User reviews

And I thought the avant-garde style of animation and story telling was going to take its routinely long hiatus with the marvelous Triplets of Belleville, but I was fortunately wrong.

After reading countless reviews, certain people proclaimed their dislike for this film with little to no elaboration given, which somewhat intrigued me and pushed me further toward wanting to experience Mind Game. As an avid follower of experimental cinema and anime I rarely get rewarded with solidly evolving features, but once in a while I strike gold and get to travel through the medium of rich expressionism dealing with both real life and fictional events in the utmost fascinating fashion. Mind Game is the recent treasure and a great example of such artistry, fusing stories of love, self worth and other qualities of life, without forcing conclusions or values, but merely giving you a chance to reflect on your life or simply enjoy that of the characters.

The main conflict of this film deals with a young man named Nishi, who lacks courage to do what he really wants in life. After a rather fatal turn of events he gets a second chance at life and love. So he embarks on a journey to face things he otherwise wouldn't, but his personal rediscovery takes place in the weirdest of places.

Aside from feeling a genuinely exalting rush with its almost mosaic imagery and perfectly fitting music, I felt something else while viewing Mind Game and I attained a certain notion afterwards, which I don't see worth sharing, since I believe everyone who'll give this a watch will acquire on their own terms, levels and depth.

I think 'Mind Game' is one of those movies that you either really like or really hate, but never in the middle. I spent first 20 minutes itching to turn it off since the animation style didn't seem all that pleasant, but then things just kept happening and before I knew it I was really immersed in it.

'Mind Game' has everything: irony, action, humour , even romance; and it touches practically every aspect of human life, going from relationships to domestic problems. All that covered in psychedelic imagery leaves a great impression.

You might experience various emotions watching this movie but one thing for sure, you won't feel like you've wasted your time when it's over.

I had to give this a 9 out of 10 for a couple of reasons: 1.) This is a truly original movie 2.) With a little patience the animation is greatly rewarding 3.) It's a rare movie about the enthusiasm of life without force-feeding it into the viewer's face.

I liked this movie mostly for reason number two and next because of reason number three. The animation is one of the real driving elements behind the film and if you enjoyed stuff like American Pop or Fire & Ice from Ralph Bashki, then you're also (more than likely) enjoy the animation and wacky celebratory art-style, rotoscoping, cel-shading, 3D and a bunch of other animation techniques used in this film.

Now, the real meat and potatoes lies within this movie's message for appreciating life, as it goes in the movie: the story never ends, just like life goes on even after the curtain drops for the main character (being you).

Unlike most films that force-feed viewers a "hero" who must save the day, get the girl and redeem himself, Mind Game instead wants viewers to root for the hero because the hero is put into a position where only he can root for himself. I also liked that this movie gives a flipside on what it is to appreciate life, even when you have nothing to look forward to in life. I think it helped turn this sometimes violent and dark film into something inspirational and hopeful. I also truly enjoyed the "possibilities" this movie played with that life can sometimes throw our way.

All in all, I loved this film. It's not a typical Japanese anime by a long-shot and it's certainly not for everyone (especially younger viewers) but it's a great film that any avant garde film enthusiast would greatly appreciate.

Wow. What can I say? I was truly blown away by this movie. Winner of the Noburo Ofuji award (the most prestigious award in Japan for an animated film), this film has unfortunately only had a very limited release in Japan (although it is playing in theaters again since winning the award). The director, Masaaki Yuasa, has previously done critically acclaimed animation work on other series, and helped create the equally mind-blowing, and somewhat disturbing short animated movie "Cat Soup".

The first thing about the movie to note is the animation. The animators worked in a collaborative effort, and included a wide range of experimental and traditional animation techniques, a bit of CGI, and even a bit of live action. Viewed as individual pieces, it can be jarring, but seen together as a whole, each piece seems to fit with each other perfectly, with the different animation forms setting the mood perfectly.

The story begins in present-day Tokyo, and follows a loser who is letting his childhood girlfriend slip away. Things take a twist to the fantastical side, as the characters embark on a surreal journey that changes everything about them. The actual elements of the plot are not really the focus of the movie..it is about setting the mood, creating the atmosphere of the characters' emotions, and drawing the viewer in to same mental journey the characters are going on, without even realizing it. The pace of the movie picks up and slows in parts, before building up to its thunderous and (literally) exhausting climax.

See this movie , if only for the virtuoso animation that you will not see in any other film. And who knows? it just might change your whole outlook on life.

