Subgenre Sampler

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Children of the Sea (2019): Dir. Ayumu Watanabe; Powerfully resonant Japanese animated adventure reflecting on the connections between humanity and the natural world. Centered around a troubled…
Weathering with You (2019): Dir. Makoto Shinkai; Touching Japanese animated romance doubling as an eco–fable, about a high school boy who befriends a girl who can manipulate the weather. From…
Mirai (2018): Dir. Mamoru Hosoda; Gorgeous anime from director Mamoru Hosoda (SUMMER WARS, WOLF CHILDREN) where a 4–year–old boy discovers he can travel through time to…
Penguin Highway (2018): Dir. Hiroyasu Ishida; Delightful anime about a fourth–grader trying to unravel the mystery of penguins suddenly appearing in his village, which may be connected to a…
Fireworks (Fireworks: Should We See It from the Side or The Bottom?) (2017): Dir. Nobuyuki Takeuchi; Beautifully romantic Japanese anime set during a school summer vacation, based on Shunji Iwai’s 1993 TV series, “Fireworks”. Refreshingly…
Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017): Dir. Hiromasa Yonebayashi; Beautiful Japanese animation telling the coming–of–age story of a boisterous girl whose summer holiday with her great aunt leads her to…
A Silent Voice (Koe no katachi) (2016): Dir. Naoko Yamada
Feat. Miyu Irino; Unique Japanese anime following a deaf girl called Shoko, who is bullied at school by a boy who grows up to be tormented by his past behavior, and…
In This Corner of the World (Kono sekai no katasumi ni) (2016): Dir. Sunao Katabuchi; Picturesque war–time animation exploring the everyday challenges faces by Japanese people during WWII. The setting, a small town outside…
Your Name (Kimi no na wa) (2016): Dir. Makoto Shinkai; Another exquisite animated drama from Makoto Shinkai, an increasingly beloved and notable voice in the world of Japanese anime. The story is based on…
Boy and the Beast, The (2015): Dir. Mamoru Hosoda; Inventive anime fantasy about a young orphaned boy living on the streets of Shibuya who stumbles upon a fantastic world of beasts and is taken in by…
Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie (2015): Dir. Kazuya Nomura; The groundbreaking cybernetic anime finds new life in this topical re–boot, as Japanese special ops uncover a web of government corruption…
Giovanni's Island (2014): Dir. Mizuho Nishikubo; Affecting anime drama in the mould of GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES set in the Kuril Islands during the aftermath of WWII where a friendship blossoms…
Last, The: Naruto The Movie (2014): Dir. Tsuneo Kobayashi; The conclusion of the epic hit story!
Ronja, The Robber's Daughter (TV Series) (2014-2015): Dir. Goro Miyazaki; Goyo Miyazaki, son of Hayao, directs this Ghibli animated TV series based on the novel by Astrid Lindgren (Creator of Pippi Longstockings). A ten…
Garden of Words, The (2013): Dir. Makoto Shinkai
Feat. Miyu Irino, Kana Hanazawa; Another gorgeous animated romance from the director of 5 CENTIMETRES PER SECOND, centred on the poignant relationship between a sensitive teenager…
Harlock: Space Pirate (2013): Dir. Shinji Aramaki
Feat. Shun Oguri, Yu Aoi; An epic 3D–animated space opera based on the adventures of iconic anime character Captain Harlock, a space revolutionary determined to help…
Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, The (2013): Dir. Mami Sunada
Feat. Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata; Priceless documentary on the inner workings of Studio Ghibli and its great 'sensei', Hayao Miyazaki, as he approaches retirement while completing his…
Wind Rises, The (2013): Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Feat. Hideaki Anno; Hayao Miyazaki's glorious swansong is the poignant story of aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi and his dreams of designing the perfect flying machine…
Wolf Children (2012): Dir. Mamoru Hosoda; This beautiful, serious–minded take on werewolf folklore focuses on a young woman and her struggle to raise two children of mixed…
Children Who Chase Lost Voices (Journey to Agartha) (2011): Dir. Makoto Shinkai; This eye–watering love letter to the godfather of anime, Hayao Miyazaki, not only replicates, but in many ways surpasses Studio Ghibli's…
From up on Poppy Hill (2011): Dir. Goro Miyazaki
Feat. Masami Nagasawa, Jun'ichi Okada; Studio Ghibli's latest offering is an affecting, nostalgia–laden drama of teenage idealism and high school romance, set during the lead up to…
King of Pigs, The (2011): Dir. Sang-ho Yeon; A tough, hard–glancing Korean anime about two adults who recall their violent school days as both purveyors and victims of systemic bullying.…
Legend of the Millennium Dragon (2011): Dir. Hirotsugu Kawasaki; An impressively animated young–adult fantasy, centred on a 15–year–old school kid who is transported back to medieval Japan, and…
Letter to Momo, A (2011): Dir. Hiroyuki Okiura; Bittersweet tale young girl recovering from her father's death moves to a small island where strange events start to occur.
