Tekkonkinkreet (2007)

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

This movie was introduced to me when I saw Paprika a while back,it was one of the previews before the movie. I thought it looked imaginative and interesting, but when I watched it I was somewhat disappointed. I still find it enjoyable, but it's completely different from what I thought it was about. So apparently it's about these two orphans named Black and White, who make up a gang called the cats who run the city of treasure island. With that I thought it was unconvincing that just two kids could be so dangerous, but when we get into the jumping scenes it's not all completely unbelievable, and it happens right away so that's good. Another thing to note is the animation style, it's definitely different from most anime's I've seen, luckily it's not the detriment to the film in anyway, and if anything it adds to it. The themes that this movie tries to convey is what irritates me, for them being so bluntly obvious. The characters names: Black and white, seriously? Your going to the basics of thematic righting? Black being the absence of emotions the chaos if you will, and white the purity the innocence. Even later when Black has a yin-yang on his shirt, they couldn't have made it so blatantly obvious what they're trying to say: that one can't exist without the other. I guess this wouldn't be as bad if I felt for these kids, but they're aren't that interesting. I mean white acts like a special child; which suppose to mean he sees good within the rubble, and Black is so depressing and pathetic. There are moments where I do like them, for instances when they play around and fight those other kids in the beginning of the film, they looked happy and I felt that. The supporting cast is not all that great either, there's a yakuza member who has no real point to having a story arc; although the scene with his boss is really good, which by the way the mob boss is one of the few characters I liked. The cops: pointless, the old man: why? That purple guy named snake: well he was essentially to the plot and his minions were cool in action. Finally the scene with the demon black is really pretentious, I mean it an evil inside him; hasn't that become a cliché long before this movie? Talking to Black about how he'd be so much better without white, and I already know how's this is going to end so it's watch watching at this point, and then it finally ends somehow with the two at the beach like White always wanted. So overall, this is an average anime film, but a not so great film in general. Please note I wanted to like this film; and I do to an extent, but the overall obvious thematic elements and lack of interesting characters makes this not anything special.

Black and White: Innocence and brutality, joy an sorrow, fun and pain.There is no better way to describe this film, which in w wonderful way, manages to combine the most opposite elements (From the naive, exaggerated elements from the anime martial arts with characters with superpowers, to the nostalgic sadness of movies like "The Grave of the Fireflies") in order to create something unique and captivating.In this movie there are moments of intense violence, but also moments of sweet tenderness: Just like "Pan's Labyrinth" the most innocent things seem to appear in the same world where the most terrible things could happen. And just like in "Pan's Labyrinth" the innocence and hope constantly battles with brutality and bleakness from every's days life. (Though this movie is somewhat more optimistic) Many scenes from this film were memorable and mind-blowing: Some of them were examples of the most beautiful and unique kind of animation that I've seen in the recent years. The character design is very original too, and in it is considerably different from any other anime I've saw before.Michael Arias made a incredible work in this film. This is not the kind of movie that you see every day: It's a strange, unique and fascinating experience, something that you could love or hate, but that in no way could leave you indifferent.I highly recommend this movie to anyone.

Tekkon Kinkreet is the most stunning visual anime that I seen since Akira. Director Arias, use of colors and directing style is nothing short of genius. The best part of this movie is its heart felt story between the two brothers Black and White. Black is the older more responsible brother, who is tough and violent, while White is the younger, off beat, childish brother. Black and White watch over the city they live in called Treasure City, in a gang called the cats. But it's the duality of the orphaned brothers that makes this story so touching. The tough older brother, Black, needs his young brother White to remind him of his humanity and White needs his brother to help protect him.As the two brothers protect Treasure City, the evil developer Snake moves in to take over. As he vows to kill Black and White, the brothers bonds are tested. Black is faced with his dark inner demons of hatred and violence and White must bring him back.There are no giant robots in Tekkon Kinkreet or magic. Although the brothers Black and White seem to be able to fly on and off rooftops, it seems to be the limit of any type of super powers. This anime is amazing purely for its story and visual look. If you are a fan of anime or cartoons, rent this movie. You will not be disappointed.

This will be brief because I'm not sure what to say. I don't mean that in a bad way, its just that trying to describe this film is not at all easy.Tekkonkinkreet is the story of two kids named Black and White. They are known as the Cats and are considered by some to be the protectors of a part of the city known as Treasure Town. As a year goes by a yakuza captain returns to the city and a man named Snake appears with his eye on turning that part of the city into an amusement park.I'm explaining it badly, forgive me, since this is a film thats better to experience than to hear about. Using a mix of 2D and 3D cgi this is a film that is vibrantly alive. There is a real sense of place that is missing from many animated films. The world bleeds off the screen. The film rarely sits still its constantly in motion as characters go from place to place or engage in battles for life and death. Its an amazing thing to watch.The characters are very real. I watched the film with the English dub (I know boo hiss) and the choices of actors was wonderful. The voices of the kids were kids and seemed to perfectly match their personalities. The same goes for the other characters as well. What I liked was that the kids were kids. They seemed to be real kids behaving in the situations presented. Granted the film is wildly fantastical but the personalities and behaviors outside of the running and jumping and beating people up was real.A word of warning, this is a dark film at times. There is a great deal of violence, which despite being animated is very nasty and bloody. The film also has some dark undertones as some of the characters slip into the darkness of their souls. Its disturbing enough to get an R rating.On the down side the film takes a while to get going. I was about a third of the way in before it started to click with me. No doubt it was due in part to the very large cast of characters. (I'm certain this is going to play better on a second viewing). My other problem with the film was a shift towards the end which makes me think I may have missed something along the way. I feel as though I missed the climax of somethings. (Again this will probably be better on the next viewing) Over all worth a shot. definitely see this in widescreen since the compositions are geared to that.