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Do you like Studio Ghibli? Then you'd love these 10 Japanese anime films

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Johanna L. Añes-de la Cruz

<p>MANILA -- We still have about two more weeks of being cooped up at home, which gives us more than enough time to catch up on movies and TV series. Among the most binge-worthy ones are Japanese animated films and series. Thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix, Studio Ghibli films and anime in general have steadily increased in popularity bringing the genre to a broader, more international, and more mainstream consciousness. </p><p>However, the Japanese animated movie industry is so much more than just Studio Ghibli. There is a wealth of films to watch if you want to immerse yourself deeper into the wondrous world of Japanese animation. As a fan of the genre for almost three decades now, allow me to give you a rundown of 10 non-Studio Ghibli animated films which, in my humble opinion, are some of the essentials that must be watched at least once:</p><div><strong>1. &quot;Wolf Children (Ōkami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki),&quot; Mamoru Hosoda</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/03/studio1.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Part sentimental, part tragic, but thoughtful and tender all throughout, this movie on the choices parents and their children make is arguably director Mamoru Hosoda’s masterpiece. &quot;Wolf Children&quot; is about a young widowed mother’s move to the countryside to raise her small children. But, it’s not as idyllic as it sounds because her tots are not your ordinary kids -- they are part werewolves. For children, this movie is a relatable take on the pains of growing up and choosing your own path; for parents, it’s a touching reflection on the often bittersweet reality of giving your children the freedom to be who they want to be even if that means letting them go. </p><p>Hosoda is considered by many as the heir apparent to Hayao Miyazaki, but he’s still relatively unknown outside Japan compared to his equally talented peer Makoto Shinkai of &quot;Your Name&quot; fame. But his impeccable storytelling and distinctive visual style make him a strong contender for that title (I prefer his works over Shinkai’s, but that’s just me).</p><p>Be warned: don’t forget to watch with a box or two of tissue within reach. </p><div><strong>2. &quot;Tokyo Godfathers,&quot; Satoshi Kon</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/03/studio2.jpg"/></figure></div><p>It has almost been a decade since the great Satoshi Kon succumbed to pancreatic cancer, but his body of work lives on to be among the most highly acclaimed in the genre. One of his most memorable films is &quot;Tokyo Godfathers.&quot; </p><p>Set in a gritty and grimy Tokyo that is far from the usual romanticized city of neon lights and towering skyscrapers, the story follows an unlikely troika of homeless people -- aging alcoholic Gin, former drag queen Hana, and stowaway teenager Miyuki. The motley crew finds an abandoned baby dumped in the garbage on Christmas Eve and despite their meager resources, try their hardest to give the baby a home for a few days. While trying to find the baby’s family, they unwittingly embark on their own personal journey of healing. &quot;Tokyo Godfathers&quot; is not only a stunning work of animation, but is a heartwarming reminder that sometimes the family that we choose is even more of a real family than the one we were born into. </p><div><strong>3. &quot;The Girl Who Leapt through Time (Toki wo Kakeru Shōjo),&quot; Mamoru Hosoda</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/03/studio3.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Hosoda’s first hit,&quot; The Girl Who Leapt through Time,&quot; now ranks among the classics of Japanese animated films. The story follows 17-year-old Makoto Konno who suddenly finds herself able to &quot;leap&quot; backwards through time. She does what any girl her age will most likely do -- she improves her grades, goes on marathon karaoke sessions, and avoids personal mishaps. Inevitably, she soon realizes that changing the past is not as simple or as glitch-free as it seems. Hosoda rewards us viewers with an engaging coming-of-age-story with characters that are both lovable and relatable. </p><p>Fun fact: Hosoda was initially tapped to direct the Studio Ghibli hit &quot;Howl’s Moving Castle,&quot; but had to leave the project due to creative differences with Miyazaki. &quot;The Girl Who Leapt through Time&quot; shows just why Miyazaki would entrust him with such a huge project- Hosoda truly is a gifted director, animator, and storyteller. </p><div><strong>4. &quot;Your Name (Kimi no Na wa),&quot; Makoto Shinkai</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/03/studio4.jpg"/></figure></div><p>On the surface, &quot;Your Name&quot; seems like a quirky body swapping romance between protagonists Taki and Mitsuha, but a deeper probe reveals a multilayered movie that so deftly interweaves a bevy of themes. It touches on tradition and destiny, physical and spatial alienation, history and memory, the spiritual and the supernatural, comedy and romance. Director and writer Makoto Shinkai tries to do so many things at once, but much like an experienced juggler, he pulls it off with overwhelming and effortless grace. </p><p>The biggest thing to happen in the realm of Japanese animated films since &quot;Spirited Away,&quot; &quot;Your Name&quot; cemented Makoto Shinkai’s niche in the pantheon of animation greats while charming the whole world with its riveting plot and winsome characters. </p><div><strong>5. &quot;A Letter to Momo (Momo e no Tegami),&quot; Hiroyuki Okiura</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/03/studio5.jpg"/></figure></div><p>At first glance, &quot;A Letter to Momo&quot; seems straight out of the Studio Ghibli factory even if it’s from another renowned studio, Production I. G., which gave us anime greats such as &quot;Ghost in the Shell&quot; and &quot;Psycho-Pass.&quot; The visuals are gorgeous from vivid island hues to the mischievous goblins all thanks to talented director and writer Hiroyuki Okiura who has worked on iconic animated films such as &quot;Akira&quot; and &quot;Jin-Roh.