this films asks the viewer and its characters is how would you survive in the situation presented to you. Can you change who you are to survive, or simply run away? Here is where my only criticism for the film comes in. The film likes to be very in your face with the Little Red Riding Hood narrative. While the narrative is completely relevant to the film, it suffers from constantly reminding the viewer that this connection exists. Nevertheless, the film is masterful in exploring many themes while staying focused on its plot and characters.

I can understand that some people may not enjoy this film due to its pacing and having expectations that it should be more action packed. However, for everyone else, this is a must-see film. Jin Roh is a gem that will survive the test of time.

Everyone knows the story of Red-Riding Hood: a little girl, dressed in red clothes, who was sent by her mother to bring some food to her grandmother. It's a story that most children hear it; I do not remember how I felt then: maybe I was scared that the wolf ate the girl and her grandmother, or happy that the hunter solved the case and rescued the innocent people, or, I didn't care at all.

I wanted to talk a little bit about Charles Perrault's story because the movie is related to it. Jin- Roh is the version of Little Red-Riding Hood's story in a Japan ... forced to grow economically and filled with anti-government protests. There are two stories, one inside of another; there is the fight between two organizations and there is the love between a terrorist girl and a soldier.

It was breathtaking for me to watch how their love didn't have a chance to fulfill because of their commitments. The beauty of the story is given by their symbolic names: the girl is a Red Riding Hood, meaning she is the one to carry bombs; the soldier is part of the "Wolf Brigade", a rebellious movement inside the organization he works for.

I am fascinated how this story reached new dimensions; it transformed into something deeper and very dramatic. I am very fascinated about how this movie was drawn: simple lines to build a face, a building. a car, a bird. The colors are well-balanced but the dark colors are more used because the action is happening mostly during night. The soundtrack had the exact amount of drama to cover the situation.

"Mother, what big ears you have!"
"Mother, what big teeth you have!"
"Mother, what big claws you have!"

I invite you to discover the meanings of these calls. I remind you that this is a version of Little Red-Riding Hood's story and the original one (pick which ever you want) is another proof that fairytales are just means of escaping from reality.

Out of all the anime movies I have seen yet this year, Jin Roh is by far one of the best ones I have ever seen!

This movie pretty much has it all with fighting, action, and some romance. It leaves you at the edge of your seat wanting to know what will happen next!

'Jin-Rou: The Wolf Brigade' is a thought-provoking anime film directed by Hiroyuki Okiura and released in 1999. Set in an alternate history where Japan is experiencing political unrest, this dark and gritty tale explores the moral complexities of duty, loyalty, and personal identity within a dystopian society.

The story takes place in a fictional 1950s Japan, where an elite paramilitary force called the Capital Police, known as the "Wolf Brigade," maintains order amidst growing civil unrest. The protagonist, Kazuki Fuse, is a member of this force and finds himself caught between his allegiance to the government and his developing sympathy for a group of rebels known ... as the Sect. What sets 'Jin-Rou: The Wolf Brigade' apart is its deep exploration of complex themes. The film delves into the psychological toll of war, the loss of innocence, and the struggle between individual freedom and societal control. It questions the nature of power, the consequences of blind loyalty, and the fine line between heroism and complicity. The film's portrayal of the dystopian society is chilling and thought-provoking. The cityscape is meticulously crafted, with its dilapidated buildings and dimly lit streets, creating a bleak and oppressive atmosphere that mirrors the emotional state of the characters. This attention to detail helps immerse the audience in the grim reality of the film's world.

The visual style of 'Jin-Rou: The Wolf Brigade' is visually striking and meticulously detailed. The animation beautifully captures the gritty atmosphere of the film's setting, depicting a dark and oppressive cityscape filled with political turmoil. The character designs are realistic, allowing for nuanced expressions and emotional depth. The attention to detail in the animation further enhances the immersion, bringing the world and its inhabitants to life. The film's pacing is deliberate, allowing for a slow burn that builds tension and emphasizes the internal conflicts faced by the characters. The narrative unfolds gradually, immersing the audience in the moral dilemmas faced by Kazuki Fuse and the choices he must make. The film's willingness to take its time allows for a more profound exploration of its themes, but it may test the patience of viewers seeking a faster-paced experience. The characters in 'Jin-Rou: The Wolf Brigade' are complex and well-developed. Kazuki Fuse, in particular, undergoes a compelling character arc as he grapples with his duty, guilt, and the unexpected relationships he forms along the way. The film presents a nuanced portrayal of its characters, exploring their motivations and flaws in a realistic and thought-provoking manner. This attention to character development adds layers of depth and empathy to the story, making it easier for viewers to connect with and understand the dilemmas faced by the characters.

