Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12683 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-04-13
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: AC-3, Anamorphic, Animated, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: Japanese
• Subtitled in: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 92 minutes

Amazon.com
Satoshi Kon's third feature (following Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress) confirms his status as one of the most interesting directors working in anime. Tokyo Godfathers centers on three homeless people: Hana, a flamboyant ex-drag entertainer; Gin, an alcoholic former bicycle racer; and Miyuki, a sullen teenage runaway. Their tenuous existence becomes more chaotic when they set out to find the parents of an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve. They scream insults as they confront the lies they've told each other--and themselves--about the past. Yet they remain curiously endearing and even noble. All three care passionately about the abandoned infant, and they love each other, although they're loath to admit it. Kon skillfully uses color to suggest the bitter winter cold and the characters' alienation. Tokyo Godfathers shows that battling the inner demons that led these three characters to skid row can be a more daunting challenge than fighting aliens and cyborgs. (Rated PG-13: profanity, violence, tobacco and alcohol use) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

The easiest Satoshi Kon film to follow.
Tokyo Godfathers is the third film created by Satoshi Kon. Those who are familiar with his works, knows how complicated it can be to follow them. They usually require 2 to 3 watches to come close to understanding. His nonlinear style of storytelling usually leaves the viewer confused. Tokyo Godfathers on the other hand is very straight forward with a few plot twist.

Tokyo Godfathers is a comedy drama. The story is about three homeless people who find an abandoned baby while digging through trash. They take the child and begin trying to take care of it until they decide to find the real parents. During their travels they come in contact with familiar faces plus reflect on their past.

The characters is the biggest attraction for me. They seem almost too real at times and it's hard not to like them. I mean, their bums and they never really let you forget that. The dialogue at times is hilarious and the voice acting is very solid. There isn't much character development but I feel they have some depth. The writing is done very well in some areas. The peoples reactions on a crowded train with smelly bums is very easy to relate to. Me living in NYC, I understand that situation all too well when I use to ride the subways.

The animation and artwork is very well done. This film shows another side of Tokyo that alot of anime titles don't even touch. You get a good look at the dark and gritty landscapes. Heavily polluted alley ways, full of garbage and cardboard boxes being used as homes.

Now the film does have deeper themes that will touch most people. One of them being divine intervention. This is something that came into play many times. I have to admit this did grate on my nerves a bit and I felt it just happended too much. I just don't believe in it and I felt it kind of stretched logic a bit much. I really didn't care for the soundtrack even though it did fit well for this type of film.

This is still a great anime film that I toss on once in awhile for that feel good feeling. Even I get tired of massive violence and angst at times. I highly recommend this to those searching for something more mature and light hearted. The film is also sub titled. There is no english dialogue for those who hate to read.

Quick Overview
The lives of three homeless people are plunged into chaos when they find an abandoned baby on new-year's eve. Do they keep it or do they start an impossible search for the parents in snowbound Tokyo?

Diverting, but felt like it was not explored as fully as it could have been. The characters are definitely fascinating, but seem to lack something in depth.

Surprisingly Enjoyable and Encouraging
I didn't know what to expect when I watched Tokyo Godfathers, but loved it by the end. I've seen Millennium Actress and Perfect Blue, neither of which sincerely moved me, although the animation was beautiful.

I loved this film because it was set in the everyday, making it much more accessible for the viewer. I cared for the characters and was touched by the small miracles the movie centered around. It had a great blend of drama and humor, and in the end it inspires hope, which I don't normally associate with Satoshi Kon's anime. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised!