You can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
In this section, I write about a Japanese film that tells the story of a little girl from Amsterdam who changed the world, as well as beloved French comics adapted into films that challenge capitalism, discuss labor rights, and feature a magical village.
This piece also talks about a beloved artist and how a Polish film brought his story to life. And finally, I write about a Japanese movie where animals fight for their livelihoods, and an Oscar-winning American film that was on the mind of Guillermo del Toro for 10 years! Dig in!
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The Diary of Anne Frank
You know this one. You have probably read The Diary of a Young Girl. But what you probably didn’t know is that a Japanese director, Akinori Nagaoka, made a feature-length anime based on the book.
The Diary of Anne Frank was released in 1995 and is now available on YouTube for free viewing. On animation, the film’s look and feel is closer to a classic Disney 2D animation film than an anime. The characters’ body proportions are realistic, the skin tone is dusky, and the European setting is as elaborate as necessary.
The storyline focuses on her hiding; in fact, it jumps very quickly into the segment and almost skips the part where her personality shone the brightest. The film is fantastic, but it misses out on featuring a witty, friendly, and rebellious young girl who lived as vivaciously as possible before forced confinement.
Pom Poko
If you have watched this film, you know how many times your jaw hit the floor. And if you haven’t, buckle up for a wild ride, literally.
Pom Poko takes us into the forest, where shape-shifting raccoon dogs fight for their survival and livelihoods. A Ghibli film, it showcases Hayao Miyazaki’s staunch environmentalism without giving a single flying fuck about what the audience may perceive about some of its bold choices.
And by bold, I mean enlarged raccoon testicles, suggestive wild sex, and mountainous Buddha figurines watching the ever-evolving urbanization with little to no regard for the wildlife, ecology, or future.
Pom Poko is a commentary on the ever-increasing conflict between humans and animals, and what might happen if animals, and in this case, an army of intelligent raccoons, chose to fight back!
Asterix: The Mansion of the Gods
I have been a staunch Asterix and Obelix fan since the day I watched it on Television as a child.
The Twelve Tasks of Asterix is a 1976 film that was broken down into smaller episodes and aired on television for a week. The process was often repeated for months.
Asterix: The Mansion of the Gods is a 2014 3D French film, and also a massive tribute to the 2D originals, keeping the spirit of the characters alive.
But aesthetics is not the reason I like this film. The Mansion of the Gods is a commentary on capitalism, labor exploitation, cultural appropriation, deforestation, and deception in the name of development. However, I must mention that the depiction of black characters still feels a little racist, as it was in the older versions.
This film reintroduced me to the concept of a “home” and culture, highlighting the need for a housing crisis solution, particularly when those who build mansions also demand to reside in them.
Loving Vincent
Vincent van Gogh is loved by many, and I like him because he captured the starry nights, potato farmers, a random café, a random room, and the everyday life and imperfections.
Loving Vincent portrays his life the same way he portrayed people – via paintings. Sixty-five thousand paintings were animated to bring the movie together, highlighting the life of an artist who shaped modern art.
Watching Loving Vincent feels like moving into his painting as the characters come to life and expand into the unpainted sections, revealing the life, then the people he was connected to, and speculations about his death.
This Polish film is a lovely tribute to a timeless artist.
Pinocchio
When Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio was nominated for Oscars, my bets were on his film, and I was right.
Tinkering with the dreams of a wooden boy to someday become real, Gullermo has put down his own version and interpretation of the film. We also have Arthur Schopenhauer in the background, and if you pay attention, a tiny dictator in his animated avatar has also made a debut appearance in the film.
It took Guillermo del Toro more than ten years to finally make this film. It almost feels like he took his beloved childhood story and turned it into a stop-motion masterpiece, now retold by an adult who read other fairy tales, philosophy books, and took history lessons seriously.
Also Read: Five underrated animated movies that need no Oscars, Part – 1
Final Thoughts
This piece concludes the series. I will resume when I find other good films to write about. And again, you can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
Stay tuned.
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