I saw this piece on local Animefest and I tell you what. I honestly thought my head will blow. Such seemingly never-ending torrent of originality and imagination is truly unprecedented. There are numerous animation techniques mixed together, loads of standard anime exaggeration (no manga though), psychedelic trips, serious issues and silly sarcastic humor. There's no way an intelligent non-shallow adult would not like this masterpiece. Consider yourself as unprepared for what you will see but be ready to be surprised when you do and mentally exhausted once you did.

By the way, describing the plot of Mind Game would be utterly stupid. It's a mind game alright, you will get the message one way or another.

Straight 10/10

I am frankly appalled to see a total of 5 comments for a movie which, and I believe most people will agree, is deserving of much, much more attention and inspection. This film is like a light at the end of a long, boring tunnel that is the general doldrum of cookie cutter animated films released year round.

At once unique, inspired, beautiful, hilarious, weird, touching, unforgettable, innovative among other words that won't do it justice: Mind Game is the definition of a GEM.

The only other movie that I can think of in the same "category" is Waking Life, another animated excursion worthy of your time and attention. But even if you hated Waking Life, Mind Game is so different you might love it. Mind Game sort of takes Waking Life's "all over the place" style (cartoony one moment, then rotoscoped the next) then adds a story and characters and a LOT of humor.

Seriously, you owe it to yourself to seek this one out. My new agenda will be to show this to as many people as I possibly can. Help spread the word: Mind Game is cool.

This film is beyond anything that has been made to date, both in Japan and the U.S. It is not a conventional narrative, yet the narrative clips along like a kayaker on speed. It seesaws from tight-tension drama to dreamy atmospheric visualscapes to video-game style song and dance routines! The overall plot is unimportant yet is completely engaging and satisfying. The characters come across as real people, and the shifts in perspective and personality heighten our understanding of each character as they face their ordeals. We get a sense of time both passing and standing still- which is the true mark of a genius of film: The ability to wrap us up in his concept of time and carry us along breathlessly.

If you like shiny robots, plots about strange bio-computer viruses that mutate people into shiny robots, and silly relationship dramas about high school kids with strange powers, please avoid this film. If, however, you appreciate innovative stream-of-consciousness film-making, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants pacing, and so-sloppy-its-tight design, get yourself this DVD!!!! (Fans of FLCL take note!) Its hard to find in the U.S. right now (July 17th 2005) but it is poised to explode.

An additional note of interest is the fact that Matthew Minami is the voice of the old man- Jiisan. (You may remember him from the clips of him interviewing Bill Murray on Matthew's Best Hit TV that were featured in Lost in Translation...)

This movie is to a human mind what solving a really complex formula is to a physicist: an eureka! What I mean by this is this movie has all the elements of a life changing experience. You go expecting another entertaining dime-a-dozen type of film but you come out bewildered instead. Okay sure maybe this is a bit of an overstatement but it deserves some overstating since it only gets a poor review of not even 8 stars here on IMDb. I decided to give it a full 10.

I am not going to spoil the experience for you and I will just to sum it up in a few short words. This is the story of a loser named Nishi who bumps into his old flame while she's being chased by some bad guys. They eventually end up the girl's family restaurant where bad guys show up things go horribly wrong and everything changes for everyone.

I found the little snippets in between the story to be most valuable rather than the story itself. Although you need to follow the story closely to understand the snippets. Is is the little things that count. This movie is a lesson. Maybe some sort of don't do what I did type of lesson I don't know. But whatever it is I feel is the only drug you can take visually.

Enjoy.

"This is one surreal mess!" says one character in the film and, yessir, how right she is as weird doesn't even begin to describe the highly experimental anime "Mind Game," Maasaki Yuasa's adaptation of Robin Nishi's manga. It's simultaneously an assault to the senses (Oh, what bright colors! Oh what loud drum rolls!) and an assault to logic (What the hell did they just do?) though it's not to say it's not a hilariously entertaining trip.

The film's narrative -- if you can even call it that -- involves the struggling comic artist Nishi (voiced by Koji Imada) who has just met his childhood girlfriend Myon (Sayaka Maeda) and they catch things up in her father's yakitori pub where they come face to face with two Yakuza members. Nishi gets killed in the process but in a highly bizarre encounter with God in the afterlife, he is brought to life, manages to kill both gangsters, and makes a run for it with Myon and her sister Yan (Seiko Takuma) as they are pursued by other gang members. The three are then swallowed whole by a giant whale. Trapped inside with a man who has spent the last 30 years inside the whale's belly, Nishi, Myon and Yan finally get a chance what true happiness means for them.

