Tokyo Godfathers (Anime) Review

Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Format: Movie, 92 minutes
Director: Satoshi Kon
Studio: Madhouse
Score: 3 stars

Slightly eccentric, entirely focused on character drama, this anime film feels a little out of place as an anime film. Satoshi Kon seems to be more comfortable dealing with realistic subjects in a realistic setting. With this, it really shows that he should really start thinking about directing live-action dramas because he seems quite adept at that. But he has gone on record to say that he loves drawing too much to give it this medium.

Unlike Ghibli's anime-ish stylings, Kon sticks to a more realistic style that is still somewhat recognisable and unique. For me, the most recognisable features of his films are its slight weirdness or eccentricity, and the animation. Tokyo Godfathers is a well-animated, heart-warming tale, but drags on slightly too long and lacks the creativity that made Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress such a joy to watch.

Millienium Actress (Anime) Review

 
Millennium Actress (2001)
Format: Movie, 87 minutes
Director: Satoshi Kon
Studio: Madhouse
Score: 4 stars
Summary: This film blends reel life and real life seamlessly, proving that sometimes, real life can be stranger than fiction. A unique film that still retains Kon's style, without the confusion.

Perfect Blue (Anime) Review

Perfect Blue (1998)
Format: Movie, 81 minutes
Director: Satoshi Kon
Studio: Madhouse
Score: 4 stars
Summary: Satoshi Kon's directorial debut went perfectly. It quickly establishes his style of storytelling and cinematography, which is closer to live-action films (in particular, Alfred Hitchcock) than anything else in anime. It is not a mere copy though, as Perfect Blue proves; animation is used to it's fullest to confuse and intrigue the viewers.

Satoshi Kon Week

I'll be writing reviews for Satoshi Kon's movies and anime TV series all this week. If you want to follow along, it'll be in the following order:

• Perfect Blue (Movie, 1998)
• Millennium Actress (Movie, 2001)
• Tokyo Godfathers (Movie, 2003)
• Paranoia Agent (TV, 2004)
• Paprika (Movie, 2006)

First review will be up tonight at 9pm!