Manga Movie Reviews

This is one of the best anime series or movies that I have ever seen. Although it is set in a fantastic setting, there is a level of realism rarely encountered in most "realistic movies". It is dark, but at the same time well paced and entertaining. It shows suffering and hardship without sentimentality and tear-jerking. There is at the same time a Peter-Pan - ish quality to the story of children doing battles, and at the same time the emotions and motivations of the children are complex and real - this movie portrays real children better than most movies I've seen, which tend to make children either too mature or too immature for their age. In fact the most immature person in this movie is Hamdo, the king - a person of no nobility whatsoever. Hardship brings out the best in people sometimes - there is a certain nobility and solemnity to the child soldiers that is a product of the environment they are in and the pressure put upon them.

Let me say this, this is by far one of the most depressing anime serials out there. It chronicles the systematic abuse of its main characters, usually through torture of one kind or another. By the time of the third episode you will be crying because of the inhumanity of the situation that Shu, Sara, and Lulu Rue are in. This first DVD is all about misery.

However, this is also the best anime serial I have ever seen. It is the Grave of Fireflies of Anime serial. It shows the inhumanity of war, but also the beauty of simplest moment, such as a sunset.

The plot is sorta a combination of the miserable anti war message in Grave of Fireflies, but even more dire. But also has fantastic elements that are very familiar to escaflowne(also excellent), in that the main character(s) is whisked away to an unfamiliar place.

All be told this is by far one of the best and most depressing anime serials in existance. It is proof that anime, is far more than just a simple cartoon. Even the best live action series cannot reflect this much emotion. It is simply a masterpiece.

WOW, this whole series took me completely by surprised. I was not at all ready to be bombarded with so much violence and sadness. The first set of episodes practically ruined my night and I could not get over it (hard to believe that a "cartoon" can effect you so much).
The next night, I rented the rest of the series-glad I did. The whole story is just awesome. Even though the hardships and issues the children are facing are horrendous, it really gives you a picture of how children really suffer in a world without law.
Each character in this series is just amazing. You really feel for everyone of them, from the evil Hamdo to the little boy, Boo. Each situation and background just really hits home.
Shu's pureness and good heart really touched me. Kabuca's (don't know if I spelled that right) horrible situation where he is forced to murder innocent people just broke my heart. Every character was portrayed and drawn magnficantly. The story is very well written.
This anime is for someone who is looking to be challenged mentally and emotionally. Be prepared to see terrible images of little children suffering and people being faced with brutal predicaments. Yet, to some people this is real life. I believe it is good to know that bad things do happen, however a strong, determined heart like the main character Shu to change one world's terrible dilemma.
Highly recommend to anyone who loves anime and also to those who love to experience an astounding drama.

In the early stages of the movie, the boy and his sister stay with relatives since their house has been destroyed in a bombing, relatives who obviously resent their presence.

However, despite the boy's refusal to work or do anything but play with his sister (this is the relative's only reason for resenting having to feed and house them) it's made to seem tragic when he decides to leave the house rather than help support himself.

Later in the movie, when his sister becomes sick from malnutrition - this is the supposed saddest part and turning point of the story - the effect is ruined by the fact that the boy could simply have apologized to his relatives, who may not have been happy to take him back, but certainly would have. A farmer even tells the boy this, yet he refuses to return. What follows is no one's fault but his own.

The only emotion this movie inspired in me was a growing frustration at the boy's inablilty to swallow his pride and save his sister's life. There's nothing tragic in a movie about a character who could save his life at any time, but refuses to do so.

What can I say? This is the *Braveheart*, the *Titanic*, the *Schindler's List* of anime - *Grave of the Fireflies* is a tear-jerker with three-hanky ending. You WILL cry. I promise. However, it's worth seeing. This masterpiece shows us that there is nothing noble or glorious about war. The "enemy" has a face. As Americans, we didn't have to watch our homes be destroyed by air raids; we didn't see our love ones charred to a crisp in fires started by fighter planes. With the exception of Pearl Harbor, the war was fought overseas and far away from our homes. *Everyone* is affected in a total war. This two children are orphaned and their struggle to survive is heart-wrenching. This isn't a war movie about soldiers like one would expect-- this is a war movie about what happens to ordinary people. I don't understand how anyone could want to fight a war after seeing *Grave of the Fireflies*. I think the director is showing us something about ourselves and our society. I've tried my best, but I can't describe this movie in words. You have to see to believe. Also, young children should not watch this movie- war and death are graphic. I've had the image of little Sasuko burying the fireflies in my head all day and the image of her mother being thrown into a mass grave (what Seta sees when he sees his sister burying the insects). Please, watch this movie. Watching Miyazaki's *My Neighbor Totoro* afterward with the kids is a great idea since it's a happy movie.

Any teacher searching for a way to expose their students to history, coming-of-age stories, Japanese culture, and/or the implications of war needs to view and show this film in his or her classroom. I discovered this anime while in college, and I could not do anything until I had researched it thoroughly. According to Ebert's review and other reviews published about the film, this story about two children trying to survive the American firebombings of Japan in the last days of World War II is based on a true story. Seita, a 14 year old boy, has to become both brother and parent to his little sister Setsuko when their mother is badly injured in the first bombing of the film. They spend the rest of the film searching for food and shelter. They learn what happens to a world in need, a world at war, and a world that can so easily swallow up little lives like their own. The animation incredible. Like many animes, the characters do not appear at first to be entirely lifelike; their eyes are too huge to be real, and many of the movements are overly exaggerated. However, the grace, the patience, the intense attention to details as small as the lice in Setsuko's hair make the characters all the more real. The scenary is also fantastic, and looks a lot like paintings by famous Japanese artists (see Hiroshige). For teachers of high school students, this film provides endless opportunities; kids become completely absorbed in the technical aspects of war (see Ebert's review), the loveable characters, and the injustices they see. In my own classroom, this film sparked heated debate and prompted my students to write professional-sounding reviews. Please see this film, and talk to your students about the two sides to every war, and the two sides to every story.

this move needs to be wacht more than once to git all the stuff thats going on but is well worth all the seans of lum flying around thow i think the aritst needs to spend more time on the guys in the move most of thim look very fake but the girls are grate. if you wont to talk with me about anime my neopets username is san2000221

After the fantastic Only You I expected the second Urusei Yatsura movie to be another laugh-a-second romp through outer space.

It isn't. What it is is a little odd actually. It's a story which focuses on the human cast of Urusei Yatsura, leaving the aliens (except Lum and Ten) out, apart from the odd namecheck and cameo in Ataru's dream sequence. Instead we're treated to a surreal, seemingly post-apocalyptic mystery world inhabited only by the core Urusei Yatsura characters.

And very strange it is too. I don't want to give anything away, although the title does that very well on its own, but this story is not what you expect at all. Which is a good thing in many ways. It's full of surprises and odd twists. But beneath it all, supporting it like a stone collossus (sorry, in joke) is the old Urusei Yatsura humour. Because the jokes, puns and slapstick are there, the rest of the film feels fun, not complex and heavy. And in the end you come out having been entertained, and perhaps a little disturbed. An utterly fantastic film.

Just make sure to watch in Japanese!

This is simply one of the best anime movies I have seen. It combines great characters with a great story that throws you off just as you think you have it figured out. Beautiful Dreamer is not only fun for veteren Urusei Yatsura fans, but is a fantastic way to introduce people to the series. Granted, very few (two, in fact) alien characters are used, but for this plot the others wouldn't really fit anyway. This movie focuses mainly on our earthbound heroes as they struggle to find out what the heck is going on with their world. Trust me. This one's lotsa fun, with just the right blend of mystery and comedy to make a winner.

I have seen almost all Japanese anime movies and this Macross Plus series is absolutely one of the best ever made. Although the movie has no excessive violence or nudity, it is pretty obvious that it was made for little mature viewers who wants something more than typical action anime. The characters development was done so much better other typical animes and the final revelation / redemption scene of Guld was so movingly done. The awesome aerial fighting sequences will take your breath away and the haunting music score will stay in your memory for a very long time. However I was so disappointed to see that the single most exciting and poignant scene involving Guld was deleted in this US release DVD version. In the original Japanese VHS version that I saw few years ago, the aerial fighting scene between Guld and the Ghost plane was little longer and much more intensely done. When Guld finally catches up with the Ghost plane, he actually sees it right in front of him just before both of his eyes caved into his skull due to the extreme G-force. After few scenes later, it shows his destroyed plane floating in the space as the camera closes in to show his heroic lifeless body. This scene was so beautifully done and I was so moved by it. I don't understand why it was deleted in this US release DVD and it's a real shame that other US viewers won't be able to experience it. If you want to feel the full impact of this movie, go out and rent the original version from one of the Japanese VHS rental shops. You won't be disappointed.