Arrietty (The Secret World of Arrietty) (2010): Dir. Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Feat. Mirai Shida, Ryunosuke Kamiki; Studio Ghibli's latest animated triumph respectfully borrows from the classic English children's tale of 'The Borrowers', about a family of tiny…
Halo Legends (2010): Spun–off from the popular X–Box video game franchise, this eight episode series explores the mythology and back–story of the HALO…
Loups=Garous (2010): Dir. Junichi Fujisaku; Confined to her home by a deadly virus, a shy 14–year–old girl ventures into the outside world when one of her online friends goes…
Afro Samurai Resurrection (2009): Dir. Fuminori Kizaki
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Lucy Liu, Mark Hamill; Stylish sequel reprises the Samuel L. Jackson–voiced Afro Samurai, here coming out of retirement to fend off a sadistic villainess. Garnished…
Eden of the East (TV Series) (2009): Dir. Kenji Kamiyama; A sprawling, suspenseful anime series in the wake of popular narrative arc serials (i.e. LOST, FLASH FORWARD), this centres on an amnesiac man who…
Fullmetal Alchemist (TV Series) (2009): Two brothers scour a war–torn land for the Philosopher's Stone, a fabled relic which grants the ability to perform Alchemy in impossible ways.
K-On! (TV Series) (Keion!) (2009): Based on the popular Manga, this breezy anime series follows five sprightly teenagers who strive to keep their high school music club alive by…
King of Thorn (2009): Dir. Kazuyoshi Katayama; An impressively realised anime set in a world beset by a "Medusa" virus which turns its victims into stone. Both visually and conceptually complex,…
Oblivion Island (Haruka and the Magic Mirror) (2009): Dir. Shinsuke Sato; Emulating Pixar's gold standard animation, this crowd pleasing 3D anime centres on a teenage girl who stumbles through a magical portal to a world…
Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva (2009): Dir. Masakazu Hashimoto; Originating from an immensely popular Nintendo DS puzzle game, this kiddie mystery–adventure centred on the deducing skills of the titular hero…
Redline (2009): Dir. Takeshi Koike; This turbo–charged anime spectacle centred on a death–defying racing tournament is an out–and–out thrill ride, with breakneck…
Sengoku Basara (TV Series) (Samurai Kings) (2009): In the bloody Warring States Period, of feudal Japan, many generals fought in an endless struggle for power, but one man proved to be too big of a…
Summer Wars (2009): Dir. Mamoru Hosoda; Stupendously entertaining hybrid of eccentric family comedy and technological dazzle, centred on the woes of a whiz kid who inadvertently sabotages…
To (2001 Nights) (2009): Two standalone stories from Yukinobu Hoshino’s manga "2001 Nights" are vividly rendered in this 3D–animation concerning fantastical but…
5 Centimetres Per Second (Five Centimetres Per Second) (2008): Dir. Makoto Shinkai; Sublimely romantic animated feature divided into three separate episodes tracing the emotional journey of a teenage boy through to manhood, and the…
Batman: Gotham Knight (2008): Dir. Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Feat. Kevin Conroy, David McCallum, Parminder Nagra; From the producers of BATMAN BEGINS and the highly anticipated 'The Dark Knight' comes this stylish anime collection of six sequences tracing…
Genius Party: Beyond (2008): Dir. Masahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, Kazuto Nakazawa; Five more of Japans finest animators come together in this fine follow up. This time out the theme is "The Spirit of Creativity".
Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea) (2008): Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Feat. Yuria Nara, Hiroki Doi; Utterly irresistible, Miyazaki’s latest animated triumph is one for all ages (even toddlers!); a Little Mermaid–inspired adventure of a…
Rosario + Vampire (TV Series) (Rozario To Banpaia) (2008): Tskune accidentally gets on a bus to a school of monsters.
