Ginga Tetsudō no Yoru



Bomb#20 will vouch for me here, but my S.O. is hung-up on the 'Japornimation' archetype.

It stands to figure though, since she's quite a bit younger than I am and grew up in the wake of Manga's releases of Madhouse productions (Ninja Scroll and the like). She also grew up addicted to Walt Disney's television work of the era (including Tailspin, ironically animated by Japan's TMS) as well as the squiggly-lined cartooning of Doug and Pepper Ann (yay, verily, twas bliss to be a Millennial in the 1990s...)

Over this morning's coffee and pancakes we discussed the nature of escapism in works of fiction, and eventually got around to escapism as it pertains to animated cartoons. Given her predilection for disliking Japanese cartoons she naturally has difficulty understanding the 'realistic' approach used in the cartoons from Japan; cartoon people make no sense to someone accustomed to the exaggerated, anthropomorphism typified by America's cartoon past.

I told her about 'Night on the Galactic Railroad' and she sounded interested. Granted, this film is not typical of Japanese cartoons, but as an application of anthropomorphism to universal themes of human nature and certain existential themes she ought to at least be able to 'make the jump' -- or so I hope.

We'll watch it tonight and see if her head doesn't explode.

12 comments:

Creginald Vandercleve said...

"where can I find this in an english dub?" @_@

_______ said...

Good write up at ANN.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/buried-treasure/2006-12-21

Sounds like there was a box set from CPM, but I've never seen it. I did find a single disc release from them at Half-Price a few months ago. I'll see if I can dig it out and you can borrow it.

Also suggest Graveyard of the Fireflies for the panty averse SO.

Creginald Vandercleve said...

No way! Hotaru no Haka would make her want to slit her wrists!

Unknown said...

Have you shown her The Cat Returns?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mck0zdooulA

Creginald Vandercleve said...

She liked The Cat Returns, is mixed on Miyazaki in a general sense, and at this pint I'm afraid that there's nowhere to go but Maple Town Monogatari...

Unknown said...

So what have you shown her? And what did she like and hate? Heck, get her to post a review here. I'd love to hear what an, "outsider," thinks of these crazy cartoons from another land and the culture it's created.

Creginald Vandercleve said...

- Nausicca
Felt it too violent, fell asleep.

- Totoro (she liked it)
- Spirited Away (liked)
- Howl's Moving Castle
(has not yet seen)

- The Cat Returns (liked)
- Porco Rosso (liked)
- Kiki's Delivery Service (liked)

- Cagliostro's Castle
Liked, but felt it was too violent.

When we were browsing the Anime section at Suncoast the other day she saw a guy browsing the (ironically) nearby Adult section, and was creeped-out.

I'd consider asking her to try to write a review of a cartoon (Japanese or otherwise) that she liked, but I think that the very notion might make her skin crawl a little; lately she says she "hates" movies, and flat-out refuses the notion of attending any sort of convention (though I can't say I blame her for the latter).

We'll see!

RWG said...

She seems to like the Miyazaki films, try the Great Detective Holmes (Sherlock Hound) stuff.

Though I dunno if it's available in English.

RWG (I've...uh, been "out of it" for a while :-)

Creginald Vandercleve said...

I also thought about "Sherlock Hound", 'tough I wonder if it's even that easy to find anymore!

eBay here I come...

Unknown said...

I've seen all the Pioneer Sherlock Hound DVDs at Half Price Books. And you can still rent all of them at Netflix...

Creginald Vandercleve said...

Whoa! Those DVDs can get spendy!

Hmm:
"As of May 19, 2009, TMS Anime has posted all 26 full version episodes in English on YouTube. However, most of the episodes are out of order."

Back to YouTube...

_______ said...

I have them and you can borrow them if you don't want to watch youtube.

I still need to watch them, but I keep hearing good things about 5cm per Second and The Girl Who Lept Through Time.