July 2nd, 2015
Best anime movies (that aren’t by Studio Ghibli)
Anime Relations: Perfect Blue, Metropolis, Jin-Rou, Juubee Ninpuuchou, Interstella5555: The 5tory of The 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, Tokyo Godfathers, Sennen Joyuu, Ouritsu Uchuugun: Honneamise no Tsubasa, Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor the Movie, Junkers Come Here, 11-nin Iru!, Paprika, Sirius no Densetsu, Chirin no Suzu, Jungle Taitei Movie (1997), Unico: Mahou no Shima e, Totsuzen! Neko no Kuni Banipal Witt, Hi no Tori: Uchuu-hen, Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Waga Yuku wa Hoshi no Taikai, Choujin Locke, Redline, Eve no Jikan (Movie), Colorful (Movie), Sakasama no Patema
Frankly, I think Studio Ghibli movies are terrible. Beautiful, yes, they know how to animate and make nice backgrounds, but in terms of well developed characters and rich stories? There’s plenty of other movies that are so easily overlooked that deserve your attention far more. I’m also going to count things that are one episode OVAs of approximate movie length because why not? More anime to love. And I do plan to expand this list as I watch more movies waiting for me on my backlog. And upon realizing just how many anime movies I loved, I had to put some things in spoilers (namely youtube videos) to save space, whew!
Catnapped!
Massive guilty pleasure, this film is just fun as all hell. From the stop-motion opening and closing, I was just hooked into a fun kids’ adventure movie. Involving two kids going to the land of cats (also, I adore cats), Banipal Witt, to rescue their dog Papadoll from an evil princess. But they only have a 24 hour time limit because when the sun rises on the second day, the kids go from being anthropomorphic cats to monsters! Oh yeah, they kids totally turn into cats when they first arrive at Banipal Witt! Fun for kids of all ages. It’s a true shame it’s so damn out of print, someone needs to rescue this license (though it did come out on both VHS and DVD)
Colorful
“I” am dead. “I” have been given a second chance at life by being give the life of a teenage boy. But in order to succeed, “I” need to figure out what I did wrong in the first place. A solemn movie with great character development, amazing backgrounds, and a relaxed atmosphere that’s easy to get into, the two hour movie length is well worth it. I found the movie went by quite quickly personally. I was so happy when it got licensed because more of the world needs to see this amazing movie.
Interstella 5555
This is the feature length music video for Daft Punk’s entire Discovery album. But there’s actually an entire story and characters in there too, following a kidnapped space band, brainwashed and forced to perform pop songs for this evil dude. Yeah, a ridiculous premise, but that’s not why you watch it. It’s an experience to behold, turn your brain off and enjoy the awesome animation to the electronic music.
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
Here’s the movie you watch when you want something deeper. On the surface, it’s about a soldier who witnesses a girl suicide bomb herself. The image haunts him as he becomes increasingly involved with that girl’s sister. But there’s a lot more lying underneath and it’s the type of movie that will stick with you long after watching it.
Jungle Emperor Leo
The story starts following Leo, a newborn cub at first, as he grows. But there’s a very human element in this movie too. While many pro-environmental movies ignore that humans should be part of the equation, this one does not, and it improves the story and characters drastically. And do I think Lion King stole from Kimba? Absolutely, but that’s another argument.
Junkers, Come Here!
A girl has a magical talking miniature schnauzer dog, and it is adorable. But she has many hardships in her life too, her parents are divorcing and her life is falling apart around her. That’s when her dog reveals a secret: he can grant her three wishes! Part slice of life, part coming of age story, all good, and from Junichi Sato, which was all I needed to know.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of the Stars
A huge series, this is a fine place to start. It’s the first chronological point in the main story, both in terms of when it was made and when it takes place in the main story. This is how the two mains, Reinhard von Lohengram and Yan WenLi, first came to know of each other.
Locke the Superman
I just have this thing about 80s scifi, bonus points if there’s psychics and stuff involved. But this is just an easily enjoyable movie if you’re into the time period and genre. Discotek released it recently, with a sub too.
Metropolis
I’ve read the manga too, “loose” is definitely the term I’d use. But that’s ok, because Rintaro made a damn good movie anyway about robots and humanity, and a favorite theme of Tezuka’s: what it means to be human. I’d say it actually has more in common with Astro Boy themes than the manga it was based on, but it’s a gorgeous movie with a dark plot and a lasting ending. It’s part of the difference b between American movies and foreign movies: they don’y just spell out the endings, they want you to infer things for yourself, and I appreciate that.
