Studio Ghibli is an animation studio created and driven by the infamous Hayao Miyazaki. This Japanese studio is so popular and well-renowned that Disney bought the rights to the American releases just so they could slap on the Disney logo at the beginning of the films. The only other company Disney has done this with is Pixar studios. Disney may not produce any masterpieces of its own these days, but its financial interests are an indicator that the company still knows quality animation when it presents itself.
Here are several trailers for Studio Ghibli films since 1984 until the present so you can check them out for yourself and maybe see what grabs your interest:
http://youtu.be/A8T-bfhJjvM
If you're still not sure by the end of the video, then I'd recommend the studios most critically acclaimed film '
Spirited Away'. You won't go wrong with that one.
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If you want to see a sci-fi action masterpiece with trippiness on par with Space Odyssey 2001 with animation you will not believe possible from a 1988 anime then you might fall in love with
Akira. With subversive themes in a cyber-punk future, Akira delivers entertainment on a level one associates with Hollywood classics like Back to the Future or Indiana Jones. This film will not disappoint. Period. Akira should be a synonym for EPIC.
Here's the trailer for the blu-ray dvd of Akira:
http://youtu.be/aqp1BDXpAJU
An interesting side note is that Kanye West is an anime fan, and the music video for his song 'Stronger' references the shit out of this film. Another bit of trivia is that Leonardo Dicaprio had a plan for his studio that created Inception to create a live action version of Akira. The plan was scraped due to budget issues.
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Ghost in the Shell is a movie produced by the same studio responsible for Akira. It was produced after Akira, and has similar roots in philosophical and dystopian themes.
However, Ghost in the Shell has a slower pace at times, and may take a couple viewings to really appreciate. There is at times very dry philosophical dialogue that takes its time in delivering. Although slow paced, the dialogue is almost spookily poignant in addressing the greatest philosophical of all time. The depth is enough to give you chills.
All this dialogue is couched between beautifully executed action sequences. My only qualm is how often the female lead is naked, but anime is every bit as guilty of objectification of women as the live action studios in Hollywood.
If you don't mind ruining this part of the film for yourself this scene is a great example of the philosophical tone of the film:
http://youtu.be/YZX58fDhebc
Honestly, the film usually takes more than one viewing so even ruining this bit probably won't hurt. It'll probably help you understand the whole thing better in its full context.
Ghost in the Shell had a big influence on the Matrix, which I think is pretty cool. I don't think this movie is perfect, but its a movie for anyone who likes contemplative subjects and depth.
And for the love of god do not watch the version of Ghost in the Shell on Netflix with 2.0 in the title. They add some butt ugly computerized renderings of the original hand drawn material that looks horrible!
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If there were ever an anime to watch on drugs it's
FLCL. FLCL, or Fooly Cooly, is a six episode series made by Gainax studios. The entire thing was made for the studio to try out experimental animation. This series is a visual orgasm that doesn't take itself seriously in the slightest. You may be initially turned off by it and even find it annoying, but the more you watch it the more you understand what's going on, and the funnier you realize it is.
If you find yourself perplexed by things in the show just look them up online and you'll find some anime nerds with either theories or legit explanations for the mind fucks you have experienced.
There are amazing battles at the end of each episode that really epitomize the experimental animation, and are extremely fun to watch. It's complete over-the-top fight scenes that shamelessly leave reality behind in pursuit of pure animated frisson.
So to enjoy this you need to suspend disbelief and be exceptionally patient and open-minded. I can guarantee you will not understand what you have watched after you finish all six episodes the first time around.
A popular theory behind the meaning of the show is that it is symbolic of the challenges and onset of puberty. This is my favorite theory.
Adult Swim has gone on the record saying that FLCL is the best thing they have ever aired. Also, the music for the series is another of its winning features. And despite its nonsensical behavior, the show also offers several heart-wrenching and emotional moments that make it a well-rounded experience.
Here's a music video with clips using the White Stripes:
http://youtu.be/efSUFPAG_mc
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Here are some honorable mentions:
- Paprika:
http://youtu.be/anu2IrsUlVs
- Millenium Actress:
http://youtu.be/vpGrD5wUzKE
- Tokyo Godfathers (Christmas Movie):
http://youtu.be/RjmgSccMGQg
- Memories (Three Short Films):
http://youtu.be/NTyRMfdDfc8
- Cowboy Bebop:
http://youtu.be/T6zDfxZ4NcE
(Cowboy Bebop was influenced by Lupin III, which is given much less appreciation due to its poor animation and trend toward looney tunes and mad tv style comedy over more serious storiest, BUT I have come to really enjoy the old Lupin III shows myself. I find something incredibly charming about the show despite the crude animation its stories are told in. Lupin III is genuinely hilarious. The character designs are still fresh, and hold up well. And when the show isn't making a joke of itself, it will occasionally surprise you with poignancy from its writers and depth and tragedy put behind characters when unexpected. It was the first animated series in Japan to be made specifically for adults. Maybe I'm just biased, but I think this series grows on you if you can get passed its limited animation, and frequently ridiculous scenarios...
Here's a taste: http://youtu.be/T2dNXD2k5t4)