Furthermore, the film boasts an atmospheric soundtrack that effectively enhances the somber and tense tone of the narrative. The music serves as a powerful tool to amplify the emotional impact of key scenes, heightening the overall viewing experience. The haunting melodies and subtle orchestrations complement the visual aesthetics and contribute to the film's immersive atmosphere.
While 'Jin-Rou: The Wolf Brigade' is a gripping and intellectually stimulating film, it may not appeal to everyone. Its heavy thematic content and somber atmosphere require a certain level of investment from the viewer. Additionally, those seeking fast-paced action or a straightforward narrative may find the film's slower pace and complex storytelling challenging.

In conclusion, 'Jin-Rou: The Wolf Brigade' is a thought-provoking and visually stunning anime film that explores the moral complexities of a dystopian society. Its mature themes, well-crafted characters, and atmospheric presentation make it a must-watch for fans of political dramas and those interested in exploring the depths of human nature within oppressive systems. Prepare for an intense and introspective journey that will leave you questioning the blurred lines between right and wrong. 'Jin-Rou: The Wolf Brigade' stands as a testament to the power of animation as a medium for telling complex and thought-provoking stories.

Jin-Rou is a very particular, and a very peculiar film. Oshii Mamoru may not have directed this film, but his touch reverberates throughout all aspects of Jin-Rou. If you are a fan of any of his highly distinctive works, Jin-Rou is essential viewing. With a very firm sense of identity, strong, hefty and definitively realistic themes, superb direction and incredible production values, Jin-Rou's narrative packs a punch. It can resonate heavily with the right audience, but for those seeking more action than subtle and sombre drama of the human character, Jin-Rou will be more likely to bore beyond its initial ten minutes. Unfortunately, part of ... me was not fit for the arguably boorish direction of this film, though the other part of me greatly enjoyed the drama in this film.

Jin-Roh is incredibly slow-paced (deliberately) but, putting aside the 3-minute long narration in the beginning, very engaging. This isn't an easy viewing experience for me to articulate in plain language. The highlight, in my case, is definitely the hyper-realistic animation and the purposefully dried-out art. Youko Kanno's efforts with the OST come across quite clearly, as well. Technically speaking, Jin-Roh is superb. However, one thing that Jin-Roh lacks is detailed, or even interesting characterisation. While Youko Kanno's musical talents definitely amplify my feelings toward Jin-Roh's narrative and characters, there isn't actually much of an attachment to intensify. The film definitely has its moments in terms of subtle and effective characterisation, but for the most part, there really wasn't much for me to latch onto ー this is what prevented me from truly enjoying Jin-Roh. Despite having well-executed and interesting themes and motifs, they didn't resonate with me nearly as strongly as I was expecting them to, and the drab execution is mostly to blame for this.

Harmony is a film that similarly places great emphasis on its themes, but I really love it because it also delegates a significant amount of focus to its characters. It's very dialogue-heavy, unlike Jin-Rou, which greatly relies on atmosphere, body language and other subtleties accompanied by an occasional burst of dialogue to tell the audience what is going on. That focus on subtlety and atmosphere is something I love in a visual medium like anime, but Harmony's relentless barrage of dialogue never bored me (and it also accounted for subtleties). The reason for this seems to be because I actually cared about Tuan and therefore her troubles and trivialities ー because the themes relate directly to her as a character and support her, rather than her being treated as a mere device to pedal the film's themes. I care about Tuan and by extension the film's themes. At times, it felt like Fuse, as well as the female lead, were treated as mere set pieces rather than organic characters, but maybe that's just me. They have their moments, but they don't get nearly as much characterisation as I would have liked.

In spite of my criticisms, I was fond of Jin-Rou and will treasure the experience. It may not have quite been for me, but it still excels in many ways. If nothing else, Jin-Rou crafts a phenomenally immersive atmosphere and weaves in several strong motifs that synergise well with its themes. Jin-Rou is incredibly well-made film with heavy dealings in subtleties, and though it misfired somewhat with me, it's easy to see how engrossing the experience can be for those who can appreciate a psychological narrative on war, both politically, mentally and emotionally. To me, Jin-Rou has a lot of artistic merit, but my enjoyability was unfortunately limited. I'm sure there are a number of meaningful things that Jin-Rou has to say that completely flew over my head, but I wasn't nearly engaged enough to care about the layer profundity that I'm missing. My limited experience was largely enjoyable, though the narrative occasionally bored me in the areas it tends to really drag. By the end of it, I can say that Jin-Rou was an interesting, well thought-out, unique, thought-provoking, inconsistently engaging though overall enjoyable experience. You don't need to watch this film right now, but if you have any inclination to become a long-time consumer of anime, Jin-Rou is one film that isn't worth missing.

