Japanese Anime

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Japanese Anime

Akira
Katsuhiro Otomo
In the 21st Century, 30 years after a devastating global nuclear war, mankind is once again on the brink of total annihilation. In a world populated by rival motorcycle gangs and petty politicians, a powerful psychic force, known only as Akira, suddenly resurfaces in Neo-Tokyo. A milestone in the history of Japanese animation. Japan, 1988, 124 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Angel Cop - The Collection
The Special Security Force was formed at the end of the 20th century to protect Japan's economic security from the deadly threat of international terrorism. This elite, 10-man team, with special authorization to prevent terrorist activities and ensure public safety, has been granted a license to kill. Their newest member, the cold, beautiful and deadly Angel, has to face the greatest threat they've ever known. Features six episodes. 150 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Castle in the Sky
Hayao Miyazaki
This wonderful animated adventure from Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) follows an orphan named Sheeta as she tries to discover her family's history. Along the way she meets Pazu, a young boy whose father once took a picture of the legendary flying island of Laputa only to have it dismissed as a fake. When the two discover that Sheeta's family heirloom allows them to levitate, they decide to search for Laputa. Unbeknownst to them though, they are being trailed by a secret agent named Muska, who is also searching for the mysterious flying island. Features the voices of James Van Der Beek, Anna Paquin and Cloris Leachman. The two-DVD set includes an introduction by John Lasseter, a voice talent featurette, the complete storyboards, the original Japanese trailers and multilingual subtitles. Japan, 1989, 125 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

The Castle of Cagliostro
Hayao Miyazaki
The first international hit from the director of Princess Mononoke is a fast and furious slapstick production, boasting a lead character who is more memorable than most live actors. There are gun fights, air attacks, steel-plated mutant ninjas, incredible visual effects, classic lines and a terrific showdown inside a giant clock, all brought to life in incredible animation. The VHS is dubbed in English; the DVD is letterboxed, with Japanese and English audio options and optional English subtitles; includes theatrical trailer. Japan, 1980, 100 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Shinichiro Watanabe
The full-length, feature film adaptation of the hit anime series is a wonderfully animated, smart realization. Set just prior to the sci-fi series' conclusion, the action follows the interstellar bounty hunters to Mars where they must find a killer on the verge of releasing a viral terrorist attack. A well-written script combined with dynamic, fast-paced action set this anime feature apart from the rest. "This is magnetic, beautiful stuff" (Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune). In Japanese with English subtitles. The DVD includes English & French language tracks, French subtitles, 6 behind-the-scenes featurettes, music videos, art galleries, storyboard comparisons and more. Japan, 2003, 115 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Darkside Blues
Nobuyasu Furukawa
The Persona Century Corporation controls the entire world, except for a small, lawless free zone known as Darkside. Intent on gaining control of the globe's last place for liberty, the tyrannical dictatorship finds themselves up against a small band of rebels and one dark mystic. From the creator of Vampire Hunter D and Demon City Shinjuku. Violence and nudity. DVD contains both dubbed and subtitled versions, Dolby Surround. Japan, 1994, 83 mins.
DVD | $37.95  

The Dimension Travelers
Kazuya Konaku
From director Kazuya Konaka and screenwriter Sadayuki Murai (Cowboy Bebop) comes this teenage coming-of-age drama meets mind-bending sci-fi fantasy. Midori (Chiharu Niyama) seems a typical schoolgirl, with a crush on a boy, Yamazawa (Masaki Takari), who doesn't know she exists. Freakish events suddenly jolt Midori from her ordinary life. Mysterious soldiers seem to terrorize her, declaring her a dangerous mental patient - and her own family seems to agree. Her best friend, transfer student Mayumi (Yasue Sato), claims to be perfectly sane, but from another planet. Is Midori losing her mind? Or is she a dimension traveler with powers that could blow the universe apart? Soon Midori learns the truth about Maymumi, Yamazawa, and her own existence. The DVD is widescreen and includes English and Japanese language tracks, "Meet the Travelers" feature, trivia, trailer, and script. In Japanese with English subtitles. Japan, 1999, 95 mins.
DVD | $37.95  

Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture
Masami Obari
A full-length animated feature. Prideful young Laocorn Gaudeamus has scoured archaeological sites for the legendary "Armor of Mars." To prevent her brother from acquiring it, Laocorn's beautiful, estranged twin sister, Sulia, enlists the aid of the only man in the world powerful enough to challenge him...Terry "Hungry Wolf" Bogard. Unless Terry can stop him, Laocorn will don the final piece of armor and become invincible. Nudity and violence. Japan, 1994, 100 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Ghost in the Shell
Mamoru Oshii
Japan, 2029 - The digital sea of information has washed over every aspect of society. Amidst this electronic chaos surfaces an internationally notorious computer criminal. Codenamed "The Puppet Master" for its ability to control the minds of innocent victims, this unique and mysterious super-hacker is suspected of a multitude of offenses, including stock market manipulation, illegal data gathering, terrorist acts and infringement of cybernetic ethics. Section 9, Japan's elite secret service unit, is called in to capture this elusive criminal, only to discover that the elaborate web of evidence leads back to Japan's own Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an intelligence without physical form...a ghost in search of its shell. From the producers of Akira. Violence, nudity and profanity. HiFi Stereo. The DVD has dubbed and subtitled options, and includes extra graphics, character synopses, behind-the-scenes documentary and more. Japan, 1995, 82 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Ghost in the Shell: Special Edition
Mamoru Oshii
Digitally remastered version of the award-winning anime feature film that questions our own human existence in the fast-paced world of the information age. Seamlessly merging traditional cel animation with the latest computer graphic imagery, this stunning sci-fi spectacle broke through the boundaries of mainstream animation with its detailed artistic direction and uniquely intelligent story line. "Unusually intelligent and challenging science fiction, aimed at smart audiences" (Roger Ebert). The two-DVD Custom Collectors Edition includes special edition poster and postcard, character dossiers, creator biography, director biography, digital works, production report, trailers, previews, weblinks, and Japanses, English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German language tracks. In English and Japanese with English subtitles. Japan, 1997, 120 mins.
DVD | $54.95  

Grave of the Fireflies
Isao Takahata
"...an emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation," wrote Roger Ebert of this remarkable feature, adding, "...it belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made." Orphaned and homeless, two children set out to survive on their own in post-World War II Japan. But in the face of a society that is no longer able to help them, they struggle to survive desperation, hunger, grief, and other hardships of war. Best Animated Feature, Chicago International Children's Film Festival. The DVD is a letterboxed Collector's Series edition, and includes English and Japanese audio selections with optional English subtitles; trailers; interviews with Isao Takahata, author Akiyuki Nosaka, and Roger Ebert; complete storyboards; historical perspective. Japan, 1988, 88 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Kiki's Delivery Service
Hayao Miyazaki
This story of a young witch who makes her way in a strange new city was Japan's biggest box-office hit of 1989. Miyazaki brings his beautiful sense of design and atmosphere to this visually sumptuous film that reminds the viewer why he's the Steven Spielberg of Japanese animation. This is the first home video release from the package of eight Miyazaki films picked up by Disney last year. The two-DVD set includes an introduction by John Lasseter, a voice talent featurette, the complete storyboards, the original Japanese trailers and multilingual subtitles. Japan, 1989, 103 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Millennium Actress
Satoshi Kon
Acclaimed director Satoshi Kon follows up his anime classic Perfect Blue with this blend of movie fantasy and reality about a legendary actress and her fall from the limelight. A documentary filmmaker working on a film about Chiyoko Fujiwara, an actress who retreated from public life at the height of her popularity, discovers a key that unlocks the fallen star's secrets. The Grand Prize winner at the Japan Agency of Cultural Affairs Media Arts Festival, Millennium Actress "plunges the viewer into a cinematic kaleidoscope of action and images" (Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter). Japan, 2001, 87 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

My Neighbor Totoro
Hayao Miyazaki
Written, produced and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Totoro is a lovely, delicate story touching on many Shinto traditions. Upon moving to the country, two young girls discover the magical forest creature Totoro, and develop a friendship. The visual design is lushly beautiful and the story is charming. To use an overworked term, this film is delightful. Dubbed. Japan, 1993, 87 mins.
DVD | $37.95  

