Mean Miyazaki

[newmy51]

Hi Baka,

First post, member for years.  I admire Miyazaki's films which don't appear they're shot for a PG audience.  In a desert of either toothlessness or senseless gratuity in the portayal of violence in filmmaking, the balance struck by films like Mononoke and Nausicaaa, which deal with "adult" (aka human) themes make for highly moving motion pictures.  My request of you, the BakaBT community, is for more of these milestones in Japanese animation, those as beautiful as they are pollenated with good ideas about the world, reflections on its past, or visions of its future.  I know that's a tall order, which is why I came to you.

-D

[Ozzaharwood]

I'm not entirely sure what you are trying to ask for here, but I'm pretty sure all of Miyazaki's films are on the site.

Princess Mononoke is here while Nausicaa is here.

If you are asking what other movies of his are, then you can find a list of his titles by a simple google search. The ones I enjoyed the most were probably Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and although not by Miyazaki but still by Ghibli, Grave of the Fireflies.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

[Triltaison]

I think the OP is looking for movies that have more adult issues and a clear message to make the audience think, but are still overall positive experiences that don't leave you feeling depressed. Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa are just examples of what they're after. If that's not it, you might want to clear up your wishes a bit for us.

My suggestion would be to check out the works of Satoshi Kon (particularly Millenium Actress and Tokyo Godfathers), try out Summer Wars, and maybe give the Phoenix TV series a look-see. Several of the other Ghibli movies have a darker underbelly for an adult while still being optimistic in feeling - like Pom Poko and Only Yesterday generating nostalgia for a simpler time.

[buchno]

Assuming Triltaison's interpretation of the request for recommendations is correct, and that you've only seen anime you've downloaded from here:
The Sky Crawlers (may be a little on the tragedy side)
Ghost in the Shell (1995 movie)
Akira
Domain of Murder
Twilight of the Cockroaches (I'm serious)
Memories

[newmy51]

Triltaison is on the right track.  I guess I should have listed additional flicks I've seen that fit this description in one way or another.  I possess practically everything every committed to screen by Ghibli, Miyazaki & Takahata.  Akira kind of falls into this category, as do Tekkon Kinkreet, Mind Game and Ghost in the Shell (all major favorites), though they're at the grittier end of the spectrum, to be certain.  Not a requirement, but environmental themes are great.  The nostalgia stuff I can't get into as much.  Too... mediocre, too human interest-y, like the anime equivalent of The Prairie Home Companion or Reader's Digest.  Summer Wards and Phoenix are new to me, as is Domain of Murder and Twilight of the Cockroaches (sick title).  I'll check those out for now and report back soon.

Thanks!

[Al_Sleeper]

Spring and Chaos
Night on the Galactic Railroad
Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki
Ringing Bell
Unico
Jin Roh
Hi no Tori 2772: Ai no CosmoZone

[Fool010]

Jin Roh

Definitely fits the 'gritty' tag, the shootouts are pretty graphic and the overall mood is borderline depressing.

[MrIntruder]

I know you're after films but, yes there's a but, I wonder if you might give this anime a go, it's just a 13 episode series  but I believe it's exactly what you're looking for in films.

Now and Then, Here and There

It will undoubtedly leave a distinct impression on you.

[Al_Sleeper]

Now and Then, Here and There

It will undoubtedly leave a distinct impression on you.

+1

[sawakosadako]

I'm not sure if 5 cm per second fits the category, but you might want to check it out. I also suggest Kon Satoshi's Perfect Blue.

[newmy51]

Wow.  Lots to process.  Thanks for all the input.  Allow me to throw two more desired elements into the pot:

-Moral Ambiguity; no clear delineation between antagonist and protagonist, a departure "good guys vs. bad guys, good guys win"-type plot construction.

-Visual Feast; dramatic, dynamic, creative, psychedelic or otherwise aesthetically eye-popping animation, with respect to both set/character design and cinematography/style.

That's in addition to:

-Tasteful/thought provoking use of "adult" themes (violence, death, sex, poverty, vice, war, etc.)