Firstly, I found out about this because it's one of the famous actor Christian Bale's favorites.

Turns out Christian Bale has great tastes because this is a great series with an authentic take on war and violence that you just don't see much anymore. It feels very real and the story sticks with you for awhile and really influences you.

Its dark, but not overly so. More "serious" than edgy. It has such a thick girthy vibe like Bladerunner and other older media.

The animation style is great, the story amazing, the characters fleshed out, and great pacing as well. More for adults than children though.

"If a building can disappear in a single day....its like it was never there. its kind of like when people die."

I will try to keep it as spoiler-free as possible. So lets begin, Jin-rou is not everyone's cup of tea i can vouch for it. Its a decent watch if you ask me but if you're expecting some over the top romance or some unrealistic action sequences because the genre tags say so than its definitely not for you.

This movie takes place in japan, post world war 2 with civil unrests and terrorists running rampant. Our protagonist is "Kazuki Fuse" from counter-terrorism unit. later ... mentally traumatized as he fails in stopping a young teenager from carrying suicide bombing, for which he is sent back to the military academy for re-evaluation. As the story progresses the "romance" part of the movie starts to open up and so the government conspiracies.

The art is beautiful, nostalgic and smooth. Music is melodious and fits the scenes perfectly. There could have been more effort into giving characters some depths because it was lacking. as a viewer i couldn't sense just how much of a "best friends" they were. on the other hand our 2 protagonist were pretty reasonable, realistic and honest in my opinion, specially towards the end so no complaints there. if anything its the side and supporting characters that were lacking.

The movie isn't bad, its not that great either - its just good. I would recommend it to you if you're into slow psychological drama, you might love it. The art and music wont disappoint you either and the secret ingredient to enjoy it is to keep your expectations low. to sum it up i would like to end it with a quote from its description "Jin-Rou is a heart-wrenching tale of a man treading the fine line between human and beast, ultimately discovering to which side he truly belongs."

There is discontent among the people under a police state--rebels protest against the authoritarian regime, and risk-laden steps are taken to attempt to sow chaos and spread unrest. Among the rebels are those who are more organized and more prepared than the average citizen who has been riled up, but the state is not without its own measures: a special unit is dispatched to rout a terrorist operation underway underground while the flames of a revolt are being doused on the streets above. One member of this elite squad encounters one of the rebels - a young girl, her eyes wide in fear - and ... he is unable to fulfill his cleansing directive, hesitating to gun her down where she stands. This results in her pulling the pin to her bomb which consequently endangers the life of this soldier and the rest of his unit.

That is the opening. This is a political and psychological drama with interludes of cat and mouse rife with violence. The main character is as much the protagonist as he is his own antagonist. The major supporting character that he is with for the duration of the runtime may be viewed as a fragment of the main character's conscience, or the angel upon his shoulder, in a deconstructed sense. It is the struggle of right and wrong, of moral obligations and of following orders unquestioningly. It is the inflexible spirit of a man that causes him to break when the weights of his woes grow too heavy for him to bear any longer down the path he walks.

The writing is dystopic, dry, and perhaps allegorical in what its characters are supposed to represent when confronting one another. The story has aged with some measure of grace, but the constitution of the narrative is ultimately a weak one for something as seriously presented as this. The major themes invited by the premise become absent at the setting level and instead become a part of the characterizations themselves.

The animation is exceptional--on this point there is no grounds for argument. The way in which Jin-Roh depicts humanity and stays its hand of caricaturizing and stylizing people is elegant and conveys gravity to the story. If speaking solely of animation, this film is a masterclass.

The execution of the complicated themes this work tackles is good, not outstanding. This movie is entertaining and delivers a compelling narrative, but it is savory. There is little sweetness and much bitterness. This is not the kind of film one will watch and rewatch periodically, even if there is beauty to be found in its melancholic depiction of life under totalitarianism.

I recommend this film to anyone seeking mature themes and thriller elements in a dystopic setting.

This film is absolutely amazing! This film is a true piece of art, it is super symbolic, has a great story and is just overall a spectacular film. The only thing that could have made it a little bit better is if they added in a little bit more character development however this does not mean there is none at all. If you like symbolic shows and movies than I highly recommend this film as this film is full of symbolism. In order to get the most out of this film make sure to pay close attention to everything while watching it.

After having consumed the flesh and blood of her grandmother, Little Red found herself in bed with the wolf. Then in the blink of an eye the wolf devoured Little Red, just as he had the grandmother before her. Tis what happens when humans lie with beasts. Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade examines the life of a metaphorical wolf and the impact his actions have on those around him.