Yes, I also noticed Guld scene being cut down. (I saw that scene in Macross Plus Game edition). But I'm not talking about that.

Volume 2 brings a stunning conclusion to this series. This is where all the gritty battles start and everything wraps up. But if you want another flaw, it's in the two versions of translations on DVD. The Japenese track has a some different (and better) music tracks and sound effects when compared to the english version. This is most noticable in the main battle scene.
But alas, as I have come to realise and expect with most anime, the ending is wrapped up WAY too quickly. But apart from that, it brings a great conclusion to the series.

.... I could give it more stars. This series is nothing short of breathtaking. Ya know the old saying "A picture is worth a thousand words"? Stop reading my review and buy Macross Plus.

Consider my real rating to be 4 and a half stars since that isn't really a choice to enter.

Don't even think about buying Part I without getting Part II.

Animation: The mecha scenes are excellent. I only wish there was more of it. The animation is top-notch and the blend of traditional animation with computer-generated animation will easily remind you of "Ghost in the Shell" if you've seen that.

Music: The music is also excellent, with styles that vary from haunting a capella to techno, but which fit perfectly into the particular scenes in which they appear.

Story: The story is the only part that isn't so great. Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty good story. But it borrows waaaay too much from "Top Gun" and my friend and I had fun assigning "TG" character names to the Macross Plus characters. There's also some cliché plot devices you'll instantly recognize if you've seen much animé at all. But don't let what I've said put you off. The positives far outway the negatives here.

Overall, this title is a must-have for any serious animé collector.

Too few movies are crafted as this one is; Macross Plus has interesting characters, intricately beautiful scenes, a wonderful score, and a new fan in me.

The film's plot doesn't sound very unique: Two rival test pilots fight over their planes and a shared love interest. However, as their backstories unfold, the material is lifted beyond its rote orgins. The creative juices that generate the futuristic world of Macross Plus don't limit themselves to flashy fighter jets duking it out; they give equal time to explore character's emotional issues. Since I've seen very little anime, I'm only guessing when I say that this balance is rare. Beyond anime, however, there are few conventional action films that are anchored by a legitimate character story. So imagine if Top Gun's aerial scenes were combined with a Casablanca-type plot. Now THAT would be a heck of a movie and not coincidentally, so is Macross Plus.

The drawback to the DVD version is that the film isn't continuous and requires some disc changing during viewing. I think the climax is also a little difficult to understand too, but not so much that it would detract from the film.

This is a great film for any action film fan, anime or not. Surprisingly, it's based on the mid-80's cartoon Robotech, but any comparison between the two can hardly be qualified. This gets an enthusiastic recommendation from me.

I've been watching anime for 24 years, started in 1979 actually, I've seen most all anime titles ever made. Anyone who can say that this series is "retarded, a Top-Gun rippoff", AND said the animation was "sub-par", has NO taste in anime! The storyline is believable; with strong, flawed, funny, and vulnerable characters, emotions are portrayed effectively. The dialogue is precise, with excellent dubbing, sound is top notch in full surround, and the animation is colorfull, crisp, and shows amazing depth.
There are many equally fine anime titles: Akira, Patlabor, Blue Gender, Grave of The Fireflies, etc. But it doesn't and can't get much better than Macross Plus!

I thought that I was going to get a good action flick. I was horribly mistaken though.
First thisngs first; WAY to much sex! I could hardly watch as the main female lead got raped almost every 20 minutes. Thats not my idea of entertainment. There was a whole bunch of violence too. It seemed like the whole movie was revolvong around sex and violence. There is NO PLOT to this movie!! If you like loads of sex and senseless violence, this is your movie. If not, I'll advise you not to watch.

Ninja Scroll is an excellent work of anime and cannot be praised too highly, but the new 10th Anniversary DVD edition only offers only a false widescreen - they have merely cut off the top and bottom of the view to give the appearance of widescreen. The DTS sound is not any fuller or crisper than the original fullscreen DVD, merely converted to DTS format. In short, this DVD is not worth upgrading to, and the fullscreen side is the only one worth watching. Save your money if you hope to improve on the original DVD's quality - the new anniversary DVD is actually an insult.

