Japanese animation has been popular for a long time and appeals to adults and children. The stories and the artistic style are quite distinct from animation in the United States. For one thing, not all anime films are made for young audiences. Everything from high-tech action, romance, and fairy-tale fantasy can be found illustrated in beautiful art. Here are my five favorite anime movies created by three of the top Japanese artists and directors.
Honorable Mention: Grave of the Fireflies “Grave of the Fireflies” is a historical drama about two children, a brother and sister, struggling to survive in the countryside during World War II. Isao Takahata crafted this haunting and intense animated adaptation of a semi-autobiographical novel by Akiyuki Nosaka. It is not one of the five because I have not seen it yet. I haven’t geared myself up for the emotional impact. I want to include it, though, because it is an important part of Anime literature.
5. Howl’s Moving Castle Renowned artist and director Hayo Miyazaki directed this film. “Howl’s Moving Castle” is a delightful fairytale with fun characters. A jealous witch curses Sofi, trapping the young girl in an elderly body. Sofi runs away and joins the wizard Howl and his companions in his walking castle. Will the vain and childish wizard be able to break the spell?
4. Spirited Away This film captures Hayo Miyazaki at the height of his skills. In “Spirited Away” he transports you into a rich, detailed, and dreamlike world. Chihiro is a whiny young girl that finds herself in a strange, magical world where she has to rescue her parents. They’ve broken the rules in this twilight world and have been turned into pigs. “Spirited Away” captures the essence of childhood and growing up. The imagination, fantasy and color are in this film are delightful. Miyazaki fills the story with characters that touch you and make you laugh.
3. Millennium Actress Satoshi Kon made “Millennium Actress” after an auspicious debut with his first film. The pressure was on, but no sophomore failure here. This film is a nostalgic tribute to Japanese cinema history. Love, memories, movies, and a search that never ends are the themes of this story. It is told in flashbacks and loosely tells the life story of an elderly Japanese woman who was a famous actress. Walls between reality and fantasy fall as the narratives of the movies she made parallel and get mixed up with people and events in her real life. The art is lush and richly detailed, enhancing the romance and nostalgia of the story.
2. Ghost in the Shell Mamoru Oshii is another major anime artist and director. “Ghost in the Shell” is an atmospheric and philosophical thriller with a complex plot. In the near future a cyborg police officer tracks a terrorist hacker. The case takes unexpected turns and Major Motoko Kusanagi questions the reality of her “ghost”, or soul, in her fully artificial brain. The artwork is gritty and full of detailed and haunting cityscapes. There is also excellent use of light, shadows and reflections. Be warned, there is a little cyborg nudity and a lot of violence.
1. Ghost in the Shell: Innocence Nine years after “Ghost in the Shell”, Mamoru Oshii released this sequel. Suspense and action fill the screen again. This time the focus is on Bato, the Major’s partner, as he searches for answers to why a cyborg created for pleasure killed her owner and then self-destructed. Humans have forgotten what distinguishes them from machines. Bato, a fully mechanized cyborg, tries to stay connected to the thread of humanity he has remaining. The visual art in “Innocence” is as intensely colorful as the original was gritty and grey. Oshii used state-of-the-art computer animation and effects, but they enhance the story rather than overwhelm. The characters and their inner conflicts are still the heart of the movie. Again there is some cyborg nudity and plenty of violence.
These animated movies are gems of Japanese art and storytelling. Anime encompasses such various story genres that there is something for everyone to enjoy. This list introduces you to several of the top animators and directors in Japan. If you haven’t watched a cartoon since you were a child, give these movies a chance. I hope you enjoy some of my favorite anime films.