Setting:
Jin Roh is set in an alt-history 1950's in which Germany has conquered Japan. Our main character Kazuki Fuse is part of an elite antiterrorist unit, called the Kerberos Panzer Corps. His ... unit has been deployed to quiet the economic riots happening in the city of Tokyo.

Story:
The story while narratively pleasing can be overly convoluted at times. The heart of the problem is in Jin Roh's structure; which can skip all over the place. I could understand that there was a plot to be told, and for the most part knew where it was leading me; but too often Jin Roh has trouble conveying itself. For example, there is a scene early on where four important political figures are meeting. Throughout the entire scene there is no introduction of these characters, or their motives; yet their dialogue revels one of the most important plot points of the entire show. How can the audience be expected to follow the story when we don't know what to follow, and why we should be following it. However, I do have to applaud the show for its wonderful use of symbolism to demonstrate the emotional collapse of Kazuki; even if it is a bit heavy handed at times. Overall I enjoyed the message the story was trying to convey, it just accomplished it in an unsatisfactory manner.

Art:
Here is where Jin Roh truly shines. This movie was released in 1999, and the animation still looks good to this day. I guess I've come to expect that from a studio as praised as Production IG. In addition to great animation the art direction taken in Jin Roh is very fitting. Originally its creator Mamoru Oshii wanted for Jin Roh to be shot in live action, however when Okiura approached him about the directing role, he managed to convince him otherwise. You can still see the remnants of this in the style of animation chosen, as the characters have a very life like design. Heck, for the opening scene the background is actual footage of Japan after WWII. Speaking of realism the facial expressions of the characters, for the most part, are beautifully animated rivaling not only other anime of the late 90's, but even modern shows. However, with every gift comes a curse; that curse being bad lip flap. There are multiple close up scenes where the lip movement is right out of a B rated kung fu flick. I will admit this is due in part to the English dubbing, but even show some of the expressions can almost be frightening. As a side note, Guerrilla Games stop stealing your designs from anime.

Sound:
So how is that English dub I just mentioned? Not bad, not bad. The dub done by Bandai Entertainment had all the right fixings to be great, but in the end was just above average. At least, each actor is well matched to his/her character. The only performances of note are Kazuki Fuse and the main supporting character Kei Amemiya. When these two are together in a scene they truly sound like a troubled couple; they're a classic Romeo and Juliet. I will add the caveat that Jin Roh's voice acting can be hard to judge, because there is so little of it. The movie really prides itself on its use of silence as a story teller, and I've got to applaud it for that. The vast differences between the scenes of silent passion, and blazing gun fire creates a wonderful contrast that makes each moment special.
It doesn't hurt that the soundtrack was composed by Hajime Mizoguchi, who at the time was married to Yoko Kanno; so she had a pretty big hand in it. While not every piece fits there are a few that carry the themes of the show with them. I personally love the ending credit song.

Characters:
Sadly most of the characters in Jin Roh are forgettable at best, and throwaway at worst. Only three made a lasting impression on me; Kazuki Fuse, Kei Amemiya and Nanami Agawa. Even the infamous Wolf Brigade turned out to be a bunch a nameless nobodies, whose only reason for existing was to tie loose plot lines together. Without the above three Jin Roh would have fallen apart from the start. The narrative designs for our trio are quite simple, and not very original; but the mental development they cause or go through is quite good. By the end I truly did pity Fuse and Amemiya. The final scene will stay in my memories for a long time I can promise that.

Personal Enjoyment/Overall:
While flawed I did manage to have a good time when watching Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade. I give it a "Watch" on my scale of recommendation.

Masterpiece-Best
Must Watch
Watch
Try The First Couple Episodes
Skip It
Run For Your Life-Worst

As usual I recommend you buy a copy, and help support our local dubbing companies and the anime industry as a whole. However, just taking the time to watch it is of greater importance.
As a final statement I recommend that you take my numerical scores with a grain of salt; as numerical scores are easily skewed and each person has their own understanding of the 1-10 scale.

A movie that tips the book into a script. The movie that makes an impact on the mind. The impact of the heart is solemn. A true masterpiece, without much notoriety. A dusty book on a shelf of burnt books.

These are what can explain Jin-Rou.
This gets all 10's in every category of ratings on MAL, One I have never given to any show in my list.

A movie so classic in looks and yet so wonderful in design, a meaning of the turns, and the real enemies.
Before watching this I thought it would be like any other violent show, but how terribly wrong ... those expectations were, this blew me away with visuals, story and ambiguity on character, an underlooked masterpiece upon the ashes of the Great Library of Alexandria.