Ninja Scroll was an interesting movie - one that kept my attention and satiated my hunger for crazy anime violence... but this edition is too expensive. For $30 you get

1. The movie (with a runtime of 94 minutes)
2. Lame special features (interview with director is the only interesting one)
3. One poster
4. One *postcard*!
5. One brochure for manga apparel
6. Audio in both the original and in dubbed English

Summary: good movie, lame extras, too expensive.

If some one had told me this film would turn into a story of an actual war between nations, I would have watched it sooner. The reviews I had read for it made it sound like a rip-off of Akira, and the first hour or so makes you think it just might be it.

A group of friends who are in a sort of Xtreme motorcycle sport find themselves in the middle of their nation IO invaded by the nation of their enemy Ishtar. They quickly find themselves under military rule, and have to deal with life changing in such a time period. The group eventually decides to do some guerilla action and attack an enemy tank that is always in their stadium.

Then, just as the tank is destroyed and reinforcements are coming up, and the hero is about to be run over...a Free IO soldier fires a missile into the Octo and destroys it.

Then the movie becomes a story of a nation fighting for their freedom, as the group joins the free soldiers who are fighting Ishtar all the way back out of IO. Eventually the hero, at first sympathetic, is convinced to join forces. The final battle takes place in the capital of IO, and what a climax it is.

Overall, the film boasts fine animation and retro 80's anime design. The action is well done and the mecha designs even better, and the storyline is also exceptionally well done. You get a good sense of a population under foreign rule, and its good to see an anime exploring such depths. Also, the politics of a nation in exile fighting for their return is equally unique. Maybe its because I'm a political nut, but I found it all interesting.

If I had known I would have enjoyed this film, I would have watched it far sooner than I did. Oh well...I bought the DVD the minute I saw it. I'm proud to own it. And thats my word.

Venus Wars is a great feature film that combines great animation, compelling story-line, and realistic action. Those new to anime might think that anime is too gory or too lude to watch. While others think that anime is just a cartoon and should not be taken seriously. Venus Wars is middle ground for anyone who wants to start watching anime.
The animation is very detailed, from the monobikes to the landscapes and characters; they are all well done. The charachters have depth. They are not confusing with no history as to why they behave the way that they do. There is death and violence, but its not overdone and is in line with what's going on in the movie. The story line seems believeable, in my eyes, and its an anime movie that doesn't do anything so unrealistic that its totally unbelieveable.
The main character is Hiro, a rebellious mono bike (motorcycle with one wheel)racer. He and his motorcycle racing team are busy with the ins and outs of living on Venus, when they are thrust into a war with another country. All of their lives and dreams are put on hold and they must choose to fight for what they believe in. He and his friends learn that fighting for what you believe comes at a great cost. Many of Hiro's friends die fighting for their freedom. Its also a tale of lost love.
The action sequences between the monobikes and tanks are spectacular. It makes you want to run out and race on a motorbike yourself.
I can't say enough good things about Venus Wars. If you want a good start in Anime this is the film to buy.

If you're looking at Venus Wars, then it probably means you saw it Saturday morning many years ago on the Sci-Fi channel. Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed about. We all did. And let's face it, their Saturday morning animes really did introduce many of us into the genre. Without it, very little of us would know of anime, except for things like "Spirited Away" or "Princess Mononoke". Venus Wars was the first anime I had ever seen (save Gigantor), and I still hold a special place for it.

For starters, its art style is very interesting. Venus has a very post-apocalyptic type atmosphere to it. Most of the places are destroyed from war and very deserted. All of the combat takes place while the characters are riding on futuristic motorcycles, so the movie is very fast paced. To top it all off, it has one of the best soundtracks ever to grace an anime. Unfortunately, the movie suffers from very mild characters. Hiro is just a punk kid who happens to be able to drive, and his girlfriend is really annoying. To further annoy you, some of the voice actors are beyond horrible. So, it can be mixed.

But if you just look past the voices, you will find that this is a very good movie. If you just want a fun "blow up stuff" movie with some distinguished style to it, then you will definitely enjoy this.

I would not have bothered to write a review, except that other opinions were mostly extremely negative or extremely positive, which does not represent the movie fairly, in my opinion.

This movie has a cute, fairy-tale plot which neither repulses nor excites. A lot of action. It might be fun to see this film remade in live action. A lot of fantastic Indiana-Jones type of chases and escapes. The dubbing is adequate, but certainly far from the top-notch job Disney did on Kiki's Delivery Service, for example. Miyazaki's films are always beautiful to look at. Oh, I did find the music a little on the schmaltzy/cheesy side.