Sky Crawlers, The (2008): Dir. Mamoru Oshii; Mamoru Oshii’s (GHOST IN THE SHELL) latest head–scratcher conceives an alternate World War II–reality around another conceptually dense…
Sword Of The Stranger (Sutorenjia: Mukô Hadan) (2008): Dir. Masahiro Andô; Ferocious feature–length anime sees a young boy and his dog accompany a nameless samurai as they try to escape relentless Ming warriors. A…
Afro Samurai (2007): Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Perlman; The perpetually cool Samuel L. Jackson reeks of attitude as the voice of an Afro–American samurai hellbent on revenge. In the spirit of KILL…
Appleseed Ex Machina (2007): Dir. Shinji Aramaki; Propulsive, bulked–up sequel to the hi–tech APPLESEED movie, continuing the exploits of its kiss–ass female heroine, now deployed…
Evangelion 'Rebuild' Movies (1.11: You Are (Not) Alone, 2.22: You Can (Not) Advance, 3.33: You Can (Not) Redo) (2007-2014): Dir. Hideaki Anno; The much repeated, much imitated anime makes its big screen debut as a ‘reboot’ of the landmark 26 episode series, following boy hero Shinji’s…
Genius Party (2007): Dir. Atsuko Fukushima, Soji Yoshikawa, Shinji Kimura; Seven acclaimed contemporary anime directors direct seven shorts under the generous theme of 'The Spirit Of Creativity'. As with any short film…
Ghost Hound (TV Series) (2007): Dir. Ryutaro Nakamura; Conceived by Masamune Shirow (GHOST IN THE SHELL), this genre–bending anime series concerns the experiences of three boys who can see into an…
One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates (2007): Dir. Takahiro Imamura; Bristling feature length adventure from Japan's most popular manga series of all time, set in an era of warring pirate factions competing for a…
Strait Jacket (2007): Dir. Shinji Ushiro; Sorcerers battle a marauding demon race in this flashy, steam–punk adventure.
Vexille (2007): Dir. Fumisiko Sori; Brawny sci–fi anime set in the year 2077, in which a special agent is sent to examine the capabilities of Japan’s robot technology, and its…
Aachi and Ssipak (2006): Dir. Beom-jin Jo
Feat. Ryoo Seung-beom; Bawdy Korean anime imbues its puerile subject matter – where in a post–apocalyptic society, human excrement is the currency of choice –…
Black Blood Brothers (TV Series) (2006): Remnants of a vampire clan that wanted to rule the world alone, but got defeated in a war by joined forces of other vampires and humans, kidnap the…
Bleach (TV Series) (2006): Immensely popular anime series follows the supernatural adventures of a gifted teenager whose ability to channel the powers of a ‘Soul Reaper’…
Death Note (TV Series) (Deathnote) (2006): Anime serial of the cultish good vs. evil parable follows on from the manga and live–action versions in retelling the battle between a cocky…
Freedom (TV Series) (2006): Dir. Joe Egender; Katsuhiro Otomo's distinctive character designs flavour this beautifully rendered seven–part anime serial, originally devised as a marketing…
Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex: Individual Eleven (2006): Dir. Kenji Kamiyama; Concluding sequel to THE LAUGHING MAN serves up the '2nd Gig' season of STAND ALONE COMPLEX as a reconstituted feature length film. See SOLID STATE…
Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society (2006): Dir. Kenji Kamiyama; High–end, feature–length addition to the GHOST IN THE SHELL universe, employing a futuristic, if baffling array of spectacular anime…
Girl Who Leapt Through Time, The (2006): Dir. Mamoru Hosoda; An enchanting, girl–centric 'anime', centred around a teenager’s ability to time travel and adjust the course of her social and romantic…
Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, The (TV Series) (2006): A warped, unpredictable anime series centred on the titular Haruhi Suzumiya: an eccentric high school girl whose unconscious ability to alter reality…
Origin: Spirits of the Past (2006): Dir. Keiichi Sugiyama; Thoughtful, cautionary tale of biological engineering gone awry. Like Miyazaki, this concerns itself with environmental matters through a…
Paprika (2006): Dir. Satoshi Kon; Mind–altering extravaganza of stolen dream technology from the anime trailblazer behind PERFECT BLUE, forged from the dir’s pet themes of…
Tales From Earthsea (Gedo senki) (2006): Dir. Goro Miyazaki; The animated feature debut from Goro Miyazaki, son of Hayao, based on Ursula K Le Guin's popular 'Earthsea' novels, this is a commendable addition to…
Tekkonkinkreet (2006): Dir. Michael Arias; Notable Western–directed anime about two street kids defending their turf across a sprawling, fantastical cityscape. Involving yakuza muscle…
Black Cat (TV Series) (Shonen Jump) (2005): Sven is your run–of–the–mill sweeper (a.k.a. bounty hunter): down on his luck, haunted by the perpetual grumbling of his stomach…
Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex: The Laughing Man (2005): Dir. Kenji Kamiyama; A compartment–sized crash course in the STAND ALONE COMPLEX universe, this two hour feature skillfully edits down the seven volume TV series…
Gisaku (2005): Dir. Baltasar Pedrosa; Spanish–anime hybrid concerns an alliance of samurai warriors pitted against a demonic ‘Master of Darkness’ hell–bent on destroying…
Karas - The Prophecy / The Revelation (2005): Dir. Kei'ichi Sato; Large–scale, CG rendered anime concerns the battle for Tokyo between two guardian angels who weld various powers of the occult. Two volumes:…
Mushi-Shi (TV Series) (2005): Dir. Hiroshi Nagahama; Artful, existential anime of spiritual transcendence, concerning an intangible life force dubbed ‘Mushi’, and the gifted master who seeks out…
Naughty Nurses (2005): An explicit animated follow–up to SEX WARD observing the indecent acts performed by nurses who have gained a reputation for "satisfying" their…
Samurai 7 (TV Series) (2005): Dir. Toshifumi Takizawa; Daring anime update of Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI, set in a post–apocalyptic world where partly–bionic former samurai roam the wilderness…
Shakugan No Shana (TV Series) (2005): Yuji is returning from school when suddenly time stops and monsters appear to devour people. He is not frozen, however. When one of the monsters…
Transformers Cybertron (TV Series) (2005): The Transformers revival continues with this latest addition to the popular animated series.