In 100% seriousness, just watch it, nothing has captivated me so much in the last 5 anime's I have watched. A seriously outstanding movie, actually a 10/10 in every category possible.

Jin-Roh deserves a second look by today's anime community. And by community, I mean everyone, animators, writers, and viewers. I write this because I think it's important to point out how drastically unlike anime this anime is. This is first apparent in the very realistic style. Of course, the characters and events are stylized, all art is to an extant, but they are done so subtly here. Fuse is not some skinny saucer-eyed purple-haired teenager, but an adult Japanese man. The world he lives in is a believable alternate timeline to ours, where the motivations of influential people are muddled ... with personal vendettas. What occurs is a simple story of a man trying to figure out what it means to be a human being in a time that demands his humanity from him. I love Jin-Roh, and I wanted it to be the first anime I reviewed on this site because, of all the masterpieces of Japanese animation, I think Jin-Roh is the one we should be looking to as a measuring stick for great anime.

Jin-Rou, or Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, is a movie that mixes together intensely beautiful graphics, immersive soundwork and music with solid but ultimately somewhat uninspired story.

Prevalent through the entire film is a supreme sense of mood that largely comes down to the overall aesthetics of the piece, giving the film a foreboding and dark sense throughout it. Scenes such as the start of the movie, for example with a yet-unnamed terrorist/freedom fighter stepping through the water-soaked underground to deliver satchel bombs only to find herself hiding and fleeing from the military that she only hears from afar, would flounder in a film that lacked this ... must polish. From the blocking to the sound of steps through the water to the grizzly ending it is striking. And this can be seen although the film: The fire of molotov cocktails against dark streets in protest, the contrast of sparkling water to more gritty urban environments and particularly effective use of facial emotion or other cues tha work together with the rather low-dialogue nature of the work. I will also note this movie features spot-on sound effects for the various guns used in it which is a nice touch.

This goes hand-in-hand with the terrifyingly ominous Protect Gear that the Special Unit utilizes, bulky with the menacing glow of red night vision goggles that conceal the user entirely to the point of feeling almost like a horror robot. They are used sparingly in a wise decision that ensures their impact is felt when the right moment comes, especially as this movie is not particularly afraid to go into loving animation on the messier parts.

The animation gets a nine largely due to a few off model scenes with the faces. While good at showing expressions through much of it, especially in the eyes and in very subdued expression, it sometimes struggles when it comes to very outsized ones such as intense grief or happiness. Normally this would not be a big enough deal to drop the score down a point, but one of the worst times it happens is right during the largest emotional climax of the entire film and it took me right out of the moment. And getting a moment that important to the film to the point it takes me out of it is plenty enough to downgrade it compares to others.

This mood helps prop up the plot and characters, which while more than it seems on the surface graded out as mostly a Good. The use of Little Red Riding Hood allegory is smart, but after a certain point wears out its welcome when it would feel stronger if it was more condensed and we instead got somewhat more insight into the characters. This is particularly true since in a move that seems to be going for a more subtle approach elsewhere, everything about said allegory is taken to the film like a sledgehammer and aside from perhaps a brief fake-out (which, if intended, did not fake me out) makes some of the points that are supposed to be more hidden far too obvious. It IS used well in chunks of the movie, particularly the ending, but having good sides doesn't stop it from dragging down other parts somewhat.

The film's sharpest and strongest focus outside of the start is probably on the internal affairs of the government and the twists and turns that come with the Public Security Division, the Special Units Division, the police and the main government clashing and vying against each other. Henmei ends up a notable character due to this and it tends to be when the movie is most articulating a point as well. It also leads into the twists and turns, that I won't spoil, later in the movie that give the plot the majority of its depth.

While this does help a lot, it also leads into an issue I ran into for the characters: The revelations we get may add new context to previous scenes, but it also feels like it emotionally or logically rides up against them as well. It is hard to get into details without large spoilers, but it renders aspects of how Fuse and Kei (the main focus of the majority of the movie) rather fuzzy and unrealistic. Or if not unrealistic, at least not exactly tight storytelling. This is another reason that reducing some of the Little Red Riding Hood allegory for a bit more insight, be it direct or simply giving us some breadcrumbs so that we might come to our own conclusions, would have been a great tool as it could have been used to help paper over or avoid these issues. This goes moreso for Kei, who despite a large amount of promise ultimately ends up rather flat, I would have liked a bit more of a look into her. I will note I appreciate the film's anti-authoritarian and anti-fascist themes, but it does feel like they are largely relegated to the start and end of the film and could have been perhaps explored more.

