Makaitoshi Shinjuku (1988) (V)

Director:

Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Writers:

Hideyuki Kikuchi (novel)
Kaori Okamura (writer)

Genre:

Animation | Fantasy | Horror

Plot Keywords:

Demon | Anime | Sword | Based On Novel

Cast

Hideyuki Hori	...	Izayoi Kyoya
Hiromi Tsuru	...	Rama Sayaka
Kiyoshi Kobayashi	...	Levih Rah
Yûsaku Yara	...	Mephisto
Ichirô Nagai	...	Master Lai
Bradley Lavelle	...	Kyoya Izayoi (as Brad Lavelle)
Teresa Gallagher	...	Sayaka Rama
Bob Sessions	...	Levih Rah
Gareth Armstrong	...	Mephisto
George Little	...	Master Lai
Alan Shearman	...	Chibi (as Alan Sherman)
Takeshi Aono	...	Info Woman
Arisa Andô	...	Waitress
Junko Akimori	...	Little girl

Also Known As:

Demon City Shinjuku
Hell City Shinjuku, US (USA)
Monster City (UK)

Runtime:

Japan:71 min | USA:82 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese | English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Canada:14A | New Zealand:PG | UK:18 | USA:PG-13

Company:

Mad House

Quotes:

Mephisto: Men have always fought each other, always creating chaos. That's familiar and safe. They know where they are in those circumstances, but to hazard a step into the unknown and actually love on another is far too risky for them. So if the demons do invade the world, bringing terror and misery with them, don't you think that men might welcome them as bearers of what they desire?
Kyoya: Are you one of them? Are you, Mephisto?
Mephisto: I have been called demonic, unjustly. I only ask if this world is worth giving your life for, do you know what you are doing?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

Another classic from the crew who brought you Ninja Scroll

*note: this review is based on the subtitled version*

For an anime thats duration is a little under an hour, "Demon City: Shinjuku" is definately up there with some of my all-time favorites. Since it was created by some of the same dudes who made the HUGE hit "Ninja Scroll", "Demon City" is very often compared to it, and is therefore, looked down upon for being nothing like "Scroll" (just look at some of the other comments on this film made by other IMDB users). That's probably why I love it so much.

I HATED "Ninja Scroll". Sorry, but I thought it was worthless. So really, I had no real big expectations, other than the fact that it *could* be a bomb, being released on U.S. MANGA, who are known for some really mish-mash anime releases. However, "Demon City" blew me away with it's clean animation, in-depth storyline, amazing character design, and an ending that's just cheesy enough to still be cool.

The best thing about "Demon City: Skinjuku" is it's evil side. The demons, the big bad guy, and the cursed city of Shinjuku itself, all well though out and beautifully designed. Each battle scene is very different from the next, my favorite being the one in which our heroine confronts a wall of fire conceived from the pain, hatred, and sorrow of the dead.

My only complaint about "Demon City: Shinjuku" is the ending. It's a good cheese, so it's not what the ending IS that bothers me, but just how abrupt it ends. Our hero saves the day, kisses the girl, roll credits.

Using my grading system that seems to p*ss so many off, I'd give "Demon City: Shinjuku" a B+. I love it. I don't really know why, because it's quite different from what I usually enjoy in anime titles, but I love it nonetheless.