Jin-Rô

It's hard to begin describing this, but I can only recommend it. Taking place in a bleak, and fully believeable alternate version of post-WW2 Tokyo, Jin-Roh accomplishes all the things that other anime cinema movies who were hailed as the holy grail of anime didn't accomplish, or at least never accomplished so well. And Jin-Roh does it with style.

The animation is very impressive, without even really trying. No overly flashy effects are hurled in your face in a "lookie here!" fashion, instead we get sobre, lifelike and extremely realistic chara designs that move with wonderful fluidity through some very beautiful backgrounds. The "less of you is more" effect is used to it's full extent here to create a foreboding and terribly tragic atmosphere.

The story, at it's most basic is a doomed lovers tale. Jin-Roh doesn't try to shock or disgust (though there are a few very frightening violent scenes in there), but wants to make you cry genuine tears of sorrow, and succeeds in every way.

The movie's approach is subtle, slow and delicate, and leaves a huge impact, exactly because it plays on a smaller scale. The fairy tale of the Little Red Riding Hood, and the image of the wolf (or "the beast" in general) are used throughout the movie with the same sobre flair. Apart from the main doomed lovers theme, there's also a very impressive story of betrayal and political intrigue in there, which adds a dash of suspense. Kudos to the great designs of the Panzer armors as well, who look powerful, and in some moments truly frightening.

In short, Jin-Roh is a wonderful piece of work, full of beauty and intelligence. It's not quite possible to make clear how strong this film is on paper, but watching it will leave an unforgettable impression. It's a stylish tragedy that makes you think as well as makes you cry. Don't hesitate to seek this out.

The plot of Jin-Roh is set in a fictitious Tokyo, several years after the second World War. Violent combats between an anti-administration terrorist organization and the capital's para-military police rock the city over and over again. When Fuse, a member of the capital's police force, gets suspended after a young terrorist messenger blows herself up in front of his eyes, he tries to search for more information about her but gets mired in a secret power struggle between the administration and the capital's police force.

The plot of "Jin-Roh" is so sophisticated, it can hardly be described without spoiling some very important facts. The movie then comes up with several stunningly surprising twists that one would hardly have anticipated. But despite, respectively, due to the movie's complexity, it is sometimes hard to follow properly the events and incidents. There are so many different organizations interacting and intriguing, which shall not mean, that the story is inconsistent. Rather are all relationships and hierarchies between the organizations (police, administration, ministries) brilliantly thought-out, but the fact that everybody seems to play off against one another, doesn't make it clear who belongs to whom until the end. I had to watch the movie twice, before realizing every aspect of the story.

All this may sound like an ordinary political crime plot, but let me tell you, it is something totally unique. The plot's obscurity perfectly fits its grim atmosphere. The idea of a fictitious past is excellently illustrated by the streets and locations, that seem familiar, but at the same time totally strange.

The movie's subjects about guilt, atonement and living with burden make it also pretty depressing, but at the same time, a special cinematic experience, due to its unique stylistic features, such as narrating the story of "Little Red Riding Hood and the evil wolf" during several scenes, which accurately fits the events in the movie itself.

All in all, one of the greatest and most unique movies, that I have seen, Mamoru Oshii, once again, created a brilliant and intelligent plot, whose complexity sometimes really reminds oneself of Oshii's "Ghost in the shell". The movie's overwhelming picture language and music contribute to its excellence.

I saw this at the New York Japan Society two and a half years ago. The director was there to take part in a symposium on Anime. For some odd reason this film has not received wide-release even in the major US cities (as far as I know anyway). Having just visited Japan, I found that it is only now being released on DVD but not on VHS; supposedly there are bootlegs videos of it going around New York but with the visuals this film offers to watch a crappy version of it would be a shame. Anyway, the film's a good one, one of the better anime films, up there with "Akira" and the works of Miyazaki; it's much better than the director's previous work "Ghost in the Shell." Similar to "Ghost in the Shell," the plot is confusing but not to the point of causing frustration and/or sleep. It sort of reminds me of the begining of "Akira": an underground movement vs. the government--minus all that sci-fi garbage. The animation's state of the art as you should expect. The animation featured in anime is usually top of the line but it's the stories that tend to disappoint. This film is the exception, its got the animation and the story something only a handful of anime films can claim. If you can find it watch it. Highly recommended.

"Jin-Roh" or "The Wolf Brigade" is an amazing anime film. I had seen the 3-disc special edition DVD at a video store, and having never seen this movie before, I took a chance and bought it. I had heard nothing but good things about "Jin-Roh" and I was very pleased when I saw it.

The film is set in what it calls "an alternate Japan" and a special police force has been formed to defend the capital. It seems that the government is under constant threat from an underground terrorist organization that uses "Red Riding Hoods" (teenage girls) to deliver powerful explosives to the authorities. One of these "hoods" is cornered by Fuse in the sewers and in a grim act of suicide, blows herself up. Fuse who was right there, is instantly traumatized by the event, and is forced to undergo re-training at his academy. Seeking to gather information on her, he runs into the dead girl's older sister, who he befriends and eventually begins a romance with her. Soon forces in the government, as well as Fuse's own police unit, threaten to tear them apart and it becomes evident that the girl herself may or may not be all that she seems.

This is one of the most devastating films I've ever seen. They certainly picked the right actor to voice the gravely Fuse, who I don't think ever fully recovers from what happens. The soundtrack to this movie is one of the best I have ever heard. There are constant allusions to "Little Red Riding Hood" and excerpts from the story are read throughout the film, as it details with a lot of government conspiracy theory stuff.

The films ending, which I will not describe, is the saddest part of the film. Yet, movies, especially animated ones like "Jin-Roh", are rare. A film that focuses more on the emotions of the characters, much rather action and graphic bloodshed, like most anime films tend to do, is what "Jin-Roh" is. Though I won't let that discourage gore fans, as they will certainly get their fair share of blood and violent action when they watch "Jin-Roh", but be prepared to wait a while for any action.

As I stated earlier, this is one of the most depressing films I've ever seen. To say that Fuse's romance is doomed to end tragically is not saying much, as I expected that would happen. There is a lot of intrigue and conspiracy-like things going on in this movie and that sometimes tends to get in the way of the characters, but nonetheless I still awarded the film a 10 out of 10, and "Jin-Roh" is still a moving experience and it is one of the best anime films I have ever seen.

Whoa. Everything seems to click in the right place with Jin-Rô. Awfully tragic and cold story of a man with the nature of beast trying to interact with an ordinary girl. Of course it's all wrapped around political conspiracy plots and lots of references to fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood", but I think most of the time the movie still works quite nice as it is.

Animation is fluid and smooth, soundtrack is beautiful and the few action sequences the movie provides simply kick ass. But the main thing in Jin-Rô is the impossible and tragic relationship between a beast and a man. This aspect is done extremely well in the movie, thanks to supporting soundtrack, great voice actors and painfully emotional and touching end. I dare not to spoil it, but these kind of endings are rare in the movies, animated or real. Bold move, and it works like a dynamite.

Jin-Rô exceeded all my expectations, although they were quite high before I ever saw it.