Trinity Blood (TV Series) (2005): Centuries ago, Armageddon cast darkness across the world. From that darkness, the vampires emerged. Now humans and vampires tremble on the brink of…
Appleseed - The Movie (Appurushîdo) (2004): Dir. Shinji Aramaki; Muscular and violent anime set in a post–WW3 landscape, where a gung–ho woman warrior is captured and transported to a seemingly benign…
Beck - Mongolian Chop Squad (TV Series) (2004): Dir. Osamu Kobayashi; Rock–oriented anime riffs on the high school angst of bored 14–year–old, who, through a chance meeting with a skilled guitarist,…
Blade Of The Phantom Master - Shin Angyo Onshi (2004): Dir. Jôji Shimura; An unknown hero appears in the terrorized land of Jushin to protect the empire from zombies, beasts and sadists – is he one of the legendary…
Dead Leaves (2004): Dir. Hiroyuki Imaishi; Jittery and brutal anime from the makers of KAI DOH MARU, in which a pair of young amnesiac miscreants (Pandy and Retro) half–destroy a city…
Elfen Lied (2004): Dir. Mamoru Kanbe; Anime TV series adapting the earlier part of a manga of the same name by Lynn Okamoto that was considered edgy in its time due to being pretty dark…
Endless Serenade (2004): Graphic animated sex punctuates this 'hentai' anime about a love–triangle which develops out of two unrequited office romances. The makers of…
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2004): Dir. Tetsuya Nomura, Takeshi Nozue; The second major feature film to emerge from the PlayStation game franchise (after FINAL FANTASY – THE SPIRITS WITHIN), this again encases some…
Gankutsuou (TV Series) (Count of Monte Cristo, The) (2004): Born into an aristocratic family in Paris, Albert sets out on a journey with his best friend, Franz, to escape his privileged yet dull life. They…
Gantz (TV Series) (2004): Dir. Ichirô Itano; A kinetic and ultraviolent adaptation of Hiroya Oku's legendary 'manga' comics, beginning with the resurrection of several unconnected indivduals by…
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004): Dir. Mamoru Oshii; Visually emphatic, conceptually flummoxing sequel to Mamoru Oshii's cyberpunk touchstone GHOST IN THE SHELL. Cybernetic detective Batou returns to…
Howl's Moving Castle (2004): Dir. Hayao Miyazaki; Yet another miraculous animated odyssey from Hayao Miyazaki, who finds a perfect vehicle in the English fantasy novel by Diana Wynne Jones, about a…
I Love You (2004): Sexually explicit 'anime' set on a Japanese campus where a handsome lad must choose between the charms of three female students, by sampling their…
Lady Death (2004): Elevated feature–length anime based on the "Lady Death" comic series about a beautiful girl accused of consorting with the devil and sentenced…
Le Portrait de Petite Cossette (TV Series) (2004): Dir. Akiyuki Shinbo; Wavering gothic anime series in which an antique store worker becomes obsessed with a young girl he discovers trapped inside a Venetian glass for 250…
Mind Game (2004): Dir. Masaaki Yuasa
Feat. Koji Imada, Sayaka Maeda, Takashi Fujii; Inventive Japanese animation based on the manga of the same by Robin Nishi, depicting the psychedelic self–discovery of a socially inept…
Naruto - The Movie(s) (2004-2014): Dir. Tensai Okamura; The NARUTO series concerns its titular hero and his companions protecting the world from bands of rogue ninjas and other dangers in wait. In…
Otogi Zoshi (2004): Dir. Mizuho Nishikubo; A historical fiction series from the I.G. Anime production house (makers of NINJA SCROLL and KAI DOH MARU) that achieves a good balance of action,…
Paranoia Agent (TV Series) (Mousou dairinin) (2004): Dir. Satoshi Kon; Beautifully animated and conceptually ambitious 'anime' TV series from the dir. of PERFECT BLUE, set in a present–day metropolis of social…
Place Promised in Our Early Days, The (2004): Dir. Makoto Shinkai; Evocative and measured anime, which bases its sci–fi storyline around a future Japan divided by civil war into two islands separated by…
Steamboy (2004): Dir. Katsuhiro Otomo; A rapturous adventure set in quasi–futuristic Victorian England, where a young lad is given a "steamball" to take care of and becomes slowly…
Transformers Energon (TV Series) (2004): Dir. Jun Kawagoe, Yutaka Sato; Fairly creditable sequel to the original animation series (following on from Transformers: Armada), with the Autobots and Decepticons living in peace…
