Movie Description
Thoroughly modern in its story, its characters, its urban Tokyo setting, its absurdly funny action sequences, and its understated and ironic self-mockery, TOKYO GODFATHERS is an anime gem from director Satoshi Kon (MILLENNIUM ACTRESS). It is a snowy Christmas in Tokyo and three homeless people--Hana, Gin, and Miyuki--who drift through the streets and alleyways of the city staying warm in the supermarkets and soup kitchens, make up a nontraditional family. Gin is a older man who once had a wife and daughter but lost them and spiraled downward into drinking and drifting. Hana is a flamboyant cross-dressing homosexual who dreams of having a baby. And Miyuki is just a kid--a young girl who ran away from home after a conflict with her father and is still battling familial demons. When the three motley but loving bums find a baby girl abandoned in the garbage on Christmas Eve, they know they've received a true gift. But in their attempts to return the baby to its real mother they go on a wild goose chase all over Tokyo solving mysteries, pursuing criminals, and all the while tackling their own personal problems. According to director Kon, the plot is based on the 1948 Western 3 GODFATHERS directed by John Ford. This immensely entertaining film features a jazzy score of electronic music, excellent illustrations, and superb character development.
Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - Japanese
Additional Release Material:
Trailer - 1. Theatrical
Featurette - 1. Making Of
Additional Products:
Satoshi Kon Character Drawing Postcard, Theatrical Release: JANUARY 16, 2004 (LIMITED)
Editorial Reviews
"At once a model of craft and encouraging proof that the future of animation exists beyond the glories of Pixar and Hayao Miyazaki, TOKYO GODFATHERS is more than anything else great fun. "
Los Angeles Times - Manohla Dargis (01/16/2004)
"Mr. Kon's cool, comic-book style defuses the sentimental excess. Instead, the characters, with their frozen, emphatic expressions and exaggerated voices, take on an appealing eccentricity."
New York Times - A. O. Scott (01/16/2004)
"TOKYO GODFATHERS artfully appreciates the beauty and humanity in junked lives and landscapes."
Entertainment Weekly - Lisa Schwarzbaum (01/23/2004)
"[A]n animated film both harrowing and heartwarming..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (01/30/2004)
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