To a degree I wonder if the film had a tough task to follow after the initial 13 minutes or so as the riot at the start of the film feels like the high point of the film aesthetically. Despite the fact that the entire start essentially is lacking in names, we only find out the name of terrorist girl Nanami later, it nonetheless gets us invested in these events quite naturally. Nanami's walking through the streets juxtaposed against the violence of the protests for freedom, with the kind of cool yet tense music reflective of a dark thriller backing it, is a strong point and the result of her delivery is some very well done animation. It also certainly feels like it had a lot of room to inject plenty of meaning into it if it was a full movie, enough that it could have surpassed the movie in messaging.

Overall, a solid movie that drags its weaker parts along with some strong audiovisuals that help invite interest even at weaker points and drag some scenes beyond what the screenplay would suggest. Well worth checking out if the premise is intriguing, but don't expect anything beyond the norm.

An engrossing and thought-provoking film that descends into the nuances of politics, power, and identity. The film is a visual feast, with the dark and moody animation complimenting the gritty nature of the story well. What makes Jin Roh so special is its portrayal of how war affects psychologically on both individual and societal levels. The characters struggle with their humanity as well as the blurring of borders between duty and personal values.

The political entice and metaphorical themes add layers of complexity to the film, making it one that stays with you long after the credits have rolled. I watched the film a week ago ... and I still cannot describe it in words how hard this film impacted me. Not counting End of Evangelion, this might be my favorite anime film of all time even ahead of Perfect Blue and When Marnie Was There.

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is the third film made in Mamoru Oshii’s Kerberos Saga multimedia franchise set in an alternate 1950s Japan that is under German totalitarian rule following World War II with mass resistance from civilians due to the country’s high poverty rate and a special paramilitary force called Kerberos Corp created to counteract the resistance movement. The central character of focus in Jin-Roh is Kazuki Fuse, a fresh officer in the Kerberos Corp who hesitates to kill a young girl serving as a bomb courier for the resistance fighters before killing herself with a bomb she has on hand. Fuse is punished by ... being sent back to the training barracks and comes to encounter the girl’s sister, Kei Amamiya. While Fuse comes to befriend Kei, both find themselves getting in the middle of a political conspiracy that aims to threaten the formation of the Kerberos Corp.

At its core, Jin-Roh is a political thriller exploring the life of Fuse within the ranks of the Kerberos Corp and the conspiracy being planned within the ranks of his city’s police department to sabotage the paramilitary force. I do want to tread carefully with what I dabble into with the film’s story and themes, as it would otherwise heavily spoil one’s viewing experience of this film. But basically, the film has some rather engaging twists in its developments concerning the conspiracy and how those involved and caught up in it play out their actions to have things swing in their favor. As far as Kei and Fuse’s involvement in this is concerned, I’ll just say that there is more going on with both of them than what one would initially assume when they first appear in the film and their growing bond adds some complicated developments with their actions later into the film. There is a good deal of subtlety and foreshadowing in the film’s story buildup with where things are going with the conspiracy’s developments, and the film carries a consistently dark, somber mood throughout its run to show where things are going with the film’s plot developments. Said developments give Jin-Roh some rather powerful and effective drama with how it affects Kei and Fuse.

Perhaps the only blemish with the film’s storytelling is its heavy use of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale to connect elements of its story to the political conspiracy Kei and Fuse are caught up in. Jin-Roh makes use of story elements from a version of the tale that predates the more well-known Charles Perrault and Brothers Grimm versions, with earlier versions of Red Riding Hood being a folk tale that have a more darker and disturbing ending. The use of the Red Riding Hood story for Jin-Roh does have its effective implementations with exploring Kei and Fuse’s bond, though the film tends to get a bit too liberal with expressing these parallels at points throughout its run, particularly with characters reading out passages from the tale during key points of Jin-Roh.

Visually, Jin-Roh opts to go for realism in the designs of its settings and characters. Characters are designed to be lifelike with believable bodily details and proportions and the film believably depicts elements of 1950s Japan with the design of its settings, vehicles, technology, and firearms used for the time period. The Protect Gear donned by Fuse and other Kerberos Corp officers while in action make for the visual highlight of the film with the menacing design it has with the heavy armor and machine gun donned by officers using it. While action isn’t the main focus of the film, Jin-Roh does still offer up fluid animation that is nicely shown during the film’s occasional action scenes during Fuse’s time back in training or while in action dealing with terrorists or officers.

In short, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade makes for an engaging and powerful political thriller film focused on Kei and Fuse’s growing bond being complicated by their entanglement in the political conspiracy both have a role in. The Red Riding Hood symbolism can usually get a bit too heavily applied at points in the film. But beyond that blemish, Jin-Roh is still one of the more memorable titles I’ve seen under Mamoru Oshii’s direction.

