Tokyo Godfather- Christmas/Religions/Japan | Video Essay
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- Опубликовано: 22 дек 2019
- Accented Cinema - Episode 29
Welcome to the last episode of 2019! Let us celebrates this holiday with the best Christmas movie in the anime industry: Tokyo Godfathers?
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2023 Update:
Looking back, I definitely picked the worst possible pronounce for Hana. Even a neutral "they/them" would have been better. I apologize!
Here is some additional context provided by other comments:
In general, Hana's speech tends to be natural to feminine, except when she displays aggression, like yelling at Gin. It hints at how she wishes to be seen, as well as her struggle with her own identity. So, it's safe to say, Hana is a woman. I f*cked up. I'm sorry!
Thank you for this acknowledgement, I really enjoyed the essay and afterward I came down here to the comments to see if others also felt he/him for Hana feels wrong. Considering the era the movie was released it's not surprising the other characters use derogatory language and the translation chooses masculine pronouns where the original japanese leaves them ambiguous. Still, this movie has aged gracefully and remains a rare example of a visibly trans woman as the hero, accepted and loved just as she is by the narrative, even if not by the other characters or world in the story.
As many times as I've seen Tokyo Godfathers, I was blind to the layers of meaning surrounding religious imagery and themes. I can't wait to watch it again with this video in mind!
I was about to stop listening because you used he instead of she for Hanna. But now I'll keep on listening.
Hana was also homeless because she lived with a man who died, which is the source of one of the unexpected jokes in the film: when the Mama-san at the bar asks if it was AIDS, Hana's unexpected answer was: "Slipped on a bar of soap in the shower." But Hana had no legal right to the apartment, and so became homeless. Hana's rescue on New Year's Day, just at sunrise, was by Shinto deities: Susano'o the wind god and his sister Amaterasu the sun god.
I still mourn the loss of Satoshi Kon. I genuinely believe that, had he lived and kept working, he'd be remembered among the true greats of animation. His "Millennium Actress" is probably my all-time favorite animated film.
Yeah it's weird but I feel such a loss whenever I think of him or his movies. I mourn what could have been but appreciate what he was able to give in the short time he was here.
@@mattcy6591 He was such a unique voice, with a totally innovative art style, and a Hitchcockian level mastery of camera/editing within the animation medium. He didn't make great animated films, he made great *films* that happened to utilize the medium of animation.
@@mattcy6591 that guy managed to influence the movie industry in more than a decade than some directors have done in their entire lifetime
I believe he'd be even more appreciated than Hayao Miyazaki.
Tho, both are great of course, but at the end of every Kon movie, it genuinely made me question things, the film ended me as a new me, while Miyazaki's films made me happy, didnt make me question things so for me that movie ended there.
Can not be relatable to some. Understandable.
They even cancel 2 movies after satoshi kon loss
I tend to think of Tokyo Godfather as what happens when Satoshi Kon decides to let loose and be a bit goofy. It's a great film. And that is *one* lucky baby.
Too bad Satoshi Kon is no longer with us.
Bless his soul
@@AccentedCinema Perfect Blue is my favourite movie he made and i heard he is doing a new movie before he passed away that is unfinished.
@@meltingice5697 Dreaming Machine remains in production limbo to this day. Maybe someone will use the script to make their own version of it someday. Trying to have a director finish it by mimicking Kon's style isn't something anyone really wants.
@@PseudoFiction If it does get done someday, I hope the film does end up like A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Kon-sama died of cancer and was taken from everyone too soon.
i think i interpret this film just slightly differently: finding a good family helps you figure out what kind of family you want to have, and how to build it. faith in humanity is called faith for a reason, and it is just as valuable in a world that seems to commodify everyone and everything
I think this is the angle I would follow as well. Not being Japanese, I can't relate to the anxieties of modernity and traditionalism per se, or rather from that cultural lens, even though this is a concept that most cultures deal with in their own way. The idea of a chosen family and faith is relevant to me though and I can relate to Hana.
Update: in regards to Hana's gender pronunce.
Hana is indeed transgender. The original episode script calls Hana by the pronunce "her", but I changed it for the following reasons:
The "Animax Making of Featurette" introduces Hana as an ex-drag queen and the pronunce "him".
Hana worked in a drag queen bar, which I supposed is the reason.
Hana says he is a woman at heart, but also calls himself a homo (for being in love with Gin), so his gender identity isn't as concrete.
Of course, Hana is a fictional character written by cis gender people, so I have no idea if that's intentional or not. To remain respectful to the source material, I decided to call Hana by his official descriptions.
In hindsight, I should've just use the gender neutral "they". Sorry!
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Welcome to the last episode of 2019! Seeing this channel grew from a thousand subscribers to what we have today is hard to process. I love you all!
If you wish to support this channel directly, you can visit our Patreon page at www.patreon.com/AccentedCinema. Patrons who pledge 5 dollars or more can get access to extra episodes that aren't released to the public!
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Thanks you all for an amazing year, I'll see you in 2020!
happy to have watched all your videos. Could you review some Donghua? It's a very cool yet underrated animation genre
@@camrendavis6650 Next episode.
@@AccentedCinema awesome!!!