&quot;</p><p>Delightful yet at times dark, &quot;A Letter to Momo&quot; is a charming film that skillfully manages to tackle complex themes like death and bereavement. After the death of her father, Momo Miyaura moves from bustling Tokyo to her mother’s sleepy childhood home on an island. As she tries to come to terms with the huge changes in her life- her father’s passing, their relocation to the countryside, and the struggles with her grief-stricken mother -- she comes of age with the help of a few impish supernatural friends. The result is a touching movie on grieving over things that once were or what might have been and acceptance that some things will never be the same again. </p><div><strong>6. &quot;Millennium Actress (Sennen Joyū),&quot; Satoshi Kon</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/03/studio6.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Genya Tachibana, a filmmaker, decides to make a documentary about a former A-list star turned recluse, Chiyoko Fujiwara. Together with his cameraman, Kyoji Ida, the trio revisit the aged actress’ memories from her life as a sought-after star to her futile search for the love of her life. The two men join Chiyoko as she reminisces her youth, playing different roles depending on which memory is conjured. </p><p>&quot;Millennium Actress&quot; is widely considered by many to be Kon’s masterpiece. He deftly melds fantasy and reality, memory and imagination resulting in a riveting and heartfelt rumination on the transcendent power of movies and their impact on personal and collective experiences. </p><div><strong>7. &quot;Akira,&quot; Katsuhiro Otomo</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/03/studio7.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Released in 1988, but set in a dystopian Neo-Tokyo in 2019, Akira tells the story of Shōtarō Kaneda, leader of a biker gang whose best friend, Tetsuo Shima, acquires telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident got him involved in a top secret military project. This newfound power thrust the two friends in the heart of a conflict that threatens to destroy the world. </p><p>It has been 32 years since &quot;Akira&quot; was released, but the film’s style, themes, and message resonate to this day. The movie shows how animation could be a potent medium to address social issues. Perhaps the gateway Japanese animated film for older fans of the genre, &quot;Akira&quot; is the standard to which subsequent movies of a similar mold were held. So influential is director and animator Katsuhiro Otomo’s masterwork that its influence reach far beyond Japan -- it was featured in a Kanye West music video and the Duffer Brothers of &quot;Stranger Things&quot; admit to the movie having a considerable influence on their hit Netflix series. A live-action adaptation to be directed by Taika Waititi (&quot;Jojo Rabbit,&quot; &quot;Thor: Ragnarok&quot;) is set to be released on May 21, 2021. </p><div><strong>8. &quot;5 Centimeters per Second (Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru),&quot; Makoto Shinkai</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/03/studio8.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Though not as highly acclaimed as his more recent works, Shinkai’s &quot;5 Centimeters per Second&quot; is what first catapulted the talented director to renown and for good reasons. In true Shinkai form, the visuals are stunning and the plot a sweeping tale of love found, lost, and longed for. The film is divided into three episodes following Tohno Takaki’s journey from childhood to adulthood -- from the joys of first love, the anguish of first heartbreak, and the pangs of longing for things that were and will no longer be. </p><p>The title &quot;5 Centimeters per Second&quot; derives from the speed at which cherry blossom petals fall -- a symbol of transience in Japan and a metaphor for the evanescence of our formative encounters no matter how beautiful they were. </p><div><strong>9. &quot;Mirai,&quot; Mamoru Hosoda</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/03/studio9.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Four-year-old Kun is now a big brother. At first, he could not wait to meet and play with his new baby sister Mirai. A few days later, as his parents seem to shower her with more and more attention, little Kun starts growing jealous and resentful of the family’s newest member. What ensues is a magical journey to the past and the future as Kun learns the importance of one’s family in shaping our identities. </p><p>Teeming with warmth and affection, &quot;Mirai&quot; showcases once again Hosoda’s masterful storytelling and remarkable talent in animation. Adding an authentic feel to the movie is the fact that it’s partly inspired by Hosoda’s own experiences observing his four-year-old son react and adapt to the arrival of his little sister. &quot;Mirai&quot; is the first non-Ghibli movie to garner an Academy Award nomination and the first of its genre to be featured at the Cannes Film Festival. These accolades among many others show why Hosoda might just be the most talented animator alive outside of Studio Ghibli, rivaled only by Shinkai. </p><div><strong>10. &quot;In the Forest of the Fireflies (Hotarubi no Mori e),&quot; Takahiro Omori</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/03/studio10.jpg"/></figure></div><p>The shortest yet perhaps the most heartbreaking film on this list is the poignant &quot;In the Forest of the Fireflies.&quot; This 40-minute short film traces the special bond between Gin, a forest spirit, and Hotaru, a human, from their playful friendship when Hotaru was still a little girl to their budding romance when she reached adolescence. </p><p>Told with so much simplicity and tenderness, the film’s climax could nonetheless leave you gutted and crying your eyes out. Director Takahiro Omori delights viewers with picturesque watercolor backdrops and light colors that capture the beauty of changing seasons. &quot;In the Forest of the Fireflies&quot; shows us that goodbyes sure are painful, but they could also be beautiful. </p><p>Honorable Mentions: Hosoda’s &quot;Summer Wars&quot; and &quot;The Boy and the Beast&quot;; Kon’s &quot;Perfect Blue&quot; and &quot;Paprika&quot;; Shinkai’s &quot;Weathering with You&quot;; Tatsuyuki Nagai’s &quot;Anthem of the Heart&quot;; and Naoko Yamada’s &quot;A Silent Voice.&quot; </p>

<p>The wonderful world of Japanese animation is so much more than Studio Ghibli.</p>