The Place Promised in Our Early Days

The Place Promised in Our Early Days is a stunning Japanese animation movie signed by the great Japanese director Makoto Shinkai, although it does not beyond the Five Centimeters Per Second.

The Place Promised in Our Early Days Poster

Genres: Adventure, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Cast (voice): Hidetaka Yoshioka, Masato Hagiwara, Yuka Nanri
Alternative title: Beyond the Clouds, The Promised Place
Japanese: 雲のむこう、約束の場所
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Release Date: 20 November 2004 (Japan)
Runtime: 91 min
Official Site: http://www.kumonomukou.com/

Plot Summary:
In Japan divided into two after World War II, Americans have an area extending Honshu and the southern islands. They will use this area for experiments classified "top secret" that will lead to the construction of a gigantic tower. This white line cutting through the sky in two and lost in the clouds will quickly become the center of attention.

This tour will fascinate two young students: Hiroki and Takura. They will then decide to build an airplane to discover the secret of the tower, reaching its peak. Then between Sayuri Sawatari in their lives, one of their classmates. Hiroki immediately falls in love with her and tells him their plan, promising to take him with them.

"The Place Promised in Our Early Days" Review:
The style of this Japanese animation movie is characterized by a very clever use of computer-effects and plans often fixed cameras. The pace of his stories is relatively slow, with feelings of melancholy and access a theme of feeling beyond the distance that often comes up.

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381348/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTlayL_NCJY

The Cat Returns

The Cat Returns is a Japanese animation movie from Studio Ghibli directed by Hiroyuki Morita, released in 2002 in Japan. Some characters from Whisper of the Heart (by the same author) as Baron and Muta will appear with important roles.

The Cat Returns Poster

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Cast (voice): Chizuru Ikewaki, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Aki Maeda
Alternative title: Neko no ongaeshi
Japanese: 猫の恩返し
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Release Date: 19 July 2002 (Japan)
Runtime:  75 min

Plot Summary:
Haru, a schoolgirl in unstable behavior, save by chance a cat from a traffic accident. What it ignores is that the cat is none other than the son of the powerful king of cats. This meeting will completely change the course of its existence. In his adventure, three characters will be valuable friends: Chat the elegant Baron, Muta, a big cat wandering, and the crow Toto.

"The Cat Returns" Review:
This Japanese animation movie may seem simplistic, and indeed there are some shortcuts. But it is all caught up as charismatic characters like Baron Humbert von Gikkingen (large class) or the big cat Muta (the fat tough grumpy), the interesting ideas (cats bodyguards!), beautiful images and wonderful music (ideal for relaxing and reading a book).

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347618/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq7NQ0qs7N0

Tokyo Godfathers

Tokyo Godfathers is a Japanese animation movie released in 2003, directed by Satoshi Kon and Shogo Furuya.

Tokyo Godfathers Poster

Genres: Adventure, Drama, Magic, Psychological
Director: Satoshi Kon, Shogo Furuya
Cast (voice): Toru Emori, Yoshiaki Umegaki, Aya Okamoto
Alternative title: Ükskord Tokyos
Japanese: 東京ゴッドファーザーズ
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Release Date: 8 November 2003 (Japan)
Runtime: 92 min
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/tokyogodfathers/index.html

Plot Summary:
In Tokyo, three homeless lives changed forever when they discover a girl in a dumpster on Christmas Eve. As the new year approaches, these three forgotten members of society come together to solve the mystery of corduroy the abandoned child and the whereabouts of their parents. Throughout all the way with events are seemingly unrelated people and force them to confront her past, while learning to face their future together.

"Tokyo Godfathers" Review:
The most phenomenal Tokyo Godfathers, besides its well-made Japanese animation movie, excellent music and great performances, is his script, so round, polished and translucent as a sphere of quartz. Every detail of the film, each word is said or every move can be seen tracing a smooth path to the end, which anyway is not surprising. Best of all, the tape leaves a taste warm and pleasant, and a warmth in my gut that is becoming increasingly rarer to find in contemporary cinema.


Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388473/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q6mcx2qF4Q

Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society

The Japanese animation movie Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society continues the adventures of the cast of Stand Alone Complex.

Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society Poster

Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Cast (voice): Atsuko Tanaka, Osamu Saka, Akio Ohtsuka
Alternative title: S.A.C. Solid State Society
Japanese: Kôkaku kidôtai: S.A.C. - S.S.S.
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Release Date: 1 September 2006 (Japan)
Runtime: 108 min
Official Site: http://www.kokaku-s.com/

Plot Summary:
Year 2034, two years since Motoko Kusanagi left Public Security Section 9. Togusa is now the new captain of the section that has many additional members. One by one the members of a criminal organization committed suicide under the pressure of a "puppet". Add to that the discovery of a vast network of child abduction, the new chief of public safety has not been idle. What can be the ratio between the two surveys? Who is the puppeteer and what is the degree of government involvement in this matter?

"Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society" Review:
Another ghost in the shell and still a success! It's a real pleasure to see the adventures of Section 9 in a film as good as others. The Japanese animation movie is downright beautiful, the soundtrack is a feast for the ears but the highlight of Ghost in the Shell is a beautiful as usual scenario that hold us in suspense throughout the film.

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0856797/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdrFYNCwekY

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

This Japanese animation movie includes some staggeringly beautiful CG images, especially a parade depicting characters from Chinese mythology. Ghost in the Shell: Innocence was screened in competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Poster

Genres: Action, Drama, Psychological, Sci-Fi
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Cast (voice): Akio Ohtsuka, Atsuko Tanaka, Tamio Ohki
Alternative title: Innocence Ghost in the Shell
Japanese: イノセンス GHOST IN THE SHELL
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Release Date: 6 March 2004 (Japan)
Runtime: 100 mins


Plot Summary:
In the year 2032, Batou for the anti-terrorist unit Public Security Sector 9, with his new mostly-human partner, Togusa after the diappearance of Major Motoko Kusanagi. Batou and Togusa have been assigned by Sector 9 to investigate a series of murders involving female robots with sexual functions who slaughtered her owner. As Batou and Togusa digs deeper into the investigation, Batou finds a evil secret behind the Locus Solus company which creation of the female robots.

"Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" Review:
In this Japanese animation movie the former partner of Major Motoko Kusanagi, the cyborg Batou is the main character. He faces crimes connected with 'love-dolls' which go berserk and murder their owners. The more he gets involved the more problems with artificial reality he has to face. Can he trust his own perception or is somebody hacking his e-brain? Like in the first movie (Ghost in the Shell), Mamoru Oshii lets this Japanese animation movie halt at times, immersing the viewer in the richly detailed world he created.

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347246/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qdc_Cfi1

Arrietty

This Japanese animation movie is adapted from a series of children novels written by Mary Norton about little people living near houses and "borrowing" stuff they need. The Arrietty is the highest-grossing Japanese animation movie at the Japanese box office in 2010, and it's also the winner of the Best Animated Film Grand Prize at the Japan Academy Prize.

Arrietty Poster

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Cast (voice): Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Mirai Shida
Alternative title: The Borrower Arrietty
Japanese: 借りぐらしのアリエッティ
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Release Date: 17 July 2010 (Japan)
Runtime: 94 min
Official Site: http://karigurashi.jp/

Plot Summary:
Sho, a 12 year old human boy moves into his great aunt's house in a Japanese countryside and accidentally discovers the presence of a 14-year-old Borrower named Arrietty who lives under the floorboards of this old house with her equally tiny father and mother. However, Arrietty and Sho meet, breaking the rule that humans must not know about the Borrowers' existence. When a young Borrower develops an unlikely friendship with a young human boy, their peaceful life unwittingly changes dramatically.

"Arrietty" Review:
Arrietty the Borrower is a wonderful Japanese animation movie. It just seem to get everything pretty much right. The visual artistry is quite beautiful, with a great deal of invention in the scenes where the little Borrowers navigate through the wide expanses of the house they live underneath. The music in Arrietty is also a nice break from the wonderful Joe Hisaishi compositions. And these images and sounds are combined together into a simple narrative that had an enormous amount of heart to it. For those concerned parents out there, this movie is fully suitable for children.

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568921/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsn3vDl76Yk

Redline

This Japanese animation movie centered on a deadly racing tournament held every five years and naturally every driver wants to win it.

Redline Poster

Genres: Action, Sci-Fi
Director: Takeshi Koike
Starring: Takuya Kimura, Tadanobu Asano, Yuu Aoi
Alternative title: Red Line
Japanese: レドライン
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Release Date: 9 October 2010 (Japan)
Runtime: 101 min
Official Site: http://red-line.jp/index.html

Plot Summary:
Red Line, the biggest racing tournament of the universe and it's only held once every 5 years. Elite drivers from all over the galaxy who unleash lethal weaponry to win — with the rules, such as they are, permitting it. JP, a racing driver take part the prestigious no-rules race held on Roboplanet, the military planet the race is to take place on, is opposed to the race and has threatened anyone participating with death. Why hold the race there? JP participates in Redline in spite of the danger.

"Redline" Review:
Redline is a Japanese animation movie about racing, unlike anything you've ever seen before. Produced by Madhouse, with second key animation by Gainax, music from James Shimoji and a cast and crew pumped with everlasting potential. The main character, JP has the classic Japanese gangster hairstyle, the 'Japanese' team in the race look like otaku and every other male are heavily muscled. The girls are of course sexualised beyond what any ecchi anime could achieve. The characters give the film its flavour and they're incredibly fun and amazing to behold on screen.

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483797/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2H_FsmxWzc