By Jacob Malewitz
Mecha, assassins, ninjas, angels, telepathic forces, secret evils and more each have there place in the anime film. Are you ready to explore Japanese animation? Better yet, want to add something good to your movie collection? Anime films are a good start, especially when you go for the classics. I have watched hundreds of anime films, from “Akira” to “Princess Mononoke,” but still consider myself a novice in the field. Let’s see where the anime begins and ends.
Start with Akira:
“Akira” is where the modern anime begins. It is based on the classic manga of the same name by Katsuhiro Otomo. The original story was epic, spanning thousands of pages of manga and later a Dark Horse comics adaptation. The film “Akira” is an epic too, proving that animes can do what regular films cannot. This may be controversial, as there are thousands of animes before “Akira.” Yet few create such drama and action!
Pick the classics:
There are other classics too, but many terrible movies. It is best to explore the top rated anime films first before grabbing a dozen from the store shelves. Better yet, rent some you think sound good, and you will see why the classics should be explored first. Of course, “Akira” is there, and so is “Ninja Scroll,” “Princess Mononoke,” and “Ghost in the Shell.” Anime films are often made out of successfully series, as was done in “Cowboy Bebop” and “Gundam Wing.” These don’t always become classics, but sometimes can.
Read the original manga:
One good idea when choosing an anime film is to read the original manga. For instance, when I discovered “Akira,” with all its top reviews, I went into the original 2,000 page epic written by Otomo, which is also considered a classic. This can tell you if the film will be good or not … usually. Sometimes the manga just won’t translate well into film. Lastly, when reading mangas, you are reading a book backwards, from the last page to the first, instead of the other way around. That puts off American comic fans, yet many mangas are adapted into the western format.
What type of hero do you want?
This is important, because often heroes in anime films will be bug eyed girls with short skirts. It is about drama and comedy in almost every case. I personally don’t go for these types of films. I want a real character. For example, “Appleseed” tells a unique tale of a young girl, who is beautiful, but who is also a tough heroine talented with guns. Some heroes will disappoint. Read the original manga, and do your homework, especially if you plan on purchasing a anime film.
Action, fantasy, mystery
Anime films have all these things. Every genre is explored in the anime film, from violent action like killing aliens, to major drama like “Akira” and “Princess Mononoke,” to epic fantasy like “Ninja Scroll.” That is the best part to being an anime film fan: the films explore many possibilities in storytelling.
Final Coffee and Heroes Tips:
Anime films can be found across the internet, for many different prices.
If your local library doesn’t carry anime films (and most do) submit a request for some of your picks.
Ask a local comic shop worker what animes to watch. They will be experienced not just in comics and gaming, but in animated films.
Final Coffee and Heroes Warnings:
For every good anime film, there are two bad ones. The problem is there is a lot of money in this field. Read reviews on sites like Amazon. However, look to “Akira,” my personal favorite, and there are many negative reviews, so be careful in judging a film before watching it.
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