Millennium Actress
It starts off with a simple interview of an elderly Japanese actress, but quickly becomes a fantastic character study. Despite the normal subject matter, Satoshi Kon’s habit of mixing dreams and fantasy with reality make for an especially thrilling way to explore a character so thoroughly. Add in an amazing OST by Susumi Hirasawa and you have a truly special movie. Proof that Kon left us far too early.
Mobile Police Patlabor
A large franchise, this movie shows why this is just such a fun series. It has all the elements of the series, the fun characters and whatnot, and an exciting plot involving the possible destruction of the entire city. It’s also more accessible than the second movie if you ask me.
Ninja Scroll
Another “turn your brain off” type of movie, it’s essentially moving from one awesome fighting set piece to another. It starts off with the main character kind of pissing off a bunch of ninjas and having to fight several super powered ninjas, but who cares, the animation and imagination are top notch!
Patema Inverted
A recent movie on my list, hooray! Patema lives in an underground village, made of metal and inner working. Age lives on the surface in a suspiciously utopian society that doesn’t allow for much freedom, but he loves looking at the sky, a taboo in his society as ages ago, gravity suddenly reversed, killing many people. One day, Patema accidentally makes her way to the surface to find that everything is…upside down. She also immediately encounters Age and the journey begins to learn the truth about the world and bring the two groups together.
Paprika
Another imagination fest from Satoshi Kon, and his last major movie before his death. An absolute mind screw for sure. Not as strong as his other movies in terms of plot or character, but an absolute visual treat for sure and well worth watching. And Susumu Hirasawa is back for a fantastic OST!
Perfect Blue
Satoshi Kon’s first major movie, and still one of the weirdest anime movies out there. Blending his traditional “reality vs imagination”, a pop star decides to change her career to an actress, but not everyone is thrilled about this. From the creepy stalker dude to…. maybe there’s more than just that work here. Is Mima going crazy or is there something more sinister at play? And how weird can this movie get? I was watching this with my friends and every time something weird happened, I just went “no, we haven’t hit complete weirdness yet, just wait for it…. wait for it…."
Phoenix: Space Chapter
Many of the standalone Phoenix chapters were adapted into films, OVA, and TV series, but I personally find this one the best. Not the best story in the series, but the best adapted and best expanded of the series. It’s superior to the manga, which already told an interesting story, and it only made it better. Not the longest of the franchise, but if you only pick one Phoenix anime part to watch, making it this one
Redline
Turn off your brain and strap in for a ridiculous space race mario kart experience! But with more violence and some boobs and some over the top stuff! And it’s just fun, that’s all you need sometimes! And the OST is kickass and the animation is beyond amazing, no CGI here!
Ringing Bell
Sanrio had this thing in the 80s with making depressing children’s movies. Yes, Hello Kitty Sanrio just loved doing this. Thus the story of a cute little lamb on a farm whose family is murdered by a wolf and decides to apprentice under said wolf. But at what personal cost?
The Sea Prince and the Fire Child
Sanrio’s depressing 80s take on Romeo & Juliet, but with sea people and flame people. And I believe the only anime soundtrack that Koichi Sugiyama, Dragon Quest composer, made. And it sounds so Dragon Quest, it’s awesome. Discotek released it with a very welcome sub too.
Time of Eve
There’s a movie form an a series of OVA form, but either way, you’re getting a great movie. In this society, human-like androids are common, but there’s one cafe where both humans and androids can act like normal people without revealing themselves. What starts off as a high schooler trying to find out where his android went during the day evolves into him learning just what it means to be human.
Tokyo Godfathers
The best Christmas movie period. From any country, and time, whatever, you can’t get more into the spirit of selfless giving if you tried. Three homeless people in Tokyo: a gambler, a transgender, and a runaway, find an abandoned baby in the trash on Christmas Eve. Determined to find out why it was abandoned, they decide to find the mother and ask what happened. Excellent use of deus ex machina, normally shunned for good reason, is integral and works perfectly here.