Cromartie High School (TV Series) (Sakigake!! Kuromati Kôkô) (2003): Dir. Hiroaki Sakurai; The zany and hilarious episodes in the life of a teenage boy who ends up at a rough public school, peopled by an array of thugs, robots, a gorilla…
Interstella 5555 (The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem) (2003): Dir. Kazuhisa Takenôchi; Quirky and well–crafted animated feature, which extends a series of music–videos by the French electronica group Daft Punk, which…
Kino's Journey (TV Series) (Kino No Tabe) (2003): Dir. Ryutaro Nakamura; Unusual and yet quietly rewarding Japanese anime about a young girl, Kino, who travels the world on her sentient motorcycle, Hermes, seeking wisdom,…
Ninja Scroll (TV Series) (Jube Ninpucho) (2003): Dir. Tatsuo Sato; Anime series based on the movie NINJA SCROLL (1993), set in Feudal Japan and following the adventures of a mercenary ninja. 13 Episodes.
Planetes (TV Series) (2003): The year is 2075 AD. The dream of working and living in the vast openness of space is now a reality. However, a new threat has arisen and if left…
Sex Ward (2003): 'Hentai' sex–oriented animation set around the experiences of two new nurses on probation in the wards of Ishikawa General Hospital. As the two…
Tokyo Godfathers (2003): Dir. Satoshi Kon, Shogo Furuya; An unusual 'dramatic' anime, which concerns three down–and–outs in Tokyo who rescue an abandoned baby and struggle to knit together a…
Armitage - Dual Matrix (2002): Dir. Katsuhito Akiyama; Set on a future Martian colony amid growing tensions between humans and cyborgs, this digitally–enhanced anime puts action above ideas, but…
Cat Returns, The (Neko no Ongaeshi) (2002): Dir. Hiroyuki Morita; A young girl helps a cat, with surprising consequences – including an offer of marriage to the son of Cat King. Typically warm and emotionally…
Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex (TV Series) (2002-2004): Dir. Kenji Kamiyama; A surprisingly excellent television sequel to the classic 'anime' of 1995, this chiefly concerns the life of a female police officer in a special…
Haibane Renmei (TV Series) (2002): Dir. Tomokazu Tokoro; Accomplished Japanese anime TV series that shuns the usual props – weaponry, robots, demons, spaceships – for a bittersweet tale of a…
Hellsing (TV Series) (Herushingu) (2002): Adapated from his own manga comicbook by Kouta Hirano, this concerns the battle of survival of the Hellsing Organisation, a shadowy group which looks…
Ichi The Killer - Anime Version (2002): Dir. Shinji Ishidaira; An animated prequel to the ultra–violent Japanese thriller of the same title, this flashes back to explain how Ichi gained his psychopathic…
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed (TV Series) (Kido Senshi Gundam Seed) (2002): In the Cosmic Era, mankind has developed into two subspecies: Naturals, who reside on Earth, and Coordinators, genetically enhanced humans capable of…
Naruto (TV Series) (2002-2007): Dir. Jeff Nimoy; Compelling Ninja anime series in the vein of DRAGON BALL Z, following a young orphan by the name of Naruto striving to become the next Hokage of his…
Spirited Away (2002): Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Feat. Miyu Hiragi, Miyu Irino; Animation visionary Hayao Miyazaki gets to fully unlock his boundless imagination through the otherworldly adventures of an innocent young girl that…
Blood - The Last Vampire (2001): Dir. Hiroyuki Kitakubo; A half–length feature that packs twice the punch of the average Anime, its astounding combination of CGI and cell–characters raises the…
Cowboy Bebop - The Movie (2001): Dir. Shinichiro Watanabe; A full–length adventure for the bounty–hunting crew of the spaceship 'Bebop', pursuing a bioterrorist across the Martian…
Fruits Basket (TV Series) (2001): A teenage girl ingratiates herself to a mysterious family who are known to transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac in this peppy comedy romance,…
Girl Next Door / Campus (2001): Two Japanese anime films that veer into the pornographic. "Campus" concerns a man's recurring dreams of an ancient love affair. "Girl Next Door"…
Kai Doh Maru (2001): Dir. Kanji Wakabayashi; Short though superbly animated fable of ancient Japan concerning a young girl who is raised as a samurai warrior in feudal times. From the…
