I'm Coming Home – Tokyo Godfathers Anime Review
Directed by the late Satoshi Kon, the mastermind behind animation classics like Perfect Blue and Paprika, it is interesting to note that Tokyo Godfathers was also co-written by Keiko Nobumoto – the head scriptwriter for Cowboy Bebop. Many correlate this film to Satoshi’s previous classics and say it doesn’t quite match up, but I’m reviewing it free from comparisons and my verdict stands strong: This is a solid good work and if you’re an anime fan who hasn’t seen this yet, you should.
It’s hard to pin down Tokyo Godfathers with a single genre
due to the way its plot progresses at an almost haphazard pace. The story’s
setting begins amidst the bleak backdrop of a modern city during the Christmas
season, as depicted through the eyes of three homeless people: Hana the
transvestite, Gin the alcoholic and Miyuki the runaway girl. Miyuki is
foul-mouthed and fights with Gin right off the bat, making one wonder how in
the world such an odd trio got together in the first place. They soon discover
an abandoned baby in a dump, and they set off on a journey to find her parents.
This is when a series of amazing miracles and coincidences
take place, to the point of becoming surreal. Add in a mix of comedy, maudlin
undertones and heart-warming scenes and you’re left with a dazzling jumble of a
movie that’ll have you laughing at one moment and on the brink of tears mere
minutes later. Undoubtedly, the film’s strongest aspects are its slapdash cast and rambunctious dialogue.
A constant theme throughout is 'family', as shown by the main
characters’ backstories and their own unique passages of dealing with their
problems. Gin’s gambling addiction drove him to hit rock bottom and abandon his
wife and daughter. But he never stops yearning to see them. Miyuki ran away
from home after stabbing her father. At first, it seems like she is stubborn
and bull-headed – almost spoilt even – whereas in truth, the incident has left her with an
enormous guilt. Both of them are similar in the sense that they seek salvation
from their families, but cannot overcome their fear and remorse to do so. Hana,
on the other hand, was abandoned from birth and has no real family. This
explains why she immediately developed such a strong attachment to the baby, who was all
alone, just like her, and thrown away by the only person they could count on.
At its heart, the film is a touching illustration of the power of forgiveness and the
strength of familial ties. But making peace with a broken family is never easy or set in stone, and this is shown through realistic scenes. Thus, the story's progression feels sincere and achingly honest. Its usage of a Christmas setting makes it that much more impactful too. While it is indeed a time of merry-making and a celebration of new beginnings, Tokyo Godfathers beckons onlookers to discover a hidden aspect, the diamond in the rough of this conventionally happy and glamourous period for the blessed: that even the abandoned, homeless and lost have magnificent things in store for them.
To sum it up...
Plot: 9/10 – Plays like an
adventure-modern-fable flick, with an excellent fusion of poignant and humorous
situations. Some didn’t like the ending, saying it was “lame”, and truthfully,
I can understand if it seemed abrupt. Still, I thought it had a nice little
spark of shock, and the vague ‘now what?’ feeling it finished off with kept in
line with the film’s overall outlandish nature.
Animation and art: 7.5/10 – The visuals are
based on realism with a tinge of caricature influences AKA realistic-looking
character models with exaggerated movements and expressions.
Music: 6.5/10 – Honestly, I can’t remember a
single piece of music from the film. This could
mean either one of two things; A) it was just so incredibly bland that it
went in one ear and out the next or B) the plot was so exciting that my ears
stopped working and all the blood rushed straight to my eyeballs to not miss a
single scene. Whatever it is, it still means the soundtrack was forgettable.
Characters: 9/10 – I always like it when
characters reveal hidden sides of their personalities as the story unfolds. The
main cast members are just so different from each other and yet, they end up meshing
well and creating a fascinating relationship dynamic.
Personal enjoyment: 9/10
Overall rating: 9.5/10 – Check it out if you
want a fast-paced, funny, boisterous movie that is ultimately feel-good without
it all being sappy rainbows and sunshine. Damn well a near masterpiece, though I felt it
could have gone a bit more in depth for the character flashbacks, namely Hana
and Miyuki.
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