Movie Night, Anime Edition

Today is Friday, at my beloved country at least. But regardless of where you are from, it is absolutely conventional that whenever it’s Friday, it’s that day of the week in which all the couch potatoes around the world; such as myself, rejoice for a very eventful night. Late nights in which; feet can be kicked off in the air while wearing a favorite pair of pj’s, scent of hot cocoas emanate a rather dim but very cozy atmosphere, while chips, tacos and junk foods are the main feast. It’s no other than, MOVIE NIGHT!!

Today’s blog will be about what are the good films to watch for a very satisfactory move night. But there’s a slight variation on this movie recommendation post. I’ve spent a couple of minutes of musing on how I could make this extra fresh, because this kind of posts are quite common nowadays. That’s why, I’ve decided to make this movie pitch, an anime movie recommendation!

I decided to do this one because I myself ended up doing this kind of movie night before, back in college. During those times when I suffer from severe degree of insomnia, I couldn’t sleep even until like 5 or 6 in the morning. Back then, I will try to binge watch a lot of western tv series just to spend the entire night away, sometimes I’ll try to watch anime series for a change and there are times when I do these anime movie marathons. And frankly, I enjoy those late nights quite well.

First off, I’m an avid fan of anime’s actually. It’s my secret obsession, a guilty pleasure in a sense. I am rather prideful myself with how vast my knowledge is regarding anime’s, and it’s not your typical anime savvy, if I can please say all this with my humblest way. There is this certain different feel to anime’s. Something that is not seen while watching films with real actors in them. In anime’s, the ones that are good at least, the ones that really has great content and creativity and not those that are mindlessly done just for the sake of fanservices and alike, there is this wonderful charisma that you get while watching. This sense of unfamiliarity with what is being fed to you visually, maybe because of the fact that what you are watching is 2-dimensional, but it still is oddly fascinating enough that it attracts your full attention until the very end of such theatrics. Like how you’re being drawn into another world, making you dive into this different universe and enjoying the ride until it ends.

Anyway, I prepared this list of anime movies that I enjoyed watching during my insomnia nights, which I do believe, some of you might find interesting to watch as well. Please be reminded that these are not arranged in any kind of order, I just put them all together on a whim, remembering all the good movies I’ve watch over the couple of years, and throw them here all together in one go. Also, I ever I didn’t include some of the movies that you think should be included in the list, please don’t butcher this post, all of these films are from my own taste and perspective, all of them are just my opinion and I don’t consider at as the general choice, however if you could maybe give me a recommendation yourself, please do so, leave a title in the comment section. So, unto the actual pitch.

*EDIT in order for to really put out this content in my supposedly planned time which is today, I decided to only do 3 anime movie reviews, which are from my most favorite directors, but still, I’m going to include in the end the other remaining titles in the list which I won’t get to fully review, but I hope this piece will still be a great read. But just to end this in a good note, I’ll try make a follow up review of the films I left of on this first part.

Summer Wars

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I’ll start off this list with Summer Wars, a good opener for such list. It’s an anime movie directed by Mamoru Hosoda who is one of my top 3 most favorite anime directors. This film had its theatrical release in the year 2009, that’s why if you would first ever see this film right now, you might find it pretty old. But, the thing is, even though this anime is over few years old already, the level of its animation and its over-all quality is still far superior to other anime movies even up to this day. It was actually popular upon its release, with Warner Bro’s being its distributor.

This anime movie is about this young adolescent named Kenji Koiso, a high school student who is in prodigy level with his mathematics and is at the same time a tech wiz moderating this massive computer-simulated virtual reality called OZ, a computer-generated world that is highly utilized in the society in the film’s universe. The movie starts off with this kid enjoying life mundanely as it passes by until a very fortunate event happens. This particular friend of his, who is also his secret crush, Natsuki Shinohara, invited him to join her on a trip to her hometown in Ueda, for them to participate in the girl’s grandmother’s 90th birthday party. Upon arriving at the place, Kenji’s world was turn in full circle by the sudden announcement of Natsuki saying the he is her fiancé, which also surprises Natsuki’s entire family especially her grandmother. But this is not the actual plot. The real deal was about this lurking artificial intelligence called Love Machine through the depths of the virtual reality of OZ, that only has one goal in mind, to wreak havoc both in virtual and actual reality.