They Were 11
A fantastic example of expanding a short story manga into a full movie with proper expanding of the setting and characters. 10 students trying to get into the universe’s most prestigious space school have their final test: working an abandoned spaceship for 45 days. But there are two problems: first off, there’s an 11th person and second: it’s headed towards a sun and the increased heat will activate a temperature sensitive deadly virus. Even if the reason behind the 11th was obvious to me, I didn’t catch whom it was the first time around, so there’s a good element of suspense, but also enough slice of life moments to make a more than enjoyable underrated movie.
Unico in the Island of Magic
Easily the best of Sanrio’s Unico movies, this one is the most imaginative and the most fun to watch. It’s standalone, as all Unico things are, and a great kid’s anime movie. It may make a hoarder out of your kid in the end, and it will certainly result in diabeetus because Unico himself is just so damn adorable it’s infectious.
Wing of Honneamise (Royal Space Force)
Yes, ok, it totally has that one scene that everyone knows about that damn near ruins the movie, but please take that out and you have an amazing character study. One of Studio Gainax’s very first projects, it shows they were destined for great things. From the incredibly imaginative setting to the gorgeous animation, it’s an all around treat and important part of anime movie history.
Catnapped!
Massive guilty pleasure, this film is just fun as all hell. From the stop-motion opening and closing, I was just hooked into a fun kids’ adventure movie. Involving two kids going to the land of cats (also, I adore cats), Banipal Witt, to rescue their dog Papadoll from an evil princess. But they only have a 24 hour time limit because when the sun rises on the second day, the kids go from being anthropomorphic cats to monsters! Oh yeah, they kids totally turn into cats when they first arrive at Banipal Witt! Fun for kids of all ages. It’s a true shame it’s so damn out of print, someone needs to rescue this license (though it did come out on both VHS and DVD)
Colorful
“I” am dead. “I” have been given a second chance at life by being give the life of a teenage boy. But in order to succeed, “I” need to figure out what I did wrong in the first place. A solemn movie with great character development, amazing backgrounds, and a relaxed atmosphere that’s easy to get into, the two hour movie length is well worth it. I found the movie went by quite quickly personally. I was so happy when it got licensed because more of the world needs to see this amazing movie.
Interstella 5555
This is the feature length music video for Daft Punk’s entire Discovery album. But there’s actually an entire story and characters in there too, following a kidnapped space band, brainwashed and forced to perform pop songs for this evil dude. Yeah, a ridiculous premise, but that’s not why you watch it. It’s an experience to behold, turn your brain off and enjoy the awesome animation to the electronic music.
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
Here’s the movie you watch when you want something deeper. On the surface, it’s about a soldier who witnesses a girl suicide bomb herself. The image haunts him as he becomes increasingly involved with that girl’s sister. But there’s a lot more lying underneath and it’s the type of movie that will stick with you long after watching it.
Jungle Emperor Leo
The story starts following Leo, a newborn cub at first, as he grows. But there’s a very human element in this movie too. While many pro-environmental movies ignore that humans should be part of the equation, this one does not, and it improves the story and characters drastically. And do I think Lion King stole from Kimba? Absolutely, but that’s another argument.
Junkers, Come Here!
A girl has a magical talking miniature schnauzer dog, and it is adorable. But she has many hardships in her life too, her parents are divorcing and her life is falling apart around her. That’s when her dog reveals a secret: he can grant her three wishes! Part slice of life, part coming of age story, all good, and from Junichi Sato, which was all I needed to know.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of the Stars
A huge series, this is a fine place to start. It’s the first chronological point in the main story, both in terms of when it was made and when it takes place in the main story. This is how the two mains, Reinhard von Lohengram and Yan WenLi, first came to know of each other.
Locke the Superman
I just have this thing about 80s scifi, bonus points if there’s psychics and stuff involved. But this is just an easily enjoyable movie if you’re into the time period and genre. Discotek released it recently, with a sub too.
Metropolis
I’ve read the manga too, “loose” is definitely the term I’d use. But that’s ok, because Rintaro made a damn good movie anyway about robots and humanity, and a favorite theme of Tezuka’s: what it means to be human. I’d say it actually has more in common with Astro Boy themes than the manga it was based on, but it’s a gorgeous movie with a dark plot and a lasting ending. It’s part of the difference b between American movies and foreign movies: they don’y just spell out the endings, they want you to infer things for yourself, and I appreciate that.