It is fun to watch once or twice, but I honestly can't see what anyone would find to strongly love or strongly hate about this product. The greatest animated movie ever? Nah. Just a sweet, watchable, passable Miyazaki effort that doesn't take itself too seriously (which Princess Mononoke possibly does do).

If this sort of thing is your cup of tea, don't be deterred by the nit-pickers who only gave it one star. If you are hoping to be blown away, you'll probably be disappointed. Before seeing this, I had seen Totoro, Kiki, and Mononoke, and I considered this a lesser film, a slight let-down. Still not bad, though.

This movie is Miyazaki's first big screen feature film and what a bang it is!

The story is by one of the manga most innovating authors Monkey Punch. That may be a little bit disappointing for some who expect to see a "characteristic" Miyazaki film. Some may say the story is a bit more traditional but it is a perfect action comedy nevertheless. Granted, it is far more lightweight than most of the Muyazaki's later works, still you see the hand of the master everywhere in this movie. Miyazaki was one of the original creators of the Lupin TV series in the early 70's and even though he did not create the characters from the scratch, there is a lot of Miyazaki in the way the characters are animated. On the backside of being lightweight, this movie is has a lot of laugh-out-loud humor, the story is captivating and the action is superb. The main characters: a chivalrous thief Arsene Lupin the 3rd "the Wolf", his sharp-shooting chain-smoking associate Jigen, a cool samurai Goemon, sexy and dangerous Fujiko -- all are extremely likeable bunch. If you are craving for more, try to find the two TV episodes also directed by Miyazaki ("Aloha Lupin" - series finale - and "Albatross: the Wings of Death"), these were released in the US and are available from some videostores. There are at least 5 more Lupin the 3rd feature films (some refer to "Rupan" in their English titles, that's how the Japanese pronounce "Lupin"). None of these is directed by Miyazaki. The two that i saw were quite entertaining, not really Miyazaki level, but good if nothing else as a chance to meet the great characters again.

This movie is highly recommended to any viewer, i am yet to meet a person who did not like it. As usual, i prefer the subbed version, although the old dub was not bad, don't know if there is anything different about the re-release.

This film is great! A great mix of genres(suspense, action, romance, humor), a feel-good tone throughout the film, and a great, light-hearted story make this a must-see film for anime fans and even non-anime ones. Fujiko goes from being brunette to blonde in this one, although it's not really important. A bit of Lupin's past is revealed when he and Jigen trail a counterfeiter to Castle Cagliostro. What can I say? It's just good. The English dubbing(on the DVD, as I've never heard the original English dub) is excellent, far beyond the horrid dubbing used for the TV series. Unlike Tony Oliver, David Hayter(Metal Gear Solid) does a perfect job of capturing the same tone of the late Yasuo Yamada. Sadly, this was the first and last Lupin show/movie he did(as of now). The dubbing people of the Lupin TV series should watch this film and pay attention on how to make a good dub! But enough said, the movie's EXCELLENT!

This is sort of a cross between Blade Runner, The Terminator and La Femme Nikita. The animation is good. The story is interesting and raises some philosophical questions. I thought the characters were a bit underdeveloped, although the character biographies in the special features help by giving some background. Another problem is that the music calls too much attention to itself by getting way too strident at times. Overall it's worth a look, especially if you are a fan of anime.