Nausicaa: Of the Valley of the Wind
Hayao Miyazaki
This coming-of-age tale from Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) is set 1000 years in the future, where mankind is still recovering from the seven days of fire which left Earth in ruins. As warring nations close in, the compassionate Princess Nausicaa must negotiate peace while a toxic wasteland threatens her Valley of the Wind. This two-DVD set includes the Japanese-language version with English subtitles and the English-language version featuring the vocal talent of Alison Lohman, Patrick Stewart, Uma Thurman and Edward James Olmos. Japan, 1984, 95 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Ninja Scroll
Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Jubei is a masterless ninja who travels feudal Japan, selling his services. When a village succumbs to a terrible plague, an investigating team of ninjas is wiped out by a fearsome man-monster, leaving only one alive - Kagero, a beautiful female ninja, whose touch can bring instant death. Jubei rescues her and unwittingly becomes drawn into the web of treachery. He is soon faced with his greatest challenge - Wan enemy for whom death holds no fear, with the power to destroy Jubei's world. Nudity and violence. HiFi Stereo. DVD has dubbed and subtitled options, and includes original Japanese trailer, character synopses, art and text files. Japan, 1993, 94 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Perfect Blue
Satoshi Kon
One of the most critically acclaimed anime features of recent years, Perfect Blue is the twisted tale of a pop singer-turned-actress who takes a part in a sexually charged mystery film. Soon, her life becomes a living nightmare as she is haunted by hallucinations and stalked by an unknown killer. "Complex, chilling and utterly convincing" (Animefantastique). "If Alfred Hitchcock partnered with Walt Disney, they'd make a picture like this" (Roger Corman). The DVD includes Japanese and English audio options, optional English subtitles, interviews with the director and voice-over actors, photo gallery, and more. Japan, 1997, 80 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Porco Rosso
Hayao Miyazaki
The same magic and whimsy that Hayao Miyazaki brought to the award-winning animated films Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away are in command of his 1992 effort, Porco Rosso, about a WWI flying ace whose has been transformed into a pig who engages in dazzling aerial dogfights against a group of rival sky pirates. This 2-DVD set includes both the Japanese language version with English subtitles and the American language version featuring the vocal talent of Michael Keaton, Brad Garrett, David Ogden Stiers and more. Japan, 1992, 93 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Princess Mononoke
Hayao Miyazaki
This imaginative, expressive and beautifully illustrated feature from Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki won the admiration of critics and audiences around the world, becoming the biggest breakthrough for the anime style since Akira. This English language version alters certain plot elements from the Japanese original and features the voices of Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton and others. "You won't find many Hollywood love stories (animated or otherwise) so philosophical. Princess Mononoke is a great achievement and a wonderful experience, and one of the best films of the year" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). Japan, 1997, 134 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki
Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki directs this visually arresting tale of Chihiro, a young girl trapped in a strange world who must rescue her parents, who have been turned into pigs, from being eaten by ghosts and spirits. Miyazaki's story of courage and self-discovery has a big heart and, as always, he effortlessly weaves humor and deep, philosophical moments with rich, beautiful imagery to create an enchanting film. "A masterpiece, pure and simple" (The New York Times). The two-DVD set includes an introduction by John Lasseter, storyboards, a voice talent featurette, the original Japanese trailers, multilingual subtitles, the featurette The Art of Spirited Away and more. Japan, 2002, 132 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Tokyo Godfathers
Satoshi Kon
Acclaimed anime director Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress) combined forces with Japanese animation studio Mad House (Vampire Hunter D) to produce this impressive animated feature. Three homeless people in Tokyo discover an abandoned baby in the garbage on Christmas Eve. During the search for the child's parents, they are forced to confront their own haunted pasts and face the future. "Visual poetry" (Ken Eisner, Daily Variety). In Japanese with English subtitles. Japan, 2003, 91 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Vampire Hunter D
Toyoo Ashida
In the year 12,090 A.D., Earth has been taken over by vampires who rule over what remains of humanity with cruel and total authority. A mysterious vampire hunter dares to challenge their rule and a beautiful young woman offers herself as reward if "D" will exterminate the monsters who control her village. "...a very cool, bizarre and quintessentially Japanese exploration of blood-sucking" (Glenn Kenny, TV Guide). An anime cult classic. The DVD is a Special Edition, and includes previously unseen footage, previews for Vampire Hunter D video game and theatrical feature, original artwork gallery, dubbed and subtitled options, and more. Japan, 1985, 80 mins.
DVD | $44.95  

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Fifteen years after the first Vampire Hunter D anime feature, this sequel continued the saga in an even darker, more impressive fashion. "D" is hired to track down a powerful vampire who has kidnapped a mortal woman, but he has competition from rival vampire hunters. "Dark and lush visuals, a magnificently textured score and an expansive story make it an apocalyptic epic" (Dann Gire, The Daily Herald). The DVD is a Special Edition, and includes previously unseen footage, previews for Vampire Hunter D video game and theatrical feature, original artwork gallery, dubbed and subtitled options, and more. In English. Japan/Hong Kong, 2000, 105 mins.
DVD | $44.95