Millennium Actress
It starts off with a simple interview of an elderly Japanese actress, but quickly becomes a fantastic character study. Despite the normal subject matter, Satoshi Kon’s habit of mixing dreams and fantasy with reality make for an especially thrilling way to explore a character so thoroughly. Add in an amazing OST by Susumi Hirasawa and you have a truly special movie. Proof that Kon left us far too early.
Mobile Police Patlabor
A large franchise, this movie shows why this is just such a fun series. It has all the elements of the series, the fun characters and whatnot, and an exciting plot involving the possible destruction of the entire city. It’s also more accessible than the second movie if you ask me.
Ninja Scroll
Another “turn your brain off” type of movie, it’s essentially moving from one awesome fighting set piece to another. It starts off with the main character kind of pissing off a bunch of ninjas and having to fight several super powered ninjas, but who cares, the animation and imagination are top notch!
Patema Inverted
A recent movie on my list, hooray! Patema lives in an underground village, made of metal and inner working. Age lives on the surface in a suspiciously utopian society that doesn’t allow for much freedom, but he loves looking at the sky, a taboo in his society as ages ago, gravity suddenly reversed, killing many people. One day, Patema accidentally makes her way to the surface to find that everything is…upside down. She also immediately encounters Age and the journey begins to learn the truth about the world and bring the two groups together.
Paprika
Another imagination fest from Satoshi Kon, and his last major movie before his death. An absolute mind screw for sure. Not as strong as his other movies in terms of plot or character, but an absolute visual treat for sure and well worth watching. And Susumu Hirasawa is back for a fantastic OST!
Perfect Blue
Satoshi Kon’s first major movie, and still one of the weirdest anime movies out there. Blending his traditional “reality vs imagination”, a pop star decides to change her career to an actress, but not everyone is thrilled about this. From the creepy stalker dude to…. maybe there’s more than just that work here. Is Mima going crazy or is there something more sinister at play? And how weird can this movie get? I was watching this with my friends and every time something weird happened, I just went “no, we haven’t hit complete weirdness yet, just wait for it…. wait for it…."
Phoenix: Space Chapter
Many of the standalone Phoenix chapters were adapted into films, OVA, and TV series, but I personally find this one the best. Not the best story in the series, but the best adapted and best expanded of the series. It’s superior to the manga, which already told an interesting story, and it only made it better. Not the longest of the franchise, but if you only pick one Phoenix anime part to watch, making it this one
Redline
Turn off your brain and strap in for a ridiculous space race mario kart experience! But with more violence and some boobs and some over the top stuff! And it’s just fun, that’s all you need sometimes! And the OST is kickass and the animation is beyond amazing, no CGI here!
Ringing Bell
Sanrio had this thing in the 80s with making depressing children’s movies. Yes, Hello Kitty Sanrio just loved doing this. Thus the story of a cute little lamb on a farm whose family is murdered by a wolf and decides to apprentice under said wolf. But at what personal cost?
The Sea Prince and the Fire Child
Sanrio’s depressing 80s take on Romeo & Juliet, but with sea people and flame people. And I believe the only anime soundtrack that Koichi Sugiyama, Dragon Quest composer, made. And it sounds so Dragon Quest, it’s awesome. Discotek released it with a very welcome sub too.
Time of Eve
There’s a movie form an a series of OVA form, but either way, you’re getting a great movie. In this society, human-like androids are common, but there’s one cafe where both humans and androids can act like normal people without revealing themselves. What starts off as a high schooler trying to find out where his android went during the day evolves into him learning just what it means to be human.
Tokyo Godfathers
The best Christmas movie period. From any country, and time, whatever, you can’t get more into the spirit of selfless giving if you tried. Three homeless people in Tokyo: a gambler, a transgender, and a runaway, find an abandoned baby in the trash on Christmas Eve. Determined to find out why it was abandoned, they decide to find the mother and ask what happened. Excellent use of deus ex machina, normally shunned for good reason, is integral and works perfectly here.
They Were 11
A fantastic example of expanding a short story manga into a full movie with proper expanding of the setting and characters. 10 students trying to get into the universe’s most prestigious space school have their final test: working an abandoned spaceship for 45 days. But there are two problems: first off, there’s an 11th person and second: it’s headed towards a sun and the increased heat will activate a temperature sensitive deadly virus. Even if the reason behind the 11th was obvious to me, I didn’t catch whom it was the first time around, so there’s a good element of suspense, but also enough slice of life moments to make a more than enjoyable underrated movie.
