DVDpedia : Anime : Title : W

Theatrical: 1995

Studio: Walt Disney Video

Genre: Anime

Duration: 111

Summary: Based on a manga by Aoi Hiiragi, the gentle coming-of-age story "Whisper of the Heart" (1995) was scripted and storyboarded by Hayao Miyazaki, and directed by the late Yoshifumi Kondo. Shizuku Tsukishima is an absent-minded, insecure junior high school student who reads book after book of fairy tales, helps her friends, and does most of her chores, but remains dissatisfied. When she encounters a wonderfully supercilious cat on the train, she follows him and meets Seiji Amasawa, a student in her class who hopes to become a violin maker. Seiji's commitment to his dream helps Shizuku find her voice, literally and figuratively: she realizes she wants to become a writer. A statue of a cat in the antique store of Seiji's kindly grandfather inspires her first story, "Whisper of the Heart."
Shizuku and Seiji exhibit believable strengths and flaws: their warm humanity contrasts markedly with the shabby superficiality of the characters in many American animated films. The lively performances of Brittany Snow and David Gallagher transcend the geographic limits of the story to make Shizuku and Seiji the kids the viewer wishes lived next door. Miyazaki's script suggests that a sense of magic can exist, even in everyday Tokyo. "Whisper of the Heart" was the only film Yoshifumi Kondo directed before his untimely death at age 47, but its understated charm stands as a monument to his talent. (Rated G, suitable for ages 10 and older: tobacco use) "--Charles Solomon"

Theatrical: 1995

Studio: Manga Video

Genre: Anime / Adventure

Duration: 121

Summary: Many anime fans acclaim writer-director Hiroyuki Yamaga's "Wings of Honneamise" as a masterpiece, but general audiences may react less enthusiastically. Honneamise is a small country in a parallel world very similar to Earth. Shiro Lhadatt, the least impressive cadet in the air force flight school, volunteers to become the first astronaut in a controversial space program. Training toughens his body, while the priggish evangelist Riqunni challenges him to discipline his spirit. In one distasteful sequence, Shiro attempts to rape her. The next morning he starts to apologize, only to have her apologize for braining him with a candlestick, a scene certain to infuriate feminists. Despite an invasion by a hostile country, Shiro gets into space and delivers a ponderous homily from his capsule.
"Wings" was made by a group of young artists in 1987, and with a record- setting budget. Art director Hiromasa Ogura's lavish designs blend '80s high-tech with art nouveau, and Yamaga's leaden pacing gives viewers the time to study every detail. Fans of "Honneamise" acclaim it as a critical meditation on the illusions and follies of the human race, which suggests that profundity, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. (Ages 13 and older for violence, attempted rape, and occasional profanity) "--Charles Solomon"

Theatrical: 2004

Studio: Bandai

Genre: Anime / Action

Duration: 650

Summary: I have a 'sweet tooth' for dark fantasy, but the truth is that much of what comes out today, both anime and film, is repetitious. At some point you have to start being choosy. Because of that, I've stayed away from this series, despite early critical interest. But interest has remained positive and curiosity made me decide to pick up the first DVD. Which always bodes ill for the condition of my wallet. Fortunately, Witch Hunter Robin turns out much more interesting than I originally expected.
Robin was born in Japan, but as raised in an Italian monastery. There is some implication that she is actually a nun, but what she actually is is a hunter of witches and a practitioner of the Craft herself. Her return to Japan to replace a member of a witch hunting team (the STNJ) who died in action ruffles many feathers in a group that can only be described as idiosyncratic.
Amon is the team lead - cold, withdrawn, and not very happy with Robin. Miho Karasuma is a psychic who can only sense feelings. Michael Lee is a hacker - caught in the act he volunteered his services to the team. Haruto Sakaki is another new member who tends to go off half-cocked. Yurika Dojima is young, rich, and very self-involved. The 'adults' are Chief Kosaka, whos is everyone's worst nightmare as a boss, and Zaizen, the top man in Japan, and one who seems to have an agenda of his own. Robin herself can control fire, but not very well.
In this DVD the 'witches' being hunted are not pleasant people. These are people that use their powers to satisfy their own ends and take pleasure from the pain they cause. But the STNJ folks only differ from them in intent and name. As director Shuko Murase remarks in an interview, these are really just opposing sides in a deeper conflict. In the interactions of the characters one can already see the beginnings of some blurring of the boundaries.
The episodes so far focus on the interpersonal level, acquainting the viewer with the individual characters and the politics of the STNJ unit. These are complex, and so far balance the action perfectly. Production quality is excellent, with a finely rendered gothic atmosphere that manages to avoid seeming out of place in modern Japan. Camera angles and graphic effects are good as well.
This series is full of surprises yet to come, and almost continuous production improvements as well. This is one to own.

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: Bandai

Genre: Anime / Adventure

Duration: 300

Summary: As Nobles begin to fall under Lady Jaguarar's might grip, the Wolves continue their search for the kidnapped Cheza. Little do they know that Paradise is about to be opened. But whose will it be? Lady Jaguara has gained all the necessary components for her own ritual to paradise; but despite her power, there are those willing to stand against her, including the Wolves. And once the final battle is over, the wolves must still face a deranged Darcia, who intends to open his own way into paradise. Is it the end for the wolves, or is it just the beginning? Animation by Studio Bones, Music by legendary Yoko Kanno. Character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto. Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-fi.

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: Fox Pathé Europa

Genre: Anime / Sci-Fi

Duration: 86

Summary: Lx27;histoire de Wonderful Days est la suivante : au milieu du 21ème siècle, la Terre est tellement polluée que les hommes doivent inventer un moyen de transformer la pollution en source dx27;énergie : ils créent la cité dx27;Ecoban. Lx27;action du film se déroule un siècle plus tard, alors que la pollution arrive à son terme et que les dirigeants dx27;Ecoban prennent la décision de créer de la pollution afin dx27;alimenter la cité !
Ce film dx27;animation coréen qui a pris 7 ans de travail est un réel bijou. Lx27;idée de départ est bonne, les musiques sont superbes et surtout les graphismes sont à tomber par terre : en mélangeant lx27;animation de synthèse et les celluloïds classiques à des maquettes et à des images réelles, les créateurs de Wonderful Days sont parvenus à un résultat original à lx27;atmosphère riche et sombre.
Quel dommage que le film dure seulement 1h22. Du coup, on a à peine le temps de sx27;attacher aux personnages et de sx27;imprégner de lx27;ambiance, alors qux27;il y avait là matière à faire une série de plusieurs heures. Lx27;action est très condensée, les dialogues sont mélodramatiques, pleins de sous-entendus : on a lx27;impression de commencer par le dernier épisode dx27;une série.
Deux dernières réserves pour finir : dx27;abord on pouvait se passer du 2ème DVD et de ses 1h30 dx27;interviews et de making of ; ensuite, le film comportant des scènes de combat violentes, il est à déconseiller aux trop jeunes spectateurs.
Pour les autres, nx27;hésitez pas, cx27;est un régal des yeux et des oreilles !