anime

[kenny weir]

Howl's Moving Castle was a signature event for Bennie and Kenny. I'd read about anime before that movie's release, but hadn't actually watched any.

It blew us away.

Since then we've gleefully sucked all but few loose ends of the Studio Ghibli output.

Nothing has quite matched Howl's or Spirited Away, but it's all been good or great.

But given my ignorance of the field, we're struggling to find more of the same and/or similar.

One rental joint recommended Akira as being suitable be 7yo Bennie. We were just about dealing with the violence, but when one of the hood-like character ripped the blouse from a young women, I pulled the plug. Too much.

We're attracted to the sense of wonder, fairytale and steampunk elements, I guess.

Lately we watched a good one called Metropolis.

And last week, we bought a four-disc set of a TV series called Haibane Renmei, which is a little slow - maybe that goes with the TV origins - but quite intriguing. And we enjoy pay TV Naruto and Avatar quite often.

Any tips or guidance welcome.

English soundtracks a must - bennei's not up to sub-title speed yet!

[Scott Dolan]

Ghost In the Shell would be a good one, but not for Bennie just yet. Might be a little much.

[gonzo]

akira, the anime citizen cane.

[me wag]

You might want to check out the anime films by Satoshi Kon and Isao Takahata particularly Tokyo Godfathers by Kon and Grave of the Fireflies by Takahata.

[Pete C]

[ormsbop]

Nothing has quite matched Howl's or Spirited Away, but it's all been good or great.

"Princess Mononoke" is at that quality level. All three of these were all done by the animator Hayao Miyazaki. He's done a number of films worth checking out.