Roujin Z (Japan, 1991)

An old man is being treated specially by the Department of Health under the so-called Project Z, a special nursing bed with a 6th generation computer on board. When the pain and loneliness of the old man reaches his ex-private nurse, she decides to rescue him from the government's experiment. Thus begins a wild chase through the busy streets of Tokyo as the 6th generation computer begins to have the personality of the old man's ex-wife and as the government's secret project unfolds.

What's impressive with Roujin Z is the names behind it; Katsuhiro Otomo, creator of Akira, wrote the story and screenplay, while Satoshi Kon (Paprika, Perfect Blue) served as art director and set designer. How can it go wrong knowing that? Well, it doesn't naturally. Roujin Z is a wild joyride with stunning animation which of course looks like a companion piece to Akira. All the 90's anime aesthetic you could ask for with that special blend of science-fiction technology and early computer tech with chunky monitors and huge mechanical keyboards. The plot doesn't nearly reach the depths of Akira, being a much smaller film but there's still ambition in its satirical view of older generations and handing them over to robot beds. 

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Sci-Fi. 1h 20min.

Only Yesterday (Japan, 1991)

A twenty-seven-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo.

Only Yesterday is probably the most mature film animation giant Studio Ghibli has ever done, far away from the usual fantasy elements that often marks their other creations. Here, we're acquainted with 27-year old Taeko who, while taking a job out in the sticks, thinks back to her early days in the city. Made by Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies), Only Yesterday shows an incredible appreciation for nature and the life outside our stressful bubble of hectic social life and work. Studio Ghibli takes something as ordinary as slicing up a pineapple and makes it a joy to watch because it's so carefully and meticulously animated. Takahata took 17 members of his staff on a research trip to a rural area in Yamagata prefecture similar to the place where many of the film's present-day (1982) scenes are set. There the staff consulted with a farmer named Inoue, who taught them about harvesting safflowers, as the film's heroine, Taeko, does in the narrative. The staff videotaped their journey so that they would be able to re-create accurately in animation both the fields of safflowers and the natural beauty of the region in general.

The cinematography is a love letter to the films of Yasujiro Ozu (Tokyo Story) with the "camera" set very low and rarely moving. Where Hayao Miyazaki makes films about the often fantastical and made-up worlds, Takahata usually focuses on the character driven stories and the deeply personal journeys that leaves a bittersweet taste with the viewers. The juxtaposition of Taeko's younger and older self naturally portrays the dreams we give up, the wishes never fulfilled but also how we're different people from when we were young. 

Genre: Drama/Romance

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (Japan, 2016)

The magical kingdom of Lucis is home to the hallowed Crystal, but the menacing empire of Niflheim will stop at nothing to make it theirs. War has raged between the two for as long as most can remember. King Regis of Lucis commands an elite force of soldiers dubbed the Kingsglaive. Wielding their king's magic, Nyx Ulric and his fellow glaives stand before the crown city of Insomnia, fighting to stay the inexorable advance of Niflheim's imperial army.

Kingsglaive is the latest in the CG fests that's been rolled out by game developer giant Square Enix, preceded by The Spirits Within (2001) and Advent Children (2005). It's basically an introduction to an upcoming game, but it's so completely crazy that fans of computer animated films can enjoy the spectacular end overly epic fights taking place all over Kingsglaive's running time. You're thrown into a storm of names and political intrigues, and it can certainly be hard to follow everything that's going on, but the animation is beyond beautiful and seeing it a second time can help with getting a grip on the story rather than just drool over the visuals. Sure, it can be regarded as mere guilty pleasure, but it's way better and more developed than  the often dreadful Advent Children. Kingsglaive takes every amazing fight in that movie and cranks it up to 11. A bit cheesy and melodramatic, but entertaining nontheless if you're in the mood for explosive eye candy.

Genre: Animation/Action

Hana and Alice (Japan, 2004) & The Case of Hana and Alice (2015)

Upon entering high school, two best friends named Hana and Alice notice a boy a year older them while waiting for the train, and they both develop a pretty strong crush on him. One day while secretly following him home, Hana witnesses the boy walk right into a wall and pass out. When he wakes up, she lies and convinces him that he must have amnesia, because he doesn't remember the fact that she was his girlfriend. After this, hilarity ensues as the two girls attempt to run with the lie. Of course, complications soon arise.

Hana and Alice is directed by the wildly talented Shunji Iwai, who's given us fantastic films such as Love Letter (1995), April Story (1997 and All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001). With Hana and Alice, he perfectly captures the big and small events happening in Japanese school culture, and puts two teenage schoolgirls in the middle of love dramas and murder mysteries. In 2015 it was followed up by an animated prequel which had a bit more engaging story and an animation style which looked a little unusual. Two slice-of-life kind of films with two likeable main characters to befriend. 

Genre: Drama

The Animatrix (U.S./Japan/South Korea, 2003)

The Animatrix is a collection of several animated short films, detailing the backstory of the "Matrix" universe, and the original war between man and machines which led to the creation of the Matrix.

Yes, some could argue that The Animatrix doesn't belong in an all-asian film blog, but I say otherwise. The Animatrix is like experiencing the world of The Matrix through a Japanese lens. Some of the top animation houses in Japan have contributed to this glorious Sci-Fi anthology, and I could name one of the stories in it that makes it well worth the watch alone. The animation range from great to frickin' amazing, and it's pretty much what you get if you'd give an animation studio the budget of a huge Hollywood blockbuster. 

There's a massive variety in the stories, being that it's nine different tales: we go from feudal Japan to a noir-style detective story, we get a history lesson from a cyber-Buddha about how the war between humans and machines began and we follow some kids as they stumble upon a glitch in the Matrix where objects are suspended in air.

Whether you're a big fan of The Matrix or not, you probably would say that the two sequels were subpar in comparison with the first one, but adding The Animatrix to the original trilogy, we at least can have two movies that's kick-ass. 

Genre: Animation/Action/Sci-Fi

Akira (Japan, 1988)

Kaneda is a bike gang leader whose close friend Tetsuo gets involved in a government secret project known as Akira. On his way to save Tetsuo, Kaneda runs into a group of anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader. The confrontation sparks off Tetsuo's supernatural power leading to bloody death, a coup attempt and the final battle in Tokyo Olympiad where Akira's secrets were buried 30 years ago.

A landmark in animation. Akira influenced a whole generation of film-makers and would come to be one of the movies that popularized anime outside of Japan. Based on a manga, Akira is set in a dystopian Neo-Tokyo, 2019. The story focuses on the young biker Kaneda, and his friend Tetsuo who gains destructive psychic powers.

Filled to the brim with glowing neon cyberpunk and sci-fi, this movie is gorgeous every second. Fluid animation and solid sound-effects makes this a masterpiece that still outshines many anime movies made today.

Genre: Action/Animation/Sci-Fi