Unico in the Island of Magic
Easily the best of Sanrio’s Unico movies, this one is the most imaginative and the most fun to watch. It’s standalone, as all Unico things are, and a great kid’s anime movie. It may make a hoarder out of your kid in the end, and it will certainly result in diabeetus because Unico himself is just so damn adorable it’s infectious.
Wing of Honneamise (Royal Space Force)
Yes, ok, it totally has that one scene that everyone knows about that damn near ruins the movie, but please take that out and you have an amazing character study. One of Studio Gainax’s very first projects, it shows they were destined for great things. From the incredibly imaginative setting to the gorgeous animation, it’s an all around treat and important part of anime movie history.
Posted by zawa113 | Jul 2, 2015 5:56 AM | 1 comments
November 28th, 2014
Underrated Pokemon music
Anime Relations: Pokemon
I enjoy Pokemon game music very much, but some things never seem to get mentioned, even though they are awesome. I'll edit the list as I go I suppose, as I find more that I like.
The game as a whole has good music that no one seems to remember, but I do like the "gym battle" theme quite a bit, it was very unlike the gym battle themes in the main game after all, but still just as epic but in a different way. Probably the calmest gym battle theme in the Pokemon series, yet still epic.
The game as a whole has good music that no one seems to remember, but I do like the "gym battle" theme quite a bit, it was very unlike the gym battle themes in the main game after all, but still just as epic but in a different way. Probably the calmest gym battle theme in the Pokemon series, yet still epic.
Posted by zawa113 | Nov 28, 2014 9:18 AM | 0 comments
Private Entry
August 22nd, 2013
Epic Collection Pics! August 2013
Anime Relations: Key the Metal Idol, Akachan to Boku
What's up, party people? It's time for my bi-yearly collection update (the post Otakon update)! Lots has changed, as always, and it seems like I'm taking more pictures every time!
As always, I have things to trade or sell http://myanimelist.net/blog.php?eid=89984
*edit-while MAL still won't show images, I will link to the album for now. Note that a few pictures might be missing as there haven't been changes, so I've been copy pasting them for a while (for example, the wallscrolls)
http://s260.photobucket.com/user/buttersthecat/library/Stuf%20Aug13
Anime
Manga
Games
Wallscrolls
Added Since Pics
As always, I have things to trade or sell http://myanimelist.net/blog.php?eid=89984
*edit-while MAL still won't show images, I will link to the album for now. Note that a few pictures might be missing as there haven't been changes, so I've been copy pasting them for a while (for example, the wallscrolls)
http://s260.photobucket.com/user/buttersthecat/library/Stuf%20Aug13
Anime
Manga
Games
Wallscrolls
Added Since Pics
Posted by zawa113 | Aug 22, 2013 5:27 AM | 7 comments
January 15th, 2013
Epic collection pics January 2013
Anime Relations: Fruits Basket, Hikaru no Go, Futatsu no Spica, Legend of Basara, Macross, Maison Ikkoku
Hello! And welcome to another installment of my epic collection pics! The winter season is over, and my collection has changed. Things have been added, and things have been sold. But I feel my collection is better with every edition! So enjoy!
I also have things for trade or sale! Just click this sentence!
Anime
Manga
Games
Wallscrolls
Changed since pictures
Fun times with stats!
I also have things for trade or sale! Just click this sentence!
Anime
Manga
Games
Wallscrolls
Changed since pictures
Fun times with stats!
Posted by zawa113 | Jan 15, 2013 11:26 PM | 4 comments
September 9th, 2012
FKF's September 2012 Collection Pics
Anime Relations: Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star
Lots has changed since the last time around, eh? I'll probably add games later, like after I get Pokemon or something. Yay, Pokemon! Anyway, enjoy my collection (though not as much as I do) and feel free to comment! I also keep a list of stuff I'd like to trade or sell here, just make an offer!
And a picture of Butters, my kitteh!
Anime
Manga
Wallscrolls
Added Since Pics
Fun Times With Stats
And a picture of Butters, my kitteh!
Anime
Manga
Wallscrolls
Added Since Pics
Fun Times With Stats
Posted by zawa113 | Sep 9, 2012 4:25 PM | 7 comments