Mind Game

Edit
What would you like to edit?
 

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: 7.791 (scored by 3348133,481 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #10672
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #2335
Members: 89,704
Favorites: 1,157

Available At


Resources

7.79
Ranked #1067Popularity #2335Members 89,704
Add to My List
Episodes: /1

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.

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
Fayray
Theme Song Performance


Edit

Opening Theme

Preview
Spotify
Apple Music
Amazon Music
Youtube Music
No opening themes have been added to this title. Help improve our database by adding an opening theme here.
Edit

Ending Theme

"Saisho de Saigo no Koi" by Fayray




Reviews

Oct 27, 2024
Mind Game is a gem from a time when experimental and creative anime were not so scarce, a work that demonstrates why animation is such an incredible medium, mixing different art styles, and making the most absurd and unbelievable things possible.

Plot (10/10): It is a creative and profound work about carpe diem, that we should enjoy every moment of life, have perseverance and try to see the positive side of every situation, because once you die, it's over.

Characters (9/10): The characters are extremely vivid and unique, each of them has their own motivations and issues, and they are all captivating.

Visuals (10/10): As if Masaaki's unique ...
May 19, 2024
Mixed Feelings
This animated movie is definitely unique in style, however in lacks a narrative through line (specifically the ending). At the last stage of the movie it seems to end twice? meaning it showed us the title card two times along with a assortment of short animated sequences we have already seen before from the beginning of the movie.
I think with some light editing work this movie could valued much higher than it already is. I enjoyed the direction style and shot composition, the usage of colors was great to see. I think we spend to much time in the whale and the movie cuts off ...
Jun 9, 2012
I like arty and pretentious anime as much as the anyone. I think Neon Genesis Evangelion, whose seemingly innocuous mecha beginnings give way to stream-of-consciousness psychoanalyzing, is a high-water mark. Confusing or confused, it's worth it. And I'm a huge fan of Satoshi Kon's work, all of which pushes the limits of anime. I enjoy the challenging stuff.

So when I read several fairly glowing reviews of Mind Game, I was curious. But I'm not sure if we were all watching the same film. Yes, the art and animation are spectacular, shifting between contrasting styles with grace and ease. It's certainly a visual showcase. Yet none ...

Interest Stacks

by lainnvx
46 Entries · 15 Restacks
14 Entries · 37 Restacks
50 Entries · 8 Restacks

Recommendations


Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for December

North American Anime & Manga Releases for December

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for December. Week 1: December 5 - 11 Anime Releases Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch (incl. Hangya...read more

North American Anime & Manga Releases for August

North American Anime & Manga Releases for August

Here are the North American anime & manga releases for August Week 1: August 7 - August 13 Anime releases Black Clover Part 1 Blu-ray & DVD Combo Digimon Adv...read more


Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Mind Game Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 )
Beatnik - Jul 22, 2008
96 repliesby rodmanii »»
Jul 13, 3:16 PM
Best sex scene ever!!
Oreki777 - Jul 5, 2021
5 repliesby aru4l »»
May 12, 2:40 PM
Do the protagonist end together?
theanimefreak95 - Nov 14, 2015
5 repliesby R0ak »»
Apr 1, 2018 12:13 AM
Masaaki Yuasa's debut film Mind Game getting a Kickstarter
GoldNautilus - Mar 27, 2017
2 repliesby GoldNautilus »»
Mar 30, 2017 8:30 PM
Mind Game Kickstarter
GoldNautilus - Mar 27, 2017
0 repliesby GoldNautilus »»
Mar 27, 2017 5:05 PM

Top 30 Best Anime Movies of All Time

Top 30 Best Anime Movies of All Time

You think you know anime movies? Have you seen all 30 of these movies on our best anime movie list? Our writer sets themselves a only-one-movie-per-director rule and comes up with 30 movies every anime fan must see.

by 5camp

792,054 views

15 Bizarre Anime That Make You Wonder 'Wtf Did I Just Watch?'

15 Bizarre Anime That Make You Wonder 'Wtf Did I Just Watch?'

There's weird, and then there's *really* weird. These anime are so surreal, weird, and downright bizarre that they'll leave you gaping at the screen, wondering "wtf did I just watch!?"

by Littoface

158,702 views