"Ghost in the Shell" takes the most common themes of japanimation, and shows it to you in a different spectrum. The film essential story uncovers what the meaning of life is in this new technological era, where everything can be assimilated by computer intelligence and political will to drain information and manipulate the spheres of power with all their generous killing for the sake of national security, but the movie goes even further. No cheap "Matrix Reloaded" philosophy, no free given action, just pure state of the art reflection and a resolution of the story line, that is completely breathtaking. Similar at first sight with "Blade Runner", but far from it's point of view and treatment, "Ghost in the Shell" offers both emotion and sense, with a smooth touch of intellectual and never before seen level of animation that takes this genre and style to new boundaries. The Wachowsky Brother (The Matrix trilogy), took from here their visual style, and blended very closely in flesh and blood, but always, the main source stays magnificent, becoming the standard for new projects in this genre.
Complex and beautiful, the film enters a world based on computerization of the human being, over specialization, and what are the unique characteristics of our personalities, the "Ghost" is the only thing that separates the artificial from the organic real. And so, we are connected to a vast net, parallel to our own world, where life has become more complex in the overwhelming sea of information, man defines it's actions, but actions are the ones that define mankind, no proof of existence, where no modern science nor philosophy can't give an accurated explanation of life, a fragile state of lost conscience and greed for the objective in every aspect of life.
"Project 2501", becomes aware of his existence, and so targets "Kusanagi" for his only and last attempt to blend himself and the "Mayor" for the organic achievement of breeding, perhaps, to fully become touch by emotions and the tragic fate of dying someday, it really doesn't matter, all for the "being", away from the synthetic is the goal, anything else is unsubstantial, beneath the remains, politically it ends in a draw, individually, it ends in new possibilities with never before seen points of view, a completely new life, a new born child.
Mamoru Oshii directed this landmark movie, far surpassing it's predecessor "Akira" in both animation and story. The graphic japanimation style blended with computer effects, along with the smart script, created an unforgettable piece of science fiction, and most importantly, contributed the genre with an intellectual mood, elevating "japanimation" to the highest level: an adult masterpiece. Finally, the DVD is great, the transferring of the every image is a pleasure to watch, the 5.1 Dolby Digital sound is one of the best I've heard so far, and the "Making of" illustrates clearly and in much detail the ways of such a magnificent film. This is one of those few pictures that grasp its theme and elegantly enhances it in the big screen for a mesmerizing ride. The "Animatix" will be the next step in out breaking japanimation and story line, but still, this are short films, no animated full length picture is at this level.

This is with out a doubt one of if not the best animes I have ever seen. It has everything I'm looking for in an anime: intregueing characters, an awsome plot, lots of action, and outstanding visuals. The animation its self could garner this move a 5 star rateing. Everything is extremely fluid and detailed. This film uses an interesting mix of both computer generated animation and traditional cell animation. The result is a visual style that is far superior to anything Disney has put out so far. Kusanagi's tour of the city examplifies what i'm trying to say guite well. The plot is top notch. Though some have acussed it of being a bit to phlisopical, I belive those statments are just to unfounded. The plot is very deep. In fact I myself didn't understand everything untill I had seen it three times. Much like the matrix it has to do with what is real, and how our perceptions of reality can be drasticly altered. This is an anime so there is some great action in it. My favorite scenes are battle with the tank and the chase scene involving the ghost half human. The chararcters are also excellent. Kusangi is one of the most interesting women in anime. Baeto is also a great character. He plays the voice of sanity in an insane world. All and all this is excellent anime for mature audiences. Oh yes I feel it nessacary to give that obligatory warning. This one has a good amount of nudity, though none of it is erotic, and some very graphic violence. If your an anime fan you have to see Ghost in the Shell. It's a true masterpeace from Mamoru Oshi.

The anime universe is pretty self-contained, and as the canon grows the need to reference the outside world decreases. Most of the famous exceptions (eg Mononoke, Barefoot Gen, Grave of the Fireflies) aim for universal moral messages. Perfect Blue stands out in that it's an anime about contemporary Japan. Although it owes a lot to the thriller genre, Perfect Blue isn't as widely accessible as the familiar storyline might suggest. People who have spent time in Japan will recognize this. Those who haven't should just be aware that despite its being anime, and despite the surreal elements, Perfect Blue is about the real, present, non-anime Japan. The beautifully drawn scenes of everyday life in Tokyo, particularly the supermarket and train scenes, are a nice indication of this.

Perfect Blue tries to do lot of things and mostly succeeds. On one hand, it's a critique of the voyeurism and violent, juvenile misogyny of Japanese pop culture. On the other hand it's part of that culture itself, loaded with these very elements. For the most part, director Satoshi Kon not only manages to do everything, but actually integrates his own balancing act with the story's theme of existence on the margins of a predatory and all-pervasive pop culture. Kon's decision to produce Perfect Blue as an anime -- sometimes criticized on the grounds that it doesn't take full advantage of the genre -- was a stroke of genius.

Toward the end, Perfect Blue loses its balance and becomes more complicit than critical. The final action sequence is video-gamey and the contrived ending explains too much, undermining much of what was interesting about the movie.

Still, this is one of the best and smartest anime around. In its use of anime as a vehicle for examining contemporary Japan, Perfect Blue is highly original. On top of everything the theme song, "Ai no tenshi", is the best Japanese pop song ever. And in a fitting display of voyeuristic excess, the DVD lets you watch it being recorded in the studio.