-Environmental take-away message(s)

A side note:

Have seen many works of Satoshi Kon.  Some need re-watching to determine how well they fit this wishlist.

My ongoing 'Thanks' to the contributors to this thread.  Looking forward to more.

[newmy51]

probably a good idea to include some dislikes:

Canned plotlines:

-boy meets girl, impossible underdog/small town success story, one-dimensional hero vs. villain, anything else dripping with cliche, predictability and yawns (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Atlant/List_of_film_and_television_clich%C3%A9s)

Gratuitous and continuity-defying action sequences:

-Dragonball Z.  nuff said

Hyper-idiomatic or unintelligibly abstract Anime-isms:

-can't think of any examples at the moment... basically anything that would be completely lost on an open-minded, critically thinking, disbelief-witholding Western audience.

Stereotypically "Anime" character design:

-Unanimous placement of disproportionately huge eyes, barely there mouths/noses/ears, and boring bodies on every human/humanoid character

[Bob2004]

Well, if you want a visual feast, I can definitely say +1 to 5cm Per Second, and I also recommend The Place Promised In Our Early Days (also known as Beyond The Clouds, The Promised Place), which is by the same director. I can guarantee that you will never - never - see any anime that comes even close to matching the sheer beauty of those films.

Other than that, everything else I can think of has already been suggested. There really aren't enough Ghibli-like films around.

EDIT: Oh, you might possibly also like the TV show Mushishi. It's very fantastical, much like some of Miyazaki's work, but in quite a different way. It's a lot darker, too. I'm not sure it fits your request, but it could perhaps be worth checking out.

[Al_Sleeper]

Honorable mention: Apfelland Monogatari, Hotarubi no Mori e, Hotori, Eve no Jikan, Wings of Honneamise

-Moral Ambiguity; no clear delineation between antagonist and protagonist, a departure "good guys vs. bad guys, good guys win"-type plot construction.

Windaria - it's a proud holder of extremely rare tag 'Evil Wins'.
Momoko, Kaeru no Uta ga Kikoeru yo - poke Licca and neo1024 to speed up its translation into English.

[Fool010]

EDIT: Oh, you might possibly also like the TV show Mushishi. It's very fantastical, much like some of Miyazaki's work, but in quite a different way. It's a lot darker, too. I'm not sure it fits your request, but it could perhaps be worth checking out.

Mushishi isn't really dark, the show merely states that nature isn't a loving mother. The mushi are neither good nor bad and show no hostility, cohabitation just happens to be difficult or sometimes squarely impossible.

[Al_Sleeper]

Tatsu no Ko Tarou

[Bob2004]

EDIT: Oh, you might possibly also like the TV show Mushishi. It's very fantastical, much like some of Miyazaki's work, but in quite a different way. It's a lot darker, too. I'm not sure it fits your request, but it could perhaps be worth checking out.

Mushishi isn't really dark, the show merely states that nature isn't a loving mother. The mushi are neither good nor bad and show no hostility, cohabitation just happens to be difficult or sometimes squarely impossible.

Yeah, it's not dark as in "everybody dies horribly" kind of dark. It has a very dark colour palette - lots of blacks and blues and the like - and some of the stories are quite sad. Combined with the music, overall it has a fairly dark, slightly mournful, kind of feel to it. As opposed to Ghibli fantasy which often have a lot of bright colours, and grand, over-the-top spectacle. Although now I think about it a bit, I guess Nausicaa and Mononoke tend a bit towards the same kind of direction, so maybe it's not such a radical departure after all.

[Fool010]

Combined with the music, overall it has a fairly dark, slightly mournful, kind of feel to it.

I think Mushishi is the show that helped me the most understanding some of the japanese mentality, as it's heavily shinto influenced and shows a distinct mono no aware edge.

[Burkingam]

Everything Miyazaki has ever done is great except for Panda! Go, Panda!

[Al_Sleeper]

Kumo no You ni Kaze no You ni