The Love Machine somehow manages to set forth a series of damage and
harm in the civilization, especially to our main casts, which I don’t what to spoil what this harm is. But as far as the story goes to its climactic parts, it all boils down to the entire world population’s last hope being up in to the hands of our low self-esteem hero, if he will be able to man up and save the day.

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For its overall quality, as I’ve said, this movie is on the high caliber spectrum, maybe because of its high budget and great production, the only thing you will feel about this movie being old is nostalgic, nostalgic in a very good sense. Throughout the film, the tonal quality is always vibrant, rich with colors, it really feels like summer, watching this movie, that’s why its title is so fitting. With its musical scores, I find it really fitting with every scene in the film, every background music and sound effects syncs up good with every phase in the entire movie.

Summer Wars is a very enjoyable cinch in the world of absurdity that has the benefit of being relevant to a certain degree. Today’s seemingly eradicate and exponential growth of social networks in our civilization is having an increasing impact on society in all aspects, and this film somehow satirized that phenomenon the most, hence it being a very good film to be considered as a wakeup call. While the story itself may not be that grand, everyone upon seeing this film would surely consider it worthy enough to be watched entirely, having no dull moments the entire time.

Howl no Ugoku Shiro

Howl's Moving Castle

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Another Classic anime movie which I think most of you will be familiar with. First from the fact that this particular movie is from the set of films made by no other than the greatest anime studio ever known, Studio Ghibli. And second, is that this movie is one of the best directed films, Hayao Miyazaki, the greatest Japanese animator himself, had ever created, a film which garnered a lot of awards and praises all over the globe during its theatrical release. If ever you hadn’t tried this film, don’t let its date of release restrain you from watching it, without any seconds to spare, try this one out now, it’s for both the anime fans and not anyway. Also, this film is actually adapted from a young-adult fantasy novel of the same name, with a few changes and new way of retelling.

For those who haven’t watched this one, again, I really am inviting you to do so, even if this is just my opinion, I really believe that for a movie goer, you are really missing something so superb.
This film is about Sophie Hatter, a young, self-conscious young woman who, because of a momentous encounter with the highly sought-out wizard named Howl, is cursed with the body of a ninety-year-old by the spiteful Witch of the Waste, a dark and twisted land inhabited by beasts and wretched creatures. To top it off, Sophie is unable to tell anyone about the curse. She ends up going into the Waste herself, and, with the help of a magical turnip-headed scarecrow that she helps, ends up finding Howl's home; a legged, walking, amalgamation of a castle. In order to break her spell, she makes a deal with the fire demon who powers the castle, Calcifer; if she can break the spell on him and Howl - which he also can't tell anyone about – he will break hers.

The characters themselves are all fairly well fleshed out and are at most of the time intriguing to watch; There are a lot of moments in this movie that centers around the characters well enough, in which the entire film really shines, such as:

• Sophie going through and cleaning the house,
• Markl going to market with Sophie, or
• Calcifer and Howl talking by the fire.

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Taken in terms of the original novel, Howl is a nice retelling. The basic plot elements from the novel are mostly intact, though a great deal of the actual plot has been changed around. If you don't mind a little too much different of retelling of the novel, then you should be fine with this; however, if you're looking for the novel translated exactly onto the screen, then you may not want to see this.

In terms of quality, as always with Studio Ghibli, the art for this is beyond beautiful, that goes without saying. But with that being said, I just want to point out three main parts in the films art that really calls out my attention while watching it:

• First is the castle. I can’t say enough intricately this was done; just the design itself is amazingly thought out, and the animation of the movement and all the little parts moving and operating on their own and as a part of the larger whole is incredibly well visualized.
• Second is any scenes that h to do with magic being used. Incredibly created, especially in how it manifests from character to character, and with its beautifully elaborate detail. It just ties the story and its wonderful fantasy very well enough.
• And third are the war sequences. I just can’t fathom how these scenes are incredibly realistic, visually appealing and quite devastating all at the same time. You will get what I mean if ever you would watch this film, so please do.

In overall this film is one of Hayao Miyazaki’s greatest films ever made, it touches various aspects in real life in a very different but yet still relatable way. It packs the great feeling of adventure, melancholy and tragedy, romantic affiliations and longingness, mystery and wonder all in the same box. If ever you will try to watch this movie, you want regret that you did, this is a very wonderful masterpiece.

