"Môsô dairinin" (2004) TV series

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

Satoshi Kon

Writer:

Satoshi Kon (story)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

28 May 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Mystery

Plot:

We follow different fates in modern Japan. Each episode ends with an asault by a boy with a golden bat. Throughout the animation series we learn more about the boy.

Plot Keywords:

Cult Favorite | Double Life | Good Cop Bad Cop | Voyeur | Black Comedy

Cast

Jonathan Klein	...	Additional Voices (13 episodes, 2004)
Shôzô Îzuka	...	Keiichi Ikari (7 episodes, 2004)
Toshihiko Seki	...	Mitsuhiro Maniwa (7 episodes, 2004)
Mamiko Noto	...	Tsukiko Sagi (6 episodes, 2004)
Ryûji Saikachi	...	Old Man (6 episodes, 2004)

Also Known As:

Paranoia Agent (International: English title) (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

Japan:316 min (13 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese | Japanese

Color:

Color

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:TV-14 (two episodes) | USA:TV-MA | UK:18 (episode 8) (heavily cut) | New Zealand:M | Australia:MA (some episodes) | South Africa:13V (DVD volume 1) | South Korea:15 (DVD volume 2) | Australia:M

Company:

WoWow

Trivia:

This series is shown on satellite networks in Japan as it was deemed unsuitable for prime time network television.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ikari notices Hirukawa on the swing, the coat he holds switches arms several times.

Quotes:

Keiichi Ikari: The whole world is about to end, and all because of a goddamned puppy!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

dark and psychological

I saw the Japanese audio version with English subtitles.

This is definitely a series for mature audiences. It's not afraid to go into unhappy situations and unpleasant characters, and show people battling with their various dysfunctions. Very psychological and surreal. If you've never seen Satoshi Kon's other works before, be prepared to initially go "What the...?". (Actually, I was still saying that more than halfway through this series, but that didn't stop me from watching it almost completely straight through.)

Satoshi Kon has a distinctive style of delving into people's heads and meshing reality with fantasy. After first viewings of his works, I always get the feeling I'm going to have to go back several times and figure out everything I didn't catch.

On the whole, this series is very deep and dark, but there are many humorous moments. Some of the episodes depart from the "main" characters and go off in really creative directions. It's not the best series I've ever seen, and it's certainly not for everyone, but it's good. If you are looking for something really different and are up for the mental stimulation, this is it.