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Pure Moods▲▼
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Rating▲▼
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Comment▲▼
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| Grave of the Fireflies (movie) |
Masterpiece |
I tend to dislike being hit in the head like this, but this time I surrendered. This is Takahata's quiet prayer for the dead, and a thankful acknowledgement of the rubble and suffering upon which the Japan he so lovingly portrays is built. |
| Haibane Renmei (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Stupendously well paced, the unfolding mystery of the Haibane gives this tale a remarkable narrative momentum, despite its apparent uneventfulness. This story has so much tender gentleness that it approaches a revelation of grace: this much sympathy for all that is human is a gift bestowed only upon the rich of spirit. ABe-sensei must be a very, very good man. |
| Kiki's Delivery Service (movie) |
Excellent |
Okay, so it is the sweetest of the Ghiblis. But what about child labor laws, hm? |
| Kino's Journey (TV) |
Excellent |
Wonderful adaptation of a thoughtful book series. Kino's level-headed wonderment makes her the perfect conduit for the subtleties of her allegorical travels. The melancholy tenor of these -often cruel- trips into the human condition are moderated by the gentle timbre of the writing. Good animation and very good sound design make the package even more enjoyable. Winner of the Lonely Planet Special Award for Best Philosophical Travelogue. |
| Kino's Travels: Life Goes On (movie) |
Very good |
A minor and not all that necessary addition to Kino’s story. While it’s nice to meet Master more directly (and boy, that’s a mean streak you have, shishou), this contributes surprisingly little to our understanding of Kino’s equipoised worldview. Maeda Ai is such a damn good young actress, here's hoping for a successful career, Love. |
| Like the Clouds, Like the Wind (movie) |
Excellent |
It's good to be the Empress... no, wait. A graceful book adaptation with an almost wistful feel. |
| Lunar Legend Tsukihime (TV) |
Very good |
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| Mushi-Shi (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Mix kwaidan with xenobiology and you get… a really beautiful series with the heart of a traditional ghost story and the egghead of a modern forensics series. The tone of optimistic sadness evokes “Kino”, and its sense of nature is unparalleled even by most ecological parables. The character design is strikingly indistinctive, which can be a drag, but the artwork is sometimes exquisite, in particular the effective –and rather original– color palette. |
| Nasu: Summer in Andalusia (movie) |
Very good |
Bike racing is not exactly my fav sport, but this story conveys the heat of the tarmac, the pain in the cramped legs, the sheer joy of the race in a most vivid and charming fashion. It's a simple, clear tale, as limpid as the Andalusian skies. |
| NieA_7 (TV) |
Very good |
The mood piece to end 'em all. Poverty and caste segregation have never been so pretty. Not exactly the most briskly paced of series, though. |
| Once Upon a Time (movie) |
Decent |
Moody rather than mood-y, it doesn't live up to its very promising, eerie opening. It does have quite the Shakesperean ending. |
| Other Worlds (movie) |
Very good |
Another tiny piece by the master of the barely-sketched relationship. Small is beautiful. |
| Pale Cocoon (OAV) |
Excellent |
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| (The) Tale of Genji (movie) |
Very good |
Another light novel adaptation. Covering the first fourteen chapters of the novel. The original charming rogue rides on, in this reasonably good adaptation of that first of josei classics. The team responsible for “Night of the Galactic Railway” gives this movie rich visual and sonic textures, evoking a very appropriate atmosphere of gossamer-like irreality. It is the script that misses the most, lacking most of the psychological depth of the original, not to mention the novel’s studied ambiguity towards its characters. Worst of all, it adds an utterly unnecessary dimension to Genji’s personality. |
| Voices of a Distant Star (OAV) |
Masterpiece |
It is amazing, but this little mood piece really does deserve its hype. Shinkai's visual creativity anchors a melancholic parable of memory, distance and time. There is no reason to apologize if the dominant emotion is the "wow" effect of its unique solo production: it's a remarkable accomplishment. |
| A Wind Named Amnesia (movie) |
Decent |
You know what? I can hardly remember this film. So it must have worked. |
| Windy Tales (TV) |
Excellent |
A virtuoso performance in pure evocation. The soft-edged artwork and the excellent sound design conspire to give this series an almost tactile feel. You can feel the fresh wind on your face, marking the passing of childhood with the gentleness of sleeping breath. Great character design, hopefully signaling a possible direction for future development. |
| Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (OAV) |
Very good |
a.k.a. "The Post-Apocalyse Needn't Be so Bad." A lovely adaptation of a much-loved manga. Alpha and Kokone sure are the prettiest couple in anime. Haru wa akebono. |
| Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou: Quiet Country Cafe (OAV) |
Very good |
Aki wa yuugure. Better production values and even less of a plot. And if you're into clear-cut stories, read the damn manga first, 'cuz you ain't getting no background info in here. The carefully developed atmospherics mix beautifully with a spot-on bossa-nova soundtrack. You are not likely to hear many soundtracks with both a bandolim and a gekkin, now are you? |
