Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor
Synopsis:
One dark and blustery night, a lone doctor is called to a village ten miles away in order to help with a sick patient. Quickly losing his servant to ill-intentioned hands and whisked away upon frightening horses, the doctor meets his young and ailing patient under the scrutinizing eyes of his family. It is here that the doctor will try to discover the root of the boy’s illness and also try to make some sense out of his own psyche.
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Atama Yama
- OVA (1 ep)
- 2002
After a miserly man consumes a batch of freshly-fallen cherries (seeds included), he finds himself in a hairy and unfortunate situation - a small cherry tree has sprouted from his balding forehead! With his mountain-like head becoming a tourist attraction, what's a miser to do?
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2 people think you'd like this because...
add recStrange and disturbing things are happening to people whose minds are already a little disordered. A dark colour palette and a bleak tone - these two decidedly arthouse shorts by Koji Yamamura will appeal to the same audience.
Both depicting an abstract style and both animated by Koji Yamamura, Country Doctor and Atama Yama share a very similar style. The shady and shadowy art gives a feeling of depth to the animations, and the stories are inspiringly clever in their imaginative ways.
Old Crocodile
Alt titles: Toshi wo totta Wani
- Movie
- 2005
Once upon a time, there was an old crocodile who had lived long enough to see the building of the pyramids. Plagued with rheumatism, the old crocodile could no longer catch his food; and so he did the next best thing: he ate one of his relatives. After failing to kill him, the rest of the crocodile family called a meeting to discuss what to do next - but the old crocodile, in the midst of things, slipped away unnoticed. He then met a kind octopus who fetched him food and stayed as his companion; but unfortunately, the old crocodile could not fight his instincts, and slowly began to devour her legs - one each evening...
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2 people think you'd like this because...
add recOld Crocodile is about anthromorphised animals and is presented in a straightforward narrative while A Country Doctor is about humans and is dense, elliptical and paranoid. However, each have a grim, pessimistic outlook and were directed by Koji Yamamura. If you liked one the other is certainly worth a look.
Both of these anime shorts have a different style of animation. While their plotlines are dissimilar, both have a similar negativity about them. If you like watching something a little different, then check both of these out.
Comedy
Alt titles: Kigeki
- OVA (1 ep)
- 2002
Legend tells of a lone swordsman who lives in the Demon's Castle, the ruins near the Black Forest. This mysterious stranger only accepts rare books for his services, books from the ancient past. Comedy tells the story of a young girl who desperately wishes for her family and village to be saved from the coming English soldiers' wrath, and is willing to trade a precious book in exchange for the deed. With only her legs beneath her, she runs towards the Black Forest, hoping to get there in time...
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1 person thinks you'd like this because...
add recComedy and Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor are both great choices if you like gorgeously-animated and creepy feeling short films.
Bavel no Hon
- Special (1 ep x 5 min)
- 1996
Two young boys were running late to get to a bus stop one day; and upon their arrival, they discovered a black book that had been left behind. Instead of the usual words inside, opening the book uncovers a world of wonder. A lone tower filled with books stands alone; a giant man-eating fish roams the stormy seas; and a ship sails amidst the waves. This isn’t just another ordinary book!
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Midori
- Movie
- 1992
Midori is a young girl who sells flowers until her mother dies, leaving her an orphan. She’s conned by a freak show manager into joining his troupe, but once there she sees a shocking variety of deformed people and is occasionally the victim of their depravity. Midori’s situation changes, however, when a mysterious dwarf with a unique magical act joins the freak show. This dwarf is able to put himself through a bottleneck into a glass jar – and that is not the extent of his powers. Midori falls in love with the dwarf, but his ambitions and jealousy will have further unpleasant consequences...