Millennium Actress (2001): Dir. Satoshi Kon; The thinking–person's animator, dir. Satoshi Kon further extends his body of "real world" anime with a work of brilliantly conceived illusion…
Vampire Hunter D - Bloodlust (2001): Dir. Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Feat. Hideyuki Tanaka, Ichiro Nagai, Koichi Yamadera; Raising the stakes in both style and story, this reworking of the original 1985 film spins the lone Vampire hunter's adventures in a different…
Voices of a Distant Star (2001): Dir. Makoto Shinkai; A short but compelling 'anime' that was also written and animated by dir. Shinkai. Set on a future Earth, where the looming threat of Tarsians…
Boogiepop Phantom (TV Series) (Boogiepop Never Laughs: Boogiepop Phantom) (2000): Dir. Kouhei Kadano; Anime series set in an unnamed Japanese city, intertwining the stories of multiple characters to uncover the mystery behind a string of serial…
Escaflowne: The Movie (2000): Dir. Kazuki Akane; Lavish, if much darker theatrical version of the popular anime TV series, reinventing its beloved heroine as a disenchanted high school girl…
Gravitation (2000): Soapy J–pop anime serial charting the opposite–attract courtship of an aspiring musician and the hard–headed novelist he falls for.
InuYasha (TV Series) (2000): Fifteen–year–old schoolgirl Kagome Higurashi, whose family tends a shrine, falls into an old well one day and literally tumbles into…
Metropolis (2000): Dir. Rinataro; Visually splendid ‘future–noir’ set in a teeming, multi–leveled city, inhabited by several storylines: a detective quest, the…
Pet Shop of Horrors (2000): Horror–tinged anime set in a mysterious pet shop in New York's Chinatown, where the androgynous proprietor 'Count D' has a sinister pet for…
Requiem From The Darkness (TV Series) (Kurayami no rekuiemu) (2000): A supernatural anime series set in the Edo period, in which an aspiring writer, Momosuke, sets out into the troubled land to collect 100 ghost…
Spriggan (2000): Dir. Hirotsugu Kawasaki; Spectacular ‘anime’ produced by Katsuhiro Otomo (AKIRA) that springs an elaborate futuristic plot, centred round the search for a…
Big O, The (TV Series) (1999): Dir. Kazuyoshi Katayama; Reasonably inviting anime series is set in the noirish future of an 'Art Deco' metropolis ("Paradigm City") where the inhabitants have, except for…
Dragonball Z (TV Series) (1999): A violent Japanese children’s animation that features standoffs between various good and evil characters. Rather repetitive after a while, though…
Gravitation: Lyrics of Love (1999): Dir. Shinichiro Watanabe; Prequel to the cult anime series GRAVITATION that sees the lead singer of 'Bad Luck' at a crossroads in his professional and personal life with album…
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999): Dir. Hiroyuki Okikura
Feat. Michael Dobson, Mike Kopsa; Visually rich and tasteful ‘anime’ set in a slightly futurised post–WW2 Tokyo, where an anti–terrorist commando, suspended from duty,…
My Neighbours the Yamadas (Houhokekyo tonari no Yamada-kun) (1999): Dir. Isao Takahata; With an original eye and ear for the burdensome triviality and difficulties of everyday life, this Japanese animation concerns a set of suburbanite…
Now and Then, Here and There (Ima, soko ni iru boku) (1999): Regarded for its unflinching depiction of ‘atrocities’ in a grim totalitarian society, this is an exceptionally bleak, if sufficiently grounded…
Cowboy Bebop (TV Series) (1998): Dir. Shinichiro Watanabe
Feat. Steven Blum, Beau Billingslea, Wendee Lee…; The futuristic adventures of animated bounty–hunter Spike Spiegel and pals on the frontiers of the solar–system, newly colonised to…
Kite (Kite Liberator) (1998-2007): Dir. Yasuomi Umetsu; A gory revenge tale boasting visuals on par with BLOOD – THE LAST VAMPIRE, this controversial anime details the exploits of a young woman,…
Serial Experiments Lain (TV Series) (1998): Dir. Various; A uniquely thoughtful Manga TV–Series concerning an introspective teenage girl who starts receiving emails from a deceased classmate and is…
Trigun (TV Series) (1998): The $60,000,000,000 Man – Vash the Stampede is a wanted man with a habit of turning entire towns into rubble. The price on his head is a…
Perfect Blue (1997): Dir. Satoshi Kon; Coherent and mature product of Japanese 'anime' is an unsettling psycho–drama about a burnt–out teen pop idol, simultaneously plagued by…
Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime) (1997): Dir. Hayao Miyazaki; A landmark animation that set box–office records in Japan and was a hit worldwide due to it’s stunningly smooth visuals, and complex,…
Rurouni Kenshin (TV Series) (Wandering Samurai; Legends of Kyoto; Tales of the Meiji) (1996-1999): Dir. Kazuhiro Furuhashi; Beloved adaptation of the manga series of the same name by Nobuhiro Watsuki, about a former assassin in the early Meiji period who takes a vow never…
Ghost in the Shell (1995): Dir. Mamoru Oshii; An Anime feature technically superior to AKIRA. There's car chases, shoot–outs, tongue–in–cheek dialogue aplenty, but where it…
Junkers Come Here (1995): Dir. Junichi Sato; Nicely touching story about an 11–year old girl whose lonely life is relieved by the affections of a Schnauser dog, who has the ability to talk…
Landlock (1995): Dir. Yasuhiro Matsumura
Feat. Darryl Borden, Ally Coyote, Sarah Lafleur; Two–part techno mystical adventure features detailed anime character designs by Masamune Shirow, creator of GHOST IN THE SHELL.
Memories (1995): Dir. Katsuhiro Otomo, Tensai Okamura, Kouji Morimoto; A unique triptych, threaded loosely by its dystopian–future theme, that integrates three very different narratives and animation techniques…
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995): Dir. Hideaki Anno; Iconic Japanese manga set in the yeat 2015 on an Earth devasted by wars, and suddenly invaded by nearly invincible extraterrestrial "angels". An…
Whisper of the Heart (1995): Dir. Yoshifumi Kondo; A bookish, teenage girl grows into maturity through her love for a lad who wishes to be an Italian–trained violin–maker. With only…
A.D. Police III (1994)
Angel Cop (1994): All episodes on one tape.
Guyver, The (1994): Ten parts on five cassettes.
Pom Poko (1994): Dir. Isao Takahata; A community of raccoon–like creatures called Tanuki battle to defend their forest community from encroaching human developers in another…
Royal Space Force (Wings of Honnemaise) (1994): Dir. Hiroyuki Yamaga; Quality Anime feature distinguishes itself by taking its time to develop story and character, as well as boasting intricate animation. Score by…
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (1994): Dir. Gisaburô Sugii; Bison, the ruthless leader of the international terrorist organization Shadowlaw, has been desperately searching for the greatest fighter on the…
Battle Angel Alita (Gunnm) (1993): Adapted from the work of Yukito Kishiro, this anime concerns a refitted female cyborg, who rediscovers her lost fighting skills. Set in a distant…
Geno Cyber I (1993)
Geno Cyber II & III (1993)
Macross Plus: Complete Collection (1993)
Ninja Scroll (1993): Dir. Yoshiaki Kawajiri; Top rate period manga.
Ocean Waves (1993): Dir. Tomomi Mochizuki; A sweet, sentimental tale of unrequited teen romance as seen in flashback through the eyes of a man attending his high school reunion forms the basis…
Wicked City (1993): Human and demonic worlds converge in this brooding anime horror, memorable for its sexually violent imagery and, in particular, its spider–like…
Doomed Megalopolis Pt.s 1 & 2 (1992)
Fist of the North Star (1992)
Porco Rosso (Kurenai no buta) (1992): Dir. Hayao Miyazaki; A world weary pilot, with a pig's head, protects shipping on the Adriatic from air pirates in the wake of World War I. Although not one of his…
3 X 3 Eyes (1991): Two parts two tapes.
Crying Freeman (1991): Six part serial over 5 tapes Chapter 1: Portrait of a Killer Chapter 2: The Enemy Within Chapter 3: Retribution Chapter 4: The Hostages Chapter…
Legend of the Four Kings (1991): Four parts on two cassettes.
Only Yesterday (1991): Dir. Isao Takahata; Studio Ghibli's most 'adult' offering is a moving, poignantly drawn rumination on childhood and regret, told through the eyes of a disenchanted…
Roujin Z (1991): Dir. Hiroyuki Kitakubo; Futuristic morality tale from writer Katsuhiro Otomo (AKIRA) about a compassionate young nurse who is determined to help an elderly invalid strapped…
Cyber City Oedo 808 (1990): Three parts three cassettes.
Devil Man - The Demon Bird (1990)
Patlabor 2 (1990): First sequel to the cult movie based upon the Japanese anime TV Series concerning a future Tokyo, where Mobile Police enforce the law.