Everybody else has already pointed out the visuals, which are amazing.
Some have pointed out the sound design, and i find that the sound effects in particular can be really exceptional. This is absolute top notch craftsmanship. The aesthetics of this movie is among the best around, and in my opinion this is the reason to watch this movie. Watch this if you wish you were watching Redline, but you are not at all in the mood for high octane action.

In the story department, everything is presented as part of the metaphor of The fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. The imagery of the main character ... as the wolf is pervasive throughout. This story is a lot stronger than the plot that tells it. Factions and characters with sort of vague motivations and plans. One of the major factions in the setting's conflict are even absent from the screen after their introduction.

The subplots of some side characters, and their factions had me confused on the first viewing. Even if the characters have distinct face shapes, the similar color palette made me lose track of who was who on my first go. Their sub-plots are mostly inconsequential, and some are left open-ended at the end of the movie. This didn't matter to me either time, but if you crave closure, it might be a little bit of a turn off.

The central metaphor and it's logical conclusion at the end of the movie are pretty well executed, even if it can be a bit heavy handed at times. However, i don't know that i found much meaningful wisdom to take away from it. The film might be more alligned with Hobbes or Locke than with Rousseau regarding man's state of nature, if you look at the main character's actions, but in terms of visuals, it strongly sets up imagery associated with authoritarianism as villains. I feel very lost in what this movie is trying to tell me.

In short, it looks and sounds good, and the conveyance of the central metaphor is strong, but i am unenthusiastic about character, plot, and meaning, partly because i didn't understand all of it.

Story: 9
Art: 10
Sound: 9
Character: 10
Enjoyment: 8
Overall: 9 (true score 9.2)

SUMMARY: Jin-Rou is a master work that every anime fan should watch. But be warned, the narrative is less accessible than most streamline anime.

Jin-Rou is a phenomenal film that every avid anime fan should watch. The quality of animation you find here is rare and done with such subtlety, that you won't really be able to put your finger on, exactly, what is so great about it. Colors are muted, character motions are controlled, all the bells and whistles usually found in anime are intentionally stripped from Jin-Rou.
...
Yet because of those limitations, you are left with a work which becomes real and unforgettable. Truly unique in itself. But be warned, this is not an easily digested film. The plot and characters are woven into metaphor and stream of consciousness like a James Joyce Novel.

It would be untruthful to say that the average anime watcher will probably find this method of story-telling less enjoyable. But for those who aren't afraid to work a little harder to understand Jin-Rou's imagery and message, they will be greatly rewarded.

Jin Roh~The Wolf Brigade:

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade or simply Jin-Roh (人狼 Jinrō?, lit. "Man-Wolf") is a 1999 Japanese animated feature film directed by Hiroyuki Okiura. The film is the third adaptation of Mamoru Oshii's Kerberos saga manga, Ken-Roh Densetsu, after the two live action The Red Spectacles released in 1987 and StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops released in 1991 in Japanese theatres.

The film takes place in an alternate history in Japan during the 1950s where Germany has conquered Japan. Kazuki Fuse, a member of the Panzer Cops with the rank of Corporal, is sentenced for not following an order to kill a suicide bomber. Along the ... way, he meets Kei, a girl who initially claims to be the suicide bomber's sister and they develop a relationship. However, this relationship proves to be dangerous for the Kerberos Corps.

Mamoru Oshii, the creator of the Kerberos saga had desired to make Jin-Roh years earlier as a live-action film. However, Oshii decided that the film would be animated, and hired Okiura to direct the film and Production I.G to produce the film. The film premiered on November 17, 1999 in France, and Bandai Entertainment licensed the film for an English-language release in North America and Europe.
- taken from Wikipedia

Story/Plot: 10/10
The plot or the story of the movie ‘Jin Roh ~ The Wolf Brigade’ deserves a rating of 10/10. At least from my side it does. The story deals with immense suspense which will force you to smile at the end with a look of astonishment over your face saying that you didn’t let your time go a waste on something which doesn’t even deserve the minimum applause.
I hope you all have gone through the story of the ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ in your childhood days. Those who haven’t, for them:

- The story of the ‘Red Riding Hood’ deals with the journey of a little girl dressed in red, walking through the path amidst a dense forest, who was carrying some stuffs for her granny or mom; who lived in a house which lay at the end of the forest road. She meets a wolf in her way that wants to gobble her up at once but fails to do so. Thus knowing of Red’s journey to her mom’s abode, the wolf takes down an alternate path and eats up her mom before she reaches her home. In the mean time, the wolf disguises as Red’s mom, waiting for Red to come up and makes specific plans to gobble her up.

