I spotted the trailer for 'Mindgame' some time back, and it got an announcement a short while ago for its Japanese DVD release, which was a few days before Xmas. Then the listing at Yesasia.com changed : English Subtitles to be included. Just snooped-out the trailer and the official site.
Really, it has some of the nicest animation I have seen anywhere, but no one seems to have been talking about it, and no one seems to have mentioned the DVD release either: so I am "bigging it up" as the youth say.
Theres three different editions: the bog-standard (which I am gonna get this week) for £23 or so, the mid price collectors box and the ultimate edition (something like £120). Oh, and it by another one of the top anime studios in Japan - 'Studio 4 Degrees C' (can't find the little circle for the "degrees"). They're up their with Production IG, and a few others, for their top quality work including most of "The Animatrix". Anyone seen it? Here's a nice pop-up of the poster for it, and the studios official site is here.
**** An Update From Todd ****
Go check that trailer right now. Seriously. That's some sweet, mind-bending stuff. If the trailers are any indication this thing is appropriately named ... and just because we love you, here are some purchasing links: Standard Edition, Pretty Deluxe Edition, Wildly Excessive Edition.
Now THAT is some weird shit. Looks damn good.
Weird ... I hadn't heard of this at all until it turned up on Mark Schilling's year end summary at the Japan Times ... he makes it the #4 Japanese film of the year ... guess I'm going shopping ... should probably throw up a link to that article, too ...
Is it just me, or did anyone else get a Waking Life meets Dead Leaves vibe from that thing?
I was actually REALLY skeptical about this film.. I don't care for the "experimental" type movies, but damn this film is something awsome. The visuals are kinda f***ed up (in a good way), but the story is REALLY powerful... Serious, the trailer doesn't even begin to convey the emotional impact this film packs (at least for me).
The animation looks strangely reminiscent of the animation in the latter half of the anime series Samurai 7. Anyone else who watches that anime get that feel? I've only breezed through a couple of the latter ones and they had that same look in motion, dimension and perception.
It's too early in the morning for me to take a deeper look and see if it's related by production company and such. I need to go to work.
Pretty messed up find though. Niiice.
The animation looks strangely reminiscent of the animation in the latter half of the anime series Samurai 7. Anyone else who watches that anime get that feel? I've only breezed through a couple of the latter ones and they had that same look in motion, dimension and perception.
It's too early in the morning for me to take a deeper look and see if it's related by production company and such. I need to go to work.
Pretty messed up find though. Niiice.
For those who want the original, consider getting the R2 Jap now... the oversea edition will be edited. as from the interview in Japantimes below:
Q:I heard that the company is thinking of inserting the faces of foreign actors for the overseas version. How do you feel about that?
A:It's sad if the actors who appeared [in the original] are not [in the overseas version]. But that may be necessary to get foreign audiences to see it. There is also text that may have to be redone. But I want a lot of people to see and know about the film, so I don't mind if it's changed somewhat. The ideal would be to have a lot of people see it the way it is, but that may be difficult.
source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?ff20040728a4.htm
I really do want to check it out, it's just that... for a DVD of a movie I haven't seen yet fifty bucks is a bit much.
Seen it, ADORED it. What I love is that it's a massively experimental movie that manages to be totally unpretentious and filled with genuine emotion.
It has such a deep kick to it, especially towards the end. There are stunningly powerful montages in the film that have a sort of gut-wrenching honesty to them.
That's what got me most about this film. Its unabashed honesty, that real pain in the face of our intense battle against the limitations of humanity.
glad you lked it...
! Thaks so much for the links to buy the dvd, I was looking for them for a while, this stuff looks SO GOOD I just HAVE to have it.
let us know what you think of the film eva...
It blew my mind straight away. One of the best animes I have seen in my life.WHAT A DRUGLESS TRIP!