Some viewers may be strongly reminded of another film, Tekkon Kinkreet, when watching Mind Game, and this is to be expected. Both films share production houses 4 degrees Celsius and Asmik-Ace, thus explaining similarities in some of the more realistic character designs. Another link, though not as obvious, is that with the extremely surreal experimental feature Cat Soup. Masaaki Yuasa, one of the chief designers and animators for CS, here rises to the occasion as both screenwriter and director. In this manner, Mind Game shares some of Cat Soups mindboggleing energy and imagry, though it's here that the similarities end (as well as all this annoying name dropping). Where Cat Soup was dark and twisted, MG is excitingly free spirited and optomistic, though it's arguably just as convoluted.
The film centers around Nishi, a young and timid aspiring manga-kan, who reconnects with his childhood sweetheart, Myon, just as she's preparing to marry another man. Sudden turns-of-events following this reunion work to shake Nishi out of his complaciency, and turn him into the bold, free-spirited man he's always dreamed of being. Together with Myon and her sister, Nishi embarks on an adventure that will lead to the most unlikely of places, where he will learn what it truely means to live.
Mind Game's story is fairly simple, though very surprising all the same. There's a significant chang of pace about halfway thru, though the film never for a moment loses its ingenuity or excitement. The second act is in many ways a relaxing look at how to get the most out of life, accompanied by several stunning musical interludes. The in-your-face action of the films first act comes roaring back for the climax though, and I am not exaggerating when I say that it's one of the most exilirating scenes I've ever witnessed (and I was watching it on my ipod first time I saw it)! The ending is definatly for the open minded, as the resolution, and indeed everything that has happened up to that point, is suddenly thrown into question, with plot points rectifying and contradicting themselves in a beautiful, better-not-blink montage that is the film's finale. All together, this is exactly the kind of film I relish, though I'm afraid to say that it most likely is not for mainstream viewers (though if you found satisfaction through the likes of NGE (any of them), than Mind Game shouldn't be beyond your grasp. And even so, the sheer astetic value is enough for anyone to appreciate. Anyone who loves anime should see this film, and will either love it or at least feel justified in seeing it, for it is truly a film like no other.