Samurai Pizza Cats (TV Series) (1990): A classic wiseacre cartoon import from the 90s, in which three cyborg cat samurais are employed to thwart the designs of a villainous rat determined…
Violence Jack (1990): Dir. Takuya Wada
Feat. Minako Arakawa, Issei Futamata; Three–part compilation of post–apocalyptic, subterranean episodes from the creator of the DEVIL MAN series. Banned in Australia,…
Akira (1989): Dir. Katsuhiro Otomo; Dazzling cyberpunk animated feature adapted from the cult comic books, it's a violent, anarchic, wildly ambitious ride through Neo–Tokyo in…
Dominion Tank Police (1989): Four parts on two cassettes.
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989): Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Feat. Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Matthew Lawrence…; A magical animation from the masterful Japanese dir. Miyazaki, which delivers a contemporary fairytale with strong characters, rich visuals and a…
Legend of the Demon Womb (1989)
Legend of the Overfiend (Urotsukidoji) (1989): A genuine Manga 'video nasty', this has all the trademark elements of sex, violence and the supernatural to enough of an extreme to ensure an…
Patlabor (1989): Dir. Mamoru Oshii
Feat. Shigeru Chiba, William Dufries; A more action–orientated film based on the Japanese anime TV Series. Set in a futuristic Tokyo where armoured Mobile Police enforce the laws,…
Venus Wars (1989)
Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka) (1988): Dir. Isao Takahata; Modest 'classic' of Japanese anime that tells the story of two children caught up in the devastating fire–bombing of Kobe in WW2. Amid the…
Devil Man - The Birth (1987)
Castle in the Sky (Laputa) (1986): Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Feat. Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman; A triumph of craft and narrative sophistication, this is an epic, supremely imaginative feature from master animator/storyteller Miyazaki that will…
Project A-Ko (Purojekuto A-ko) (1986): Amusing anime focused on three school girls and their run–ins with giant robots, aliens and butch woman. Will certainly entertain true anime…
Vampire Hunter D (1985): Dir. Toyoo Ashida
Feat. Michael McConnohie, Kaneto Shiozawa; In a barren, distant future where vampires rule what remains of life on earth, a beautiful young girl hires an imposing vampire hunter known as…
Lensman (1984)
Professional: Golgo 13, The (1983): Classic anime stylishly relays the underworld movements of a legendary hitman and his contract killings. Based on a long–running manga, with an…
Mysterious Cities of Gold, The (TV Series) (Taiyô no ko Esteban) (1982-1983): Richly detailed 80's kids anime series centred on a young boy on a worldwide quest to discover his true identity via the Seven Cities of Gold. A…
Space Adventure Cobra (1982): Dir. Osamu Dezaki; Space opera at its soapiest – a rouge intergalactic criminal thwarts alien pirates, saves the universe, and gets the ladies in this retro anime…
Voltron: Defender of the Universe (1981): A quintessential retro import by way of Japan that found its way onto afternoon TV screens in the eighties, this gleefully pre–empted POWER…
Castle of Cagliostro (1980): Dir. Hayao Miyazaki; Ground–breaking animated feature from the director of PRINCESS MONONOKE holds its own in today's high–tech animation environment. Based…
Space Firebird 2772 (1980): Dir. Taku Sugiyama; Futuristic Sci Fi anime conceived by the creator of ASTRO BOY sees a young cadet sent on a search to retrieve a mystical 'firebird', which may have…
Lupin the Third: Secret of Mamo (1978): Dir. Soji Yoshikawa; The first in a popular series of films featuring "Lupin III" (based on the graphic novels by Monkey Punch), this nostalgically–styled manga…
Panda Go Panda (1972): Dir. Isao Takahata; An early proto–Studio Ghibli kids flick (made as a 2–part TV special) features Hayao Miyazaki as writer and character designer and…
Speed Racer (TV Series) (1967): One of the most complex early anime series to be dubbed from Japanese into English, set around the comic adventures of driver Speed and his supercar,…
Gigantor (1965): Pioneering Japanese animation in which young Jimmy Sparks defends the Earth against marauding aliens using a... gigantic flying robot. An influence…
Kimba the White Lion (TV Series) (Janguru taitei) (1965-1967): A cutely effective animation series that combined American and Japanese production influences in its story of a white lion cub who strives to bring…
Experimental Films of Osamu Tezuka, The (1962-1988): Dir. Osamu Tezuka; 13 rare experimental films from the godfather of Japanese manga and anime, Osamu Tezuka. Films: Tales of the Street Corner, Male, Memory, Mermaid,…
Tokyo Babylon: Four parts two tapes

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