Mind Game
Synopsis:
Nishi has been in love with Myon since he was 9 years old. They both had feelings for each other, but due to Nishi's cowardice their relationship never became more than friendship. Now, in the present, Nishi is 20 years old and aims to be a great manga artist; but he still loves Myon. After years of being apart they meet again, but she tells him that she's thinking of marrying her boyfriend. Nishi is still a coward so he accepts it and wishes her luck. While they're talking at her older sister's restaurant a pair of yakuza walk in looking for their father. One of the yakuza starts harassing Myon and out of anger Nishi chooses to finally take a stand -- but he is shot and dies. Now, in limbo, he chooses to live again; but will he really live any differently than before?
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FLCL
Alt titles: Furi Kuri
Naota Nanbada is a boring young boy who leads a boring life in a boring town. His older brother has left for America, and the closest he comes to any excitement is when his deadbeat dad has too much sake. But things change one day when a bizarre girl zooms up to him on a scooter and smacks him in the face with her guitar. What's more, once Naoto returns home he discovers that this strange woman has arrived ahead of him and moved in! Not only does she constantly engage in perverted activities with Naota's father and flirt with the young man himself, but she also claims to be an alien who is searching for the ‘Pirate King.' Now, Naota must learn to live with this new intruder, deal with an odd government agent who sports exceptionally large eyebrows and the mysterious Medical Mechanica, and come to terms with the fact that there are a variety of robots and weapons emerging out of his head - amongst other things. Perhaps boring wasn't so bad after all...
my anime:
5 people think you'd like this because...
add recBoth Mind Game and FLCL are decidedly bawdy, fragmented and bizarre anime. There is lewd humor thats just absolutely side-splitting, extremely violent action scenes, and moments of oddly heartfelt drama. Also, both shows defy any sort of conventional label whatsoever. The two shows are not romance, or adventure, or slice of life, or comedy, or dementia, or action. They are all of these, and at the same time they are more.
Both FLCL and Mind Game have a similar appeal by being unconventional and somewhat absurd. Similarly they are characterized by being rich in imagery and expressing deep and complex themes.
Both are extreamly weird, have a quite unusual/unique animation style, and have lots of randomness at every turn. If you liked one you should like the other. I found Mind Game had a better story than FLCL.
Both Mind Game and FLCL are confusing in an amazing way. The realistic start is only there to emphasize the twisted turn it soon takes. But the most important similarities, aside from the surrealistic plot and the deformed perspectives, is the dazzling life drive that they convey. If you already like one, you can only love the other.
Both FLCL and Mind Game deceptively open as a slightly odd, but mostly normal story in a normal world. The plot quickly changes, however, revealing each's bizarre, quirky, and at times side-splittingly hilarious story. Each is able to switch between manic and mundane in an instant, are occasionally confusing, but ultimately, both are completely captivating to watch.
Kemonozume
- TV (13 eps)
- 2006
- Summer 2006
In present-day Japan, Toshihiko Momota is member of a secret warrior faction called the Kifuuken. The Kifuuken is dedicated to destroying Shokujinji - humans that turn into man-eating monsters when hunger takes them. However, to fate's chagrin, Momota meets and quickly falls for Yuka, a Shokujinji herself! Will their love be able to overcome Yuka's insatiable appetite for human flesh, or will the couple be destroyed by the bestial tendencies of humanity?
my anime:
5 people think you'd like this because...
add recBoth Kemonozume and Mind Game share the same director, a nearly identical visual style, a dynamic experimental approach to animation, and a wild, heart-thumping soundtrack.
Both Mind Game and Kemonozume share Studio 4C's bizarre, non-traditional animation style. Some people (including myself) will applaud the visuals of these two works as visionary and creative, while others will simply think they're ugly and pointless. At any rate, if you enjoyed one anime's animation, you should certainly enjoy the other's.
If you watch anime for the art, these two are really alike: they have the same character designs, sketchy and dynamic forms, and great backgrounds. Each can be seen as a piece of art that can be hung on a wall. But personally I think Mind Game is more fun to watch because it's only movie length, not a 13 episode TV series. It also doesn't contain as much dialogue. Although, if you prefer scarier anime with beasts, hunters, passion and tension, you'd prefer the 13 episodes of Kemonozume.
Both Kemonozume and Mind Game reflect Masaaki Yuasa's unique, unconventional style of animation as well as being rich in social imagery with intellectually complex themes.
