This'll sift us geeks out.

Gigantor? It's Tetsujin 28-gō and you know it!

By the way, this manga/anime was one of the inspirations for Akira.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantor

Farhead, you might be crowned King Geek of us all. I had no idea about Akira. However, I don't remember the tentacles in Gigantor. ;-)

Here's the live action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHpy4gsUX5Q

It's Farhad.

Katsuhiro Otomo, the author behind the manga and the creator of the anime was a big fan of Tetsujin 28-gō, that's why in the Akria there's a character named Tetsuo.

I just dig animation.

Grah! Sorry! I had to go back and edit your name because I forgot to capitalize, and I spelled it like I would say it...with an "eh" instead of an "ah." My brain didn't translate the spelling to my fingers.

That's cool information to know about Akira. It was my first "Japanimation" (oh so many years ago...before the word "anime" became term) was Akira, so it will always have a special place in my heart.

Yeah, I think I'll stick with Speed Racer if I'm forced to watch old anime.

In the world of anime there have been 2 feature length productions that took it to a whole new level.

The first was Akira, which was revolutionary at the time because it was the first anime ever to fully lip synch and animate conversations, whereas before the characters were made to stand still while only their mouths moved.

The second was Ghost In The Shell, one of the first animes to blend CG artwork with classical methods. As well as one of the first to use CG color grading.

The third one which I did not mention because it's a personal choice is Millienium Actress. Which was the second anime ever to really move me on a deeply emotional level, and prove to me why film could never fully capture what anime could achieve. Before it was Grave of the Fireflies, which along with Bambi were the only animated films to ever make me cry.

Oh, thank you for reminding me of Hotaru no Haka...I love Miyazaki. Wept and wept and wept. I think I'll go watch that again tonight.

That's a good film recommendation.

Actually Daphne you are mistaken, the background of Grave of the Fireflies is more tragic in reality, the anime is an adaptation of the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka, intended as a personal apology to the author's own sister. And was written and directed by Isao Takahata for Studio Ghilbi. Hayao Miyazaki wasn't directly involved in this, something I could clearly make out as he would never make a story that's this tragic.

Hayao Miyazaki is the Hans Christian Anderson of the animated medium. When I first discovered his films, not only was I blown away by their plot lines and quality but the sheer number of them... Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle...

If you liked Grave of the Fireflies I would highly reccomend, Pom Poko by Isao Takahata.

By the way I watched Grave of the Fireflies only once in my life. But it's effect was so deep that I cannot bear to watch it again anytime soon.

It's not a Miyazaki? Wow...I just assumed. I have the Studio Ghilbi box set and I didn't even think to look at who directed the films. I guess I thought since there were so many Miyazaki's that he directed it as well. In retrospect, I should have known. It is such a heartbreaking film, and I remember thinking how amazing it was that Miyazaki took such a plotline. (I won't spoil it, just in case) Now I know why...because he didn't.

Thanks for the recommendation. I have Pom Poko in the box set, but I haven't had a chance to see it. I thought it was a Miyazaki, too. That'll teach me not to read the back.

"Ortiz!"

I almost ordered a tetsujin t-shirt a month or so ago. Also much thanks for the millennium actress hookup, have been craving some new anime.

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