Subgenre Sampler

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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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 –…
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’…
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…
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…
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:…
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…
Transformers Cybertron (TV Series) (2005): The Transformers revival continues with this latest addition to the popular animated series.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
Metropolis (2000): Dir. Rinataro; Visually splendid ‘future–noir’ set in a teeming, multi–leveled city, inhabited by several storylines: a detective quest, the…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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)
Devil Man - The Birth (1987)
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…
Lensman (1984)
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…
Gigantor (1965): Pioneering Japanese animation in which young Jimmy Sparks defends the Earth against marauding aliens using a... gigantic flying robot. An influence…
Tokyo Babylon: Four parts two tapes

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Subgenre Sampler