The above simple story is framed too beautifully as the foundation or the spine of the movie. It deals with the same sequence of events, but till the end, it remains suspense for the viewers that who is fighting for the wrong and who is struggling for the right side of the circumstances.

We can also conclude that the entire plot deals with the tactics on counter-intelligence and instincts. I’ll recommend you all to go through it at least once. I bet you won’t be disappointed.
- personal analysis

Character Designing: 9.5/10
The entire movie was pictured in the past when there was still riot and struggle going on in the streets of Japan due to the mismatch of opinions between the pubic, the terrorists, the police force and the Capital Police Organization. The movie was aired in the year 1999. So according to the time, the character designing is fantastic. Besides, the features like innocence, shrewd mindedness, etc. which are important assets for the support of the publication of the movie are beautifully pictured in the faces of the characters as per its time.
- personal analysis

Artworks: 10/10
As already stated in the ‘Character Designing’ section,” the features like innocence, shrewd mindedness, etc. which are important assets for the support of the publication of the movie are beautifully pictured in the faces of the characters as per its time.”
So, no more comments regarding this part.
- personal analysis

Script/Dialogues: 10/10
The opening phrases and the closing dialogues are very well-prepared. So, no comments about them. They are so perfect that it seems they descended straight down to the earth from the lips of the forest gods… the opening phrase:
“This thing is like a wolf
This thing is a wolf
Thus, it is a thing to be banished”
States, or is more inclined towards the actions of the Capital Police Task Forces, which were decided to be shut down by the Govt. Police Authority. That appears to be the main theme in the beginning.
Then there were these (perhaps a few of my favorites):
“We’re not men disguised as mere dogs. We are wolves… disguised as men. The hunters kill the wolves in the end… only in the tales humans tell.”
But the ending dialogues:
“This is where you should end the tale of a beast involved with a human. End it all now while you’re still a beast. “A long pause in the dialogues when the climax scene takes place and after that, “And then the wolf… ate up Little Red Riding Hood.”
These dialogues clearly bring out an inner meaning which lies hidden in the movie. It also brings out the ironical aspect of the movie. I won’t describe it for too long, you should watch it yourself. That will bring more fun to it…
- personal analysis

Animation: 8.5/10
As per 1999, the animation is okay. But the animation includes a few dull scenes too, where the proper movements of the body parts don’t appear to be clear enough. I mean, there are some scenes where the movement of the forearms gets too slowed down that it appears as if they are puppets. It was my assumption that there was some sort of problem with the players, but then I realized, that was the style of the animation after I played the movie in more than one machines. However, so far as actions are involved, there are not much of them to bring enough entertainment to the ‘action-lover’ viewers. Overall, it could have been better.
- personal analysis

Overall Rating: 9.86/10
No more comments regarding this finalized ‘Rating Section’.
All over, I’ll say only this much that I had downloaded this movie on December 31st, 2013; sharp at 06:45 PM and wasted my January 1st, 2014; watching this movie and in the end, I’ll say only this much that it wasn’t a loss or wastage of anything at all. I also posted a photo in the group regarding this and promised to come up with a review as soon as possible. My apologies to keep you all waiting this far.
Rest is all up to you people. Enjoy guys…

What makes Jin Rou a heavy hitter isn't its action scenes or signature body armor designs - it's its ability to deep dive into a immersive world with genuine characters.

It is like a bucket of cold water splashed on ones face while suffering in an humid atmosphere of stale anime. It comes with a sense of realism that comes from a director who intrinisically understands the grim enviornment of political turmoil and paramilitary involvement. He does this masterfully without the easily crossed axe-grinding that comes with people who cant contain thier own biases.

The protagonist and side characters aren't vibrant heros or savant tier geniuses, ... they're people drawn into situations where fate eventually must catch up. It happens naturally, and despite the heavy full body suits of armor, little plot armor need be used here. The characters are unique and there are no tropes to be seen. This is what anime should be.

Art and soundwise, it is masterful. You can even hear this wonderful leathery noise when Jin removes his face mask. Yesss.

It is a must watch and an easy 9/10.

Most of the movie looked like nothing more than just a guy contemplating himself between trying to sympathize with the terrorist girl he didn't kill and still trying to staying in a special force that he does not have the right mentality to be in if this a more modern society given how indecisive he is. Yet people kept claiming that he's a 'beast', and then come the 'twist'.

The main motif of the story is about trying to tell us that of the red riding hood.

The wolf acting as her mother (is like the government, bad but acting as good or so along ... the lines)
The animals warning the girl (is like terrorist, good but was said to be bad by the government or so along the lines)

Otherwise, it's not much different from the many other older boring police dramas seen out there.