A Dali painting by way of a French New Wave film, the wildly unpredictable head trip of the aptly titled "Mind Game" beguiles all logical conventions, presented in dumbfounding temporal edits, inebriating close-up transitions, and varying degrees of crude yet proficient artworks. Unsuspecting viewers are likely to be thrown off by Yuasa's helter-skelter bombast (an outlook substantiated by not a few walkouts from the film's screening) but with exactly the right frame of mind, notwithstanding a sometimes bloated feeling courtesy of the film clocking at a little over 100 minutes, this heckuva kaleidoscopic joyride should delight as it tramples all cinematic formalities and shows, should you decide to break the rules, how to do it with style.

I just saw Mind Game on YouTube after AMID in Cartoon Brew recommended it and I've gotta tell you: You have not and most likely will never see anything like it again! Initially seeming to be a tale about Nishi and his unrequited crush on Myon since childhood, this anime goes in all kaleidoscopic directions that leaves you breathless all the while. If you're tired of all the mostly cookie-cutter CGI features that have bombarded features for the past few years, and want something more unique in Japanese animation, Mind Game fits the bill perfectly! All the animation techniques that have ever existed seem to come into play here and the music score will take you on the wildest trip possible! So on that note, seek Mind Game on YouTube or wherever you can find it.

I have to say that I find it quite odd that I've watched two films in a row that both made me feel, for the most part, neutral. What makes it more odd is that the films are pretty much polar opposites. 'The Martian' is a conventional sci-fi blockbuster by a famous director. 'Mind Game' is a zany and surreal anime film that you can't even get on DVD in most countries (I had to watch it on Netflix).

The plot revolves around a pathetic loser named Nishi who gains a thirst for life after being killed by a Yakuza hit-man, meeting God and returning to Earth to exact revenge. After killing the gang member, he runs off with a car full of drugs, accompanied by the girl he is fixated with and her sister, and gets into a car chase with the rest of the Yakuza. This chase culminates with the trio driving off a bridge and being swallowed by a whale. Inside the whale, they meet an old man who has been living there for thirty years. The film then shows them becoming accustomed to life inside the whale before trying to escape, which serves as the big climax.

The main thing that stands out about 'Mind Game' is its animation and visuals. The film is crammed full with colourful and experimental imagery. It frequently shifts art styles and animation techniques. This is a primarily 2D hand-drawn animated film but often uses CGI for 3D tracking shots impossible in 2D animation, highlighting certain fantasy sequences, or just looking weird and different. There are even certain shots that replace 2D characters' faces with stop motion animation using live actors. I would suggest looking up a trailer to gain a proper look at the film's style.

The animation is very well done and the visuals have had a good amount of thought put into them, but there isn't much else to the film. I would like to apologise in advance for all my future reviews in which I go into great length about how empty or how rich the characters felt. The characters are an important part in whether or not I am engaged with a film. The characters in this film are unremarkable. Besides from what I've already mentioned, the only thing about Nishi is his urge and determination to escape the whale. The three other main characters – the crush, her sister and the old man – are not that interesting either. The fact that I can't remember their names illustrates my point rather well.

The problem of forgettable characters is not helped by the fact that the surreal imagery feels meaningless. It doesn't do much for the film besides making it weird and different. Surrealism isn't necessarily bad. 'Eraserhead' had bizarre and twisted imagery but that, along with its slower pace, helped established an eerie and dreamlike atmosphere that helped draw me into the film. On top of that, the main plot of trying to escape is rooted in the "you can do anything if you put your mind to it" cliché common in anime. These two sensibilities clash and cause a very peculiar mix. A scene in which Nishi gives a pep talk about living life to the fullest and not giving up feels life out of a more generic anime.

There are two montages in the film that give information about the characters and their back stories. The shots in these sequences are only screen for a very short time, which means you need to be attentive. This is all well and good if you're interested in what's going on. Since I wasn't, however, I found myself losing focus and finding them (particularly the one at the end of the film) to drag on for too long.

This isn't a bad film. I didn't hate watching it. I just found it to be unremarkable. The visuals are definitely unique and memorable, the animation is impressive, and the story moves along at a quick enough pace to make up for my lack of engagement. It's just that there are a few failures that cause said lack of engagement. I would only recommended this film if you like crazy and experimental visuals. There isn't much more beyond that.

This movie is really what the title says it is. At first I thought the title was bad, since it didn't say anything about the film, but in the end I realized it does.