What makes both Mind Game and Kemonozume to what they are, is the way they are drawn and animated. Both shows are fairly abstract and strange, but don't distort the storyline because of this (like it is the case with some other abstract anime, in which the storyline becomes a blur). Looking for an engaging, interesting story combined with a unique way of drawing, an underlying message and brilliant use of colors and animation, don't miss out on this one!
Cat Soup
Alt titles: Nekojiru-sou
- OVA (1 ep)
- 2001
Cat Soup is an extremely abstract, abnormal, and at times, disturbing adventure, from the director of Nadesico. This 30 minute OVA follows two kittens through what seems to be the underworld, as they search for one of their lost souls. Along the way, they encounter new (edible) friends, scary situations, and even the end of the world! Will these felines manage to return unscathed? Or more importantly, avoid becoming the main course for dinner? Confusion abounds in this quirky OVA.
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my anime:
4 people think you'd like this because...
add recBoth Mind Game and Cat Soup are must-sees if you enjoy mind-warping experimental animation. The major difference between the two (besides length) is that Mind Game actually has a coherent plot, but both are nonetheless extremely imaginative anime that push the definition of what an "anime" can be.
Both Mind Game and Cat Soup have a focus on strange storytelling and very experimental and unusual forms of animation.
Both Anime traverse the realm of the Afterlife through bizzar, surrealist imagery. The symbols and situations in both are highly imaginative.
After a brush with Death, the protagonists from Cat Soup and Mind Game go on a bizarre journey through exotic locale(s). Mind Game seems like a grown-up Cat Soup, and (given the greater abundance in dialouge) it's over-arching plot is easier to grasp. The two are styled similarly, though the story and art of Cat Soup are rather more slow-paced. I was very surprised to learn they weren't from the same studio.
Kaiba
- TV (12 eps)
- 2008
- Spring 2008
Welcome to a world in which memories can be transferred from body to body; old painful memories can be removed and replaced with new ones, and the poor sell their bodies to the rich to survive. Waking up one day, Kaiba finds himself in a strange place with no memories of his past and a mysterious hole in his chest; the only clue as to his identity is a locket with a picture of a girl hanging from his neck. Armed with this token, Kaiba must now travel across the galaxy to discover who he is and what the girl in the locket means to him; however, his journey will bring him into contact with many people whose lives have been tragically affected by the manipulation of memories. All too soon it becomes clear that something is very wrong with this world…
my anime:
3 people think you'd like this because...
add recBoth series are directed by the same person, and therefor have a similar off-beat style that will appeal to non-mainstream viewers.
Looking for creativity, originality and surrealism? Look no further! Kaiba and Mind Game are ones of the best examples out there! They also show the importance of life with a complex story and with a lot of depth. If you want something experimental, far from typical animes, watch both theses shows!
If you are looking for something visually different they will both fit that bill and if you want plots and concepts (think ponderings on the nature of humanity and life) with meat enough to chew on you are also in luck.
Both have a refreshing ability to be odd and surreal while maintaining a good level of entertainment. Kaiba does it through engaging characters and subplots while Mind Game seems to revel in the joy and absurdity in life.
Paprika
- Movie
- 2006
In Japan, a team of scientists have created a medical breakthrough: a device that allows the wearer to enter the dreams of a patient, for the purpose of healing. The talented Paprika is a master at her profession, but complications have now appeared in the form of a “dream terrorist” – an unknown foe who inserts nightmares into the minds of those who use the device. The victims are swept up in a ghoulish parade of dolls, kitchen appliances, and musical animals, and are reduced to a vegetable state – or worse. Now, Paprika and the team of scientists must delve into the minds of those affected to figure out the source of the tampering before more people, including themselves, are damaged beyond repair.
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2 people think you'd like this because...
add recAlthough you may feel at times that you're watching a crazy painter spilling all of his colours over a poor canvas, you just can't shake the thought that perhaps these two psichological stories can turn on several lights in that dark interior Universe of yours. Both stories place common characters in extremely uncommon situations, both show possible dreamworlds and yet, both may end in a similar nightmare. To return to reality or to forever remain stuck in a dream state? That is the question in these cases. If you've loved Mind Game for Nishi's sudden change in attitude, then you'll love Paprika, either as herself or as the stern At-chan. You have fantasy, romance, drama and plenty of psichology. Therefore, you're left with only one thing to do: watch one, the other, or even better: both.
Though in diferent way, Paprika and Mind Game open a way to dreamed land, that seems more relaistic than real life at times. This allows for original content, daring scenes and complex symbolism. Paprika still has a more consistent plot as Mind game, which doesnt have the usual plot and conclusion. If you liked the surrealism in this anime, you will certainly appreciate the other.
