Anime - the others

Oh dear. These are the duds for me, something (or everything) about them just didn't work. I'll try to be illuminating about their failures and point out anything worthwhile.

Appleseed
Appleseed

Some great animation, both hand drawn and computer generated, but the plot is hopelessly simplistic and idiotic - lots of action but no sense to it. It's a shame as the manga (comic) that this is based on is filled with moral ambiguity and subtlety, none of which has made it to the film.


Blood: The Last Vampire
Blood: The Last Vampire

A vampire employed as a government agent. An interesting idea and some good, dark artwork but a very thin plot and unengaging characters.


Kai Doh Maru
Kai Doh Maru

A very different graphical style, like an animated feudal scroll, which I rather liked. Sadly there's too much plot crammed into a short running time and the characters are simplistic and underdeveloped.


Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro
Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro

This is very popular, but to me it was just infantile and stupid.


Patlabor
Patlabor

Here are the mechas! Giant robots in vaguely human shape are a common feature in anime but, in my eyes, rarely done well. This isn't too bad but it's quite dated and the characters are flat and dull.


Ponyo
Ponyo

Very sad to see a Hayao Miyazaki film in the Others but I'm afraid this one is a dud. The animation is sweet, if a bit dated for the 21st century, but the plot is simplistic & linear and the characters are underdeveloped. A nice children's film but there's very little in it for adults.


Robot Carnival
Robot Carnival

A selection of short films with robots as the common theme. Dated.


Sky Blue
Sky Blue

Some beautiful drawing and animation, but the plot is thin and the characters are uninteresting.