Tokyo Godfathers (2003) - A Review

 

Tokyo Godfathers is a different kind of Christmas movie.

Tokyo Godfathers is a dramatic comedy animated (anime) movie released in Japan in 2003. It was written (along with Keiko Nobumoto) and directed by Satoshi Kon and features the voice talents of Yoshiaki Umegaki, Tōru Emori, Aya Okamoto, and Satomi Kōrogi.

From left: Gin, Miyuki (with Kiyoko), and Hana.

 In Tokyo Godfathers, three unhoused people, Gin (voiced by Tōru Emori), Hana (voiced by Yoshiaki Umegaki) and Miyuki (voiced by Aya Okamoto) find a newborn baby in trash nearby on Christmas Eve. With the baby is note saying to take care of her, and a key that leads to clues to who the parents are. Hana, a dramatic transgender woman, wants to find the parents. Gin, an alcoholic gambler, wants to take the baby to the police. Miyuki, a teenage runaway, also wants to take the baby to the police, but she goes along with Hana's plan.

Naming the baby Kiyoko, they care of her as they make their way across the city in search of her parents. Along the way, our trio encounter some very coincidental incidents. Frankly, you could call these coincidences miracles. We find out their tragic back stories, and why they ended up in their current situation. These coincidences and their pasts intertwine to bring them closer and closer to their goal...

Like family, Gin, Miyuki, and Hana argue a lot.

Tokyo Godfathers is a beautifully animated movie, with an engaging and interesting story. The characters are complex and flawed but likable; you will hope for the best for them throughout the movie. Though a lot of the situations are somewhat serious, there is a lot of comedy in Tokyo Godfathers as well. Hana's over-emotional personality is humorous (and makes her very likable), as well as some of the situations they find themselves in. Not everything is a joke, though. The main characters are portrayed respectfully (though some of the other characters they meet are not respectful to them). Gin, Hana, and Miyuki are basically a family, though they are not related.

The situations Gin, Miyuki, and Hana get into are pretty surreal.

The animation (meaning 'fluidity of movement') is excellent; everything moves smoothly and realistically. The character design is semi-realistic, with more cartoonish flourishes during highly emotional reactions from the characters. I really like how the characters look in this, as well as the 'world' they live in. The voice acting (I watched it in its original language, with subtitles) is superb. The characters all talk realistically and naturally, with some great vocal touches that make the characters seem like real people. This movie is just art.

As you can imagine, I highly recommend watching Tokyo Godfathers! It has a touching story, interesting characters, comedy, drama, tragedy, and adventure. There are some violent scenes (and nudity) but those aren't the focal points of the movie. The movie is about family and about facing the past. The plot takes some twists and turns, too. It can get quite emotional as well. Tokyo Godfathers will leave you wondering, was everything happening by pure coincidence or was it all a miracle? Satoshi Kon was one talented person! We are lucky he left us this beautiful piece of art.

Reviewed by David Williams

GOODBYE, DON GLEES! | Official Trailers

 Check out the the trailer for Goodbye, Don Glees!, an anime film from director Atsuko Ishizuka. Here is the synopsis:

Teen misfits Roma, Toto, and Drop call themselves the “Don Glees,” an informal name for their backyard adventures. One day, when the trio gets blamed for a nearby forest fire, they set off into the woods to prove their innocence. As disaster strikes their expedition, tensions flare between the friends as they realize that growing up has taken them on wildly different paths in life.

Goodbye, Don Glees! will show in American theaters in Japanese with English subtitles on September 14 and 20; and have a showing dubbed in English on September 18. This looks really good! I will have to check it out!

Here is the English dub trailer:

 Here is the Japanese language trailer:

Suzume no Tojimari Anime Film Trailer

 Here is the trailer for Suzume no Tojimari, the latest film from Makoto Shinkai. Here is the synopsis:

 Suzume, a 17-year-old girl who lives in a quiet town in Kyushu, encounters a traveling young man who tells her "I'm looking for a door." She follows after him and discovers a weathered door in the ruins in the mountains, as if it were the only thing left standing from a collapse. As if drawn by something, Suzume reaches for the door...

Before long, doors begin to open one after another in various parts of Japan. As disasters come from the far side of the doors, the open doors must be closed.

The stars, the setting sun, and the morning sky—in that place she wandered into, there was a sky that seemingly blended all of time together. Guided by the mysterious doors, Suzume's "door-locking journey" begins. (from MyAnimeList)

All I can say is, holy crap this looks good! I cannot wait to watch this one! I loved Your Name (also by Makoto Shinkai), so I hope this is just as good! Suzume no Tojimari comes out November 11, 2022 in Japan and early 2023 internationally.

THE DEER KING | Theatrical Announcement Trailer

 Check out the trailer for The Deer King, Masashi Ando's directorial debut. Here is the synopsis:

In the aftermath of a brutal war, former soldier Van toils in a mine controlled by the ruling empire. One day, his solitary existence is upended when a pack of wild dogs carrying a deadly and incurable disease attack, leaving only Van and a young girl named Yuna as survivors. Finally free, the pair seek out a simple existence in the countryside but are pursued by nefarious forces. Intent on protecting Yuna at all costs, Van must uncover the true cause of the plague ravaging the kingdom—and its possible cure.

GKIDS will show the film in a fan preview event in the U.S. on July 13, 2022 (in Japanese with English subtitles) and on the 14th with the English dub. Masashi Ando will give a special introduction at the fan preview events. The Deer King will get a limited release starting on July 15, 2022. If you want to see it, tickets go on sale June 10, 2022.

The Deer King looks really interesting to me! I will say, what the movie deals with hits a little too close to home with what's going on in the world right now. Still, I need to see this one!

 

OddTaxi Movie - Teaser Trailer

 There will be an OddTaxi movie coming out in Japan in April, 2022! OddTaxi was the best anime series I watched this year, so I really want to see this! This movie seems to recreate the series, but also expands on what happens after the end of the series. I am very intrigued by this! Crunchyroll will  stream this movie as well! I can't wait!

If you haven't seen OddTaxi yet, do it now! It's on Crunchyroll!

Belle - English Dub Trailer

 Belle is coming to theaters in January 2022 in the United States! It will be released subtitled and dubbed, so you have no excuse! This looks very interesting to me! I'll be watching the subtitled version, naturally. Check out the trailer for the English dub!