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| Image courtesy Bandai Namco |
Anime feature films sometimes get overlooked with all the
fuss being made over various TV series.
The 1980s had a slew of excellent movies get released with some
becoming instant classics. In no particular order, here are ten anime films
from that time period that are worth a look!
Akira (1988): No
list of anime can be complete without the inclusion of the incredible cyberpunk
cult classic Akira. It’s depiction of a futuristic neon-infused dystopian Tokyo
inspired many films in its wake both in the West and in the East. The story is
convoluted in the best way possible and the over-the-top climax of the film is
a sight to behold. Akira’s animation quality is gorgeous and it takes cell
animation to places it had never been before. While director Katsuhiro Otomo is
most famous for the Akira film and manga, he did go on to direct other great
anime films such as Roujin Z, Metropolis and Steamboy.
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Vampire Hunter D (1985):
This film has the honor of popping my anime cherry in my early teenage
years. I saw it on the Sci-Fi channel one Saturday morning and I was entranced
by it--I had never seen anything like it before. Graphic violence and blood in a cartoon?! That’s
crazy talk! It was the catalyst for my many years of anime obsession and is
still one of my absolute favorites. Vampire Hunter D has an interesting dark
gothic look that sets it apart from most anime due to Yoshitaka Amano’s
intricate and delicate character designs (Amano is also famous for his work on
the video game series Final Fantasy). This film definitely belongs in the
horror genre with scary demons and killing galore. It’s a great change of pace from the mostly
sci-fi themed anime films.
Wicked City (1987): Wicked
City is a strange animal indeed. If I had to categorize it, I would file it
under hentai (animated porn) because
it has some very hardcore sex scenes but it’s so stylishly done that it
transcends it somehow. It’s like an animated version of Naked Lunch with demons
and nudity thrown in and a lot of it is surreal and disturbing. This film
definitely isn’t for everyone and I think it would offend most audience members.
It has some of the most imaginative and bizarre character designs I have ever
seen and the animation is actually top-notch. This would appeal more to the
exploitation/cult film fan base but it’s worth tracking down to watch.
Urusei Yatsura 2:
Beautiful Dreamer (1984): Urusei Yatsura was a well-loved romantic comedy
anime TV series in the 1980’s and it spawned several full length movies at the
height of its popularity. It followed
the misadventures of a boy named Ataru and his “relationship” with a capricious
bikini-clad alien girl named Lum. The second film, Beautiful Dreamer, was
directed by Mamoru Oshii of Ghost in the Shell and Patlabor fame. What makes
this film interesting is Oshii decided to go the unconventional route and essentially
remix the characters and even the entire universe. Everything has a foggy
dream-like quality and reality itself is changed for the characters. Oddly
enough, Beautiful Dreamer ended up being much more popular with Western
audiences than in its native homeland Japan.
Grave of the
Fireflies (1988): There have been
many films made about the atrocities of World War II but none of them affected
me as much as Grave of the Fireflies. The story centers around two siblings, a
brother and his younger sister, who end up being orphaned after the war in
Japan. You follow their trials and tribulations and it is gut-wrenching to see
it all unfold—I end up a sobbing mess every single time I watch this film. In
all the darkness that is portrayed there is beauty, however, and in the end a
powerful anti-war message is delivered. It’s a very heavy subject matter for an
animated film but it is in no way compromised by being presented in this
format. This movie should be watched by everyone and not just fans of Japanese
anime.
Golgo 13: The
Professional (1983): If spy movies are your jam, then Golgo 13 should be on
your list to check out. It’s basically a Japanese take on James Bond films with
super cool assassin Duke Togo (codenamed Golgo 13) killing people with his
sweet arsenal of guns and his hand-to-hand combat prowess. There is intrigue
and double crossings at every turn and a whole lot of action packed into a
short runtime. Of note is the terrible CGI implemented in parts of the film—this
was made at the very beginning of computer graphics and what looked awesome in
1983 looks absolutely horrible now. You
will laugh hysterically when you see it, I guarantee. It doesn’t ruin the movie
or anything but it really shows how far when have come with that technology.
My Neighbor Totoro
(1988): Hayao Miyazaki has been referred to as the “Walt Disney of Japan”
but I like to think he has a style all his own. All of his films are endearing
and imaginative and just emanate warmth and heart that is too often absent in
children’s films. My Neighbor Totoro is one of Miyazaki’s best films and a joy
to watch for both children and adults. Totoro is an adorable, giant
bunny-like…thing that brings fun and laughter to the lives of two little girls
one balmy summer. Miyazaki always has cute little magical sprites inhabiting
his worlds (occasionally they can be scary) and this film is no exception. What
I find interesting is this film doesn’t really have an antagonist or situation
to overcome—it’s just little calming vignettes. It has a soothing effect and
makes the film extra enjoyable to watch.
Nausicaä of the
Valley of the Wind (1982): Yes, Hayao Miyazaki gets two spots on this
list—his films are just that good! Nausicaä is one of his darker films with
environmentalism and anti-war being the most prominent themes. It takes place
in a post-apocalyptic land that has been ravaged by a war known as the Seven
Days of Fire. The inhabitants now live on a toxic jungle planet that is home to
dangerous mutant insects. Nausicaä is the name of a girl who has a connection
to the toxic jungle and she can communicate with the insects as well. It’s a
beautifully animated film with an excellent soundtrack and has a dire
atmosphere that is a stark contrast to My Neighbor Totoro’s happy-go-lucky
story.
Macross: Do You
Remember Love? (1984): Macross encompasses many genres of anime: sci-fi,
space opera, giant robots, romance and even pop music. Do You Remember Love? is
a reimagining of the TV series The Super Dimension Fortress Macross with all
the same characters and a similar story. It boasts much better animation than
the TV series and a lot of the mechas were redesigned and given a sleeker look.
Amongst all the space battles and fighting robots there is a sweet relationship
between fighter pilot Hikaru Ichijyo and a pop idol singer named Lynn Minmay—it’s
weird but it works. As in all Macross films, music plays a big role with catchy
pop songs and ballads being utilized often. It’s a wacky mixture that works
surprisingly well.
-Michelle Kisner