If you are looking for a normal story (you know, with a start, an end, a punchline) you are not going to find it in this anime. The animation is coarse, not like the classic Japanese animation, a bit like Tokyo Godfathers, but even more symbolic. So why is this film so great?

Because of the feeling. Plot and animation separately don't make this great, but together they do. The moral of it all is that you must live your life to the fullest and enjoy everything life throws at you, since it is all you have. No one else is going to live your life or enjoy what you have.

My thoughts are that this story is deeply personal to Robin Nishi and, even if a lot of the symbols in it can be singled out and understood, most of it you are left to guess. An argument for this is the torrent of animation sequences that don't make sense in the beginning of the movie, repeated at the end of the movie and suddenly making sense. I believe that is the greatest innovation of this anime.

Bottom line: this is an art film. This time I mean it in a good sense :). Perhaps because it has a positive view on live and it is more accessible. Anyway, if you are ready for its message and are in the mood for a fun carpe diem story, you gotta see this. If you've enjoyed Tokyo Godfathers, then you will also like this movie.

The start of the film is a bit rough,character behavior, but as it moves it along it just gets more amazing. I have seen many Japanese anime movies, Miyazaki being my favorite. Mind Games raises the bar visually, not beyond Miyazaki, but for anime in general. I am amazed that this film has not toured the U.S, by now. Anyone who loves anime must see this film. The use of color is extraordinary and seems to build into ever more wondrous neon kaleidoscope. the story itself is also very well constructed, full of compelling characters, some suspense and a great ending. Life in the whale is such a creative element. I'm now trying to find a DVD copy of this film for my collection. If you have a chance, be sure to see this amazing film.

This movie pulls so many things flawlessly off, I didnt think were possible. The Artstyle and animation are some of the best Ive seen in my life (actually there are several artstyles that are unified by the same style of animation). Unique, exagerated, stylized, fluent, energetic, vibrant. The editing is artistic, yet it lets you easily follow whats going on. The characters seem a bit one-dimensional at first, but gain depth when the movie slows down. Even the soundtrack and sound design is top notch. From poppy, slower songs to powerful and fast drum solos, from the breathing sounds to auditorial dramatisation of emotions.

Mind game is stupid and smart at the same time, flat and phyilosophical. It presents itself as peak-artsy, but in such an silly and innocent way that you simply have to love it.

This is a trippy, exagerated journey and introspection. One that not only teens and early 20s people might enjoy, but pretty much everyone who can handle crazy.

Knowing this was quite an unknown film around most parts, ( it barely got a release anywhere besides Australia and New Zealand outside of Japan, I think, correct me if I'm wrong) but, I must say after buying this Movie I did myself an incredible favor. It was a wonderful,heart pounding, utterly unnerving and hilarious movie that is a feast for the eyes and is an incredible viewing experience. The film uses astonishing and colorful visual techniques to tell its story, and it uses multiple forms of animation throughout its running time. Its an incredibly imaginative and unique narrative, the film jumps from one scenario to the next however the film makers, unbelievably were able to maintain a coherent and easy to understand story thats well told and fleshed out very well.The only minor flaw is that some parts of the film maybe a bit wacky and out there for some of the more sensitive viewers out there,but, Overall, see this film, by any means necessary, don't miss out on this one of a kind experience!

LIve your life to the fullest. Create it, grab and take it. Otherwise cool visuals but also a bit tiring...

I saw this movie at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival "www.bifff.org" in March 2006

This movie is a real kick in the face, a ballet of music, feelings and poetic vision of life. Something between David Lynch and The Yellow Submarine of the Beattles.

The hero is falling into desperation and will meet god for a little interview.

Please take that ride ! You will not regret it. This movie is full of pleasure and humor and you will probably cry or laugh ...

Thanks BB

Watching this movie is an unique experience. A celebration of life with an explosive climax final. However, in my opinion it needs some more depth and creativeness to become a classic masterpiece.

Absolutely unconventional and totally unforgettable. I was only lucky enough to hear about this film in a YouTube countdown of top adult anime films and I was immediately captivated by its unique style of animation; a brilliant mix of anime and film. After searching the web and watching it in less than executable quality, i found a true gem of a film. With its intriguing stylizations of expression that go as far as obscuring the lines of life and death, reality and fantasy, love and hate... a real treat is in store for audiences (17 years and older). Do not expect anything that might mirror the pristine outlines of Studio Ghibli's masterworks. Instead, discover that there are many other unforgettable masterpieces in the world of anime films. Mind Games is a film that all anime fans MUST see before they die. Jot this one on your bucket list.