Nishihara Toru is an everyday guy with an on-and-off girlfriend and a position working for a train buff. Things become complicated when a ghostly vehicle dubbed the X Train begins to ride the rails, destroying everything in its path. The catch? Somehow, it seems that Toru is connected with the X Train by a strange power, which draws the attention of some very dangerous and power hungry people who would wield it for their own...
This set of 3 fantastic stories will take you from the haunting delusions of a space explorer, to a bio-chemical threat with the power to wipe out all of Tokyo, and finally to a day in the life of a young boy who lives in a world ruled by cannons. These stores will capture you with their intrigueing storylines and awe inspiring artwork.
Neo-Tokyo (commonly called Manie-Manie Monogatari) is a collection of three sci-fi stories, based on the stories of Taku Mayumura. "Labryinth Labyrithos", "The Running Man", and "Order To Stop Construction" were directed by Taro Rin, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Katsuhiro Otomo, respectively. Ranging from an abstract demented clown to malfunctioning robots, each of these short stories are sure to entertain.
In a dark and largely abandoned city a little girl wanders in search of something – beneath the folds of her dress she carries a mysterious giant egg. While living on the streets, she encounters a lonesome warrior who has forgotten his past and his purpose and, like the girl, travels aimlessly. Now they journey together, mistrustful of each other whilst sharing in the silence of the city. But who is the little girl? Who is the warrior? And what form of creature lies sleeping inside the egg?
Both Take the X Train and Angel's Egg are very mysterious and have a particularly slow and intriguing plot. The x train and the egg can be thought of as having a similar status in the stories, and the background that is shown little by little is rather uncommon.
From the depths of the human imagination comes Twilight Q, a Twilight Zone-style set of two tales based upon the paranormal and supernatural. In one story, Mayumi and Kiwako find a camera that supposedly came from the future, with very interesting film and already-taken pictures inside. Secondly, a tale by Mamoro Oshii which chronicles a strange occurance of planes turning into carp in mid-air, much to the dismay of private investigators and the media alike.
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?
Both Mind Game and Take the X Train feature a spastic pace with bizarre, eclectic animation that emphasizes expressionism and disorientation. They each give us a pathetic and emasculated figure as our lead who must rise to the occasion in a decidedly unromantic way as weirdness escalates.