Byousoku 5 Centimeters

5 Centimeters per Second

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I would just want to say, that this particular anime movie, has a very special place in my heart. This movie started it all actual, my overwhelming fascination with the phenomenon which is Anime, not only there but as well as Japanese culture in general, its philosophical views, its culture and aesthetic values, up to the sceneries surrounding it, its landscapes and skyscrapers combined. The way this film made me fell in love with such feeling of fascination that I never know first-hand. I watched this film way back my high school days, and I won’t ever forget how I felt after finishing it. I was devastated.

I will start off with the details of this film. This film is romantic drama anime movie, which had its theatrical release in the year 2007. This film has its narrative subdivided into three parts which have their own respective sub-names which are Cherry Blossom, Cosmonaut and 5 Centimeters per Second. Each separate arc entails the story of a star-crossed lovers, a young adamant boy named Takaki Tono and a timid girl named, Akari Shinohara. Each phase delicately follows the story of the two protagonists starting from their young childhood in which they first met, until up to the point of their adulthood in which their fates are yet to unfold.

This film, well, this one actually is quite popular, not because of the film itself, as far as I know, but because of its director, my favorite anime director ever, top of my list, Makoto Shinkai. Makoto Shinkai is this well blossoming director as of now, currently getting praises around the globe for his true creative talent and genius, especially to his latest work, which is the one that is popular in the main stream media, Kimi no Na Wa, which is also included in this list. He, Makoto Shinkai, is now receiving a great amount of main stream media attention because of this latest work breakthrough reception, it was wonderfully favored all over the world, especially by the younger generations, even up to the extent of him being called the next Hayao Miyazaki of animation, in which he humbly disapproves.

So anyway, what I am trying to say is that on the list of Shinkai’s work, this film, Byousoku 5 Centimeter, is by popular opinion, not the greatest one that has ever been put out by the great director. Unanimously, the credit might go to the latest one which is Kimi no Na Wa, which help Shinkai skyrocket to stardom. But for me, it’s the other way around. Up to this very moment, I still hold my belief that even though I really enjoyed both films, the greatest anime film that has ever graced the generation, is this one. Let me put it in a proper context.

First off, if only between Makoto Shinkai’s work, this for me would really be the zeitgeist, the one on the top, (“in my opinion again at least”) there’s no competition or arguments whatsoever. But in the matter of being the very best among the cornucopia of anime films as a whole, there may be a debate to consider, primarily because of this one being not so grand with its genre, being a romantic drama, rather than those that has far greater substance like philosophical views, existentialism and realism. Those points can be considered, but then again, I have my points.
For me this is the haymaker of Shinkai’s works. I first discovered Shinkai through this film, that may be a subjective point to consider, but through this film, I became hooked with the culture. It vividly captures the feeling of being what it’s like in modern day Japan. The skyscrapers, again the scenery, there are tons of scenes in this film that I just can’t help but to pause the video and just look at its artwork. It’s animation and style in general is truly a masterpiece. The aesthetic value of this film, for me makes it a top contender in being the very best.

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This film encapsulates the bittersweet tragedy of life. Simple as that. This one doesn’t hold back, it doesn’t falsify the truth about life and love. It touches the matter about being in love so believably but at the same time giving it a unique color. It shows that even if how much you put your everything into something, even your own life unto it, there might still be no guarantee that you will get what you sought after. The film captures that heartbreaking truth with such authenticity, views will really feel remorseful about life in general, like what happened to myself after this film. It really destroyed me. I was only a teen back then, after watching this film, I was left distressed, vulnerable but maybe that’s just because of my age back then, but even now, while I’m currently writing this piece, I can feel nostalgic about the film.

The scripts and dialogue in the film is as tragic and tender as it can get. There are these one-liners that really hits you at right spot, most of its tragic scenes drag you unto a downward spiral of relatable pain. At the same time, its rather touching and romantic scenes just pull strings beside one’s lip, you can’t help but to smile and feel the warmth of the movie.

In conclusion, this movie is a heart-wrenching movie about unsought love and longing, it’s the very movie that empathizes real human emotions, misery, happiness, infatuation and affection, and combines it into this one existential roller coaster ride of pure creative genius and beauty, a true masterpiece indeed. I can’t get to recommend this movie enough.

Rest of the Titles Worth Mentioning on this List

• Giniro no Kami no Agito

• Kimi no Na Wa

• Koe no Katachi

• Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi

• Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki

• Bakemono no Ko

• Toki o Kakeru Shoujo

• Tokyo Godfathers

• Kotonoha no Niwa

• Kokoro ga Sakebitagatterunda