Mind Game

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Mindgame
Japanese: マインド・ゲーム


Information

Type: Movie
Episodes: 1
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Aug 7, 2004
Producers: Beyond C.
Licensors: GKIDS
Studios: Studio 4°C
Source: Manga
Genres: AdventureAdventure, Avant GardeAvant Garde, Award WinningAward Winning, ComedyComedy, RomanceRomance
Themes: Adult CastAdult Cast, PsychologicalPsychological
Duration: 1 hr. 43 min.
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)

Statistics

Score: 7.781 (scored by 3028830,288 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #9472
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #2174
Members: 81,703
Favorites: 1,030

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7.78
Ranked #947Popularity #2174Members 81,703
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Synopsis

After seeing her jump onto a subway at the last second and getting her ankle crushed between the doors, Nishi reconnects with his high school sweetheart, Myon. Nishi is still very much in love with Myon, but is shocked to learn that she is engaged to another man. Nishi agrees to meet Myon's fiancé at her family's Yakitori restaurant, but members of the Yakuza storm the joint and murder Nishi when he tries to stop them from raping Myon.

Nishi, now dead, wakes up and meets a constantly shapeshifting god, who mocks him for dying. The god tells Nishi to walk into a portal and disappear from existence, which Nishi rejects, choosing instead to sprint past the god and reanimate. With a new outlook on life and knowledge of how the Yakuza are going to attack him, Nishi kills one of the Yakuza with his own gun, fleeing in a stolen car with Myon and her sister.

Acclaimed director Masaaki Yuasa's debut film, Mind Game's constantly shifting visuals tell a story about living one's life without regrets that is unlike any other.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Background

The film was awarded the Animation Division Grand Prize at the 2004 Japan Media Arts Festival. It also won the Oufuji Noburou Award at the 2005 Mainichi Film Awards. Also in 2005 it won the Best Film, Best Director (tying with Survive Style 5 +), Best Script (tying with Survive Style 5 +), Special Award – Visual Accomplishment, and the Audience Award for the Best Animation Film during the Fantasia Festival in Canada.

Related Anime


Characters & Voice Actors

Nishi

Main
Imada, Koji
Japanese

Myon

Main
Maeda, Sayaka
Japanese

Jii-san

Supporting
Fujii, Takashi
Japanese

Yakuza

Supporting
Nishi, Rintarou
Japanese

Atsu

Supporting
Chuujou, Kenichi
Japanese

Yan

Supporting
Takuma, Seiko
Japanese

Staff

Yuasa, Masaaki
Director, Script, Character Design
Morimoto, Kouji
Animation Director


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Opening Theme

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Ending Theme

"Saisho de Saigo no Koi" by Fayray




Jul 22, 2008
Contrary to the title, this doesn't so much play with your mind as it rubs its crotch against it furiously and dunks it in an ocean full of hallucinogen.

Produced by one of the most innovative animation studios around, Mind Game takes an abstract approach to a theme that a lot of mainstream anime has been promoting to viewers for decades: Don't give up, live life.

You see it everywhere, from Naruto to Mobile Suit Gundam to Ghibli. Anime is always reminding you of how short life is; encouraging you to stop watching it and go outside. Stop being self-conscious, act freely, chase your ...
Dec 17, 2008
Mixed Feelings
This was a 'solid' effort. Fair. Decent. Average. 6 out of 10. There isn't a modest and balanced review for this movie on this site yet, and I feel its fair to those who are interested in it to realize its not the '10 OUT OF 10 FIVE STARS 1000%!!!!' bonanza its been made out to be. However, if you're convinced this movie is just that, don't read on.

Despite the title, this isn't a movie that will mess with your head or challenge you to think. It has a very simple message, one that was clearly stated: Live Life. The characters go on ...
Nov 25, 2007
Mind Game is easily one of my favourite anime movies....all the way through. At first I was a little offput by the art, some scenes work REALLY well...some scenes don't. But seriously, this anime is the best thing I've seen in a LONG time of watching anime.

Story: It's a story that you cannot take seriously. There are essentially 3 different scenes in it. All three of them are beautifully executed. The pacing in this movie is also very nice, the few slow scenes are beautifully shown, there's never a single moment of tediousness.

Art: " I think that Japanese animation fans ...

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Poll: Mind Game Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 )
Beatnik - Jul 22, 2008
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Best sex scene ever!!
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Feb 17, 2022 3:54 PM
Do the protagonist end together?
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