Anime can fall into apocalyptic (Akira), cutesy heroine (Sailor Moon), hentai (LA Blue Girl), samurai (Ninja Scroll), or mechanistic (Neon Evangelion). Perfect Blue is notable in that it does not fit in any of those well-trod genres.

After two and a half years of being lead singer with the techno-pop trio Cham, 21-year old Mima Kigiroe announces at a concert that she is leaving the group to pursue a movie career. One of the other members puts it more colourfully, that Mima has graduated from Cham. The move stuns her fans, but Mima sees her time there as wonderful, but felt suffocated by the innocent pop-idol image and that it was time to move on to newer things, such as her role in Double Bind, a psycho-thriller drama series where she plays the sister of a victim. Tadokoro feels that there's "no place for pop idols to appeal to the masses." Acting in this drama will be Mima's "make it or break it" opportunity.

Upon the insistence of her agent Tadokoro to Shibuya, the scriptwriter, and the producer(?) Tejima, her role gradually increases, from the line "Who are you?" to something drastic, involving a traumatic scene Jodie Foster did in The Accused, only it's the stage of a strip club and not on a pool table. Besides, it's simulated anyway. This does indeed change Mima's image, but Rumi Hidaka, her other agent and former pop idol, is upset and even leaves during that scene.

Mima has other problems. She comes across a website called Mima's Room, which initially causes her amusement, as it details an imagined day in her life, "Someone sures knows me"--but when she reads some things that actually happened, she gets scared.

Mima is then confronted not only with those things, but with a version of herself as she was as Cham's lead singer, wearing her Cham dress. This "old" version insists HERSELF as is the real Mima, which makes the real and "new" Mima an impostor. There's also a sinister stalker, a mysterious hunchback with bad teeth that she notices and sees during her shooting scenes.

Meanwhile, people associated with promoting Mima's new career move are getting brutally murdered, such as a photographer who took some nude photos of Mima for a magazine. For an anime, there is some detail in the photos shown that would not ordinarily be seen even in anime of this kind.

There is one puzzling aspect. Despite having a fervent following, it seems inconsistent that Cham never hit the charts, yet when Mima leaves, we learn that Cham debuted in the Japanese pop charts for the first time. Normally, when a key member leaves a well-loved group, a new sound and sliding sales result, (q.v. Spice Girls, Bananarama). Trivia: the fax Mima receives reads "uragiri", which indeed does mean traitor.

Most of it is influenced by Hitchcock's Psycho, but the violence of the murders recall Basic Instinct and Scream. Then there's the blurring between reality and delusion explored in Vertigo (Hitchcock again) and Alejandro Amenebar's Abre Los Ojos. Double Bind is similar to Silence Of The Lambs (modus operandus of the killer). The upbeat techno-pop and a trio becoming a duo also mirrors Bananarama, although the music is more Pet Shop Boys during their Very period. Then there's the usual lead singer leaving the group for individual fame and more money, as was the case for Peter Cetera and Bobby Brown. And one need look no further than John Lennon and Rebecca Schaffer in terms of demented stalker fans. These influences entwine themselves to yield an exceptional thriller, with a likeable heroine (Mima) to root for, as she grows despite her traumatic experiences.

I was astounded by the beginning. I won't spoil anything, but Mima's japanese voice along with Yukiko and Rei's match perfectly, and the opening song is just awesome. Throughout the show, there is minimal music, which adds suspense for me, as they aren't trying to cover plot holes with music. To put this story basic, the animation is outstanding...I can't even begin to describe it, the color patterns are really good and the quality, like all DVDs, are crisp and clear. The voices are quite good, although I have yet to listen to the english side.

This whole show is just awesome, and although it's not the movie that would keep me on the edge like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer did, this movie definately made me think of certain things. If you liked Akira, the author/creator of this, I believe teamed up with another famous writer, and "anime"-mized this novel to anime dvd. Perfect Blue, in an essance, was Perfect to me. Being 15, I don't mind some of the things I saw in this, but I wouldn't suggest this to younger audiences, but if you're a fan of psychological chillers...get this. Perfect Blue is definately on the top of my shelf from now on.

The Line Between Realism and Animation is cut in this movie...things like this CAN happen to people, and this isn't just some popular mecha/shoujo anime...this dvd will REALLY get you thinking about life as a celebrity facing ruin.