In Japan, many of these things are quite common among transgender women, particularly at the time that this movie was made. Essentially, trans women and men who frequently dress as women are often classed together and share spaces in Tokyo's gay scene, though the trans women still are women and don't necessarily interact with those spaces in the exact same way. This may or may not be a helpful comparison for some, but it's kind of similar to how the New York gay scene was around the 60s with regards to this stuff
I do not think Hana care what she being call he or she. Since japanese have no differentiation of these 2. and like her religion she do not care
Tokyo Godfathers has definitely become a Christmas movie-watching staple for me. The only other Asian film that comes to mind for me is Wong Kar-Wai's 2046 which is set AT Christmas but isn't a "Christmas movie" (I lump it in with Die Hard, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Go and many, many others as 'Christmassy movies').
Great analysis. I probably would have also compared Hana to a bodhisattva in the story, because of the intentional good deeds for the child (similar to the Jataka tales about self-sacrifice), the ambiguous gender (many bodhisattvas are both sexes in iconography), and the motherly connection some bodhisattvas have in East Asia (Kannon being the obvious one, and comparable to Mary).
Having watched "Perfect Blue" a few days prior, I had expected "Tokyo Godfathers" to be some gangster story. But it showed me the side of Japan that I had never expected to see. After seeing bright side of Japan, I thought everyone was happy. But every country/society has problems and concerns. Although it has a humorous tone and a seemingly happy ending, "Tokyo Godfathers" showed me that Japan is not perfect. Completely changed my perspective.
This is my favorite Satoshi Kon movie, this was my introduction to Satoshi Kon. Thanks for covering this movie!
God i remember watching this for the first time, I cried so heart, it was so... the characters are so filled with backstories and it feels so real, not like a random movie at all.
I can't say that I was expecting Xenoblade Chronicles in a Christmas episode of Accented Cinema, but I sure ain't complaining.
OMG this is legit one of my favorite anime movies of all time. Thanks for covering it.
You and Renegade Cut convinced me to watch this. I’m not really into Christmas movies, but this was worth every second, thank you.
I LOVE Tokyo Godfathers. I first watched it as a teen, and like it ever since.
It is heartwarming, pretty realistic, simple yet deep at the same time.
RIP Satoshi Kon
I had this movie on my list for the longest time, thank you for reminding me about it!. Great video as always.
God, it's been ages since I've seen this film or any of Kon's other masterworks. I don't know if I can fit it in before the time of Christmas in two days, but at the very least, I will watch it next year, not only at Christmas but to mark the 10 year anniversary of Kon's passing.
This whole thing made me cry. I needed it, thank you.
It's a true classic. I watch it at least one a year although not at Christmas. Very underrated.
Lovely video essay! Glad you are shining a spotlight onto many amazing movies people risk missing out on.
I love that movie! Such a deep analysis. So many things I didn't catch, and I have seen it more than once. Thanks for making this!
Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year. I enjoy your videos and I look forward to more in 2020.
Another great video! Hope everyone had a good year and that the next will be at least decent
I couldn’t help to tear up a bit during the review. Mary Christmas 💕
Merry Christmas, thank you for all of your hard work! I am excited to watch more of your content in 2020! :)
Thanks for this video! Thanks to it I went and watched this amazing movie. And cried multiple times. Thank you!
i really appreciate your focus on east asian cinema, this sort of stuff was definitely missing from other video essay channels
Today is Christmas Day, 2 years after this video was posted, and I am watching it once again. Love the feeling of being on Christmas evening and watching an understanding of what Christmas means to people.
Thanks for all your perspective this year. Merry christmas, happy holiday and happy new year people.
Love this channel. Love the niche. I learn so much!
This is one of my favorite films of all time and I really appreciate this video.
you never disappoint. Merry Christmas
Great choice for your last video of 2019...I really enjoy your channel, all the best for the holidays, and I wish you success in all your endeavors in 2020! The one God that matters is the one within you !
Great thematic analysis ! Thanks for your work, it's one of the most consistant-quality channels i found on youtube. Happy holidays !
This is my FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE. Thank you!
Thank you for this vid and for your channel. Wishing you a happy 2020!
I still can't believe that the Philippines, a prominent Catholic country has no iconic Christmas movie. Even with the annual Christmas Film Fest, there's no movie that I can say screams "Christmas", since for the most part, we only have a horror franchise that plays during Christmas.
a pretty cheesey and campy franchise as welp
@@wampaisen Early Shake, Rattle, and Roll movies have a lot of interesting concepts... then the recent ones came out and its bad and they decided to go hiatus.
@@ukiyasenpai they all suck really. last one i remember, a guy got eaten by a Christmas tree
Love your videos, will watch this movie. Merry Christmas and blessings to all 🙏 😁
As always , amazing! Thank you大哥
This video motivated me to take another Satoshi Kon film off my backlog.
Honestly, this is my favorite one so far, and it was a wonderful way to spend Christmas Eve. Thanks Yang :)
Just found you channels, and got to say, I love it! Has a great Christmasy feel to it. Wish I found it sooner. I know you jest that Christmas is a commercial enterprise in the us, which it is, but it is still strongly felt as a time of spiritual joy and brotherhood. I think you would find it hard to find even an atheist household that doesn’t have the zeitgeist of good will around the time.
I remember this film! I loved it so much, your analysis was super interesting!
Your explanations for religious belief, or lack of belief as the case may be, are concise and quite informative. Nice video.
Really appreciate your take on this film (absolutely adore Tokyo Godfathers), really interesting stuff.
As an aside/addendum/useless comment, did think the bit where Gin sees the other street person die, I felt this was like a vision of the future for Gin, akin to that of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Thanks for sharing the analysis of the movie.
This movie reminds me of a Japanese series I watched on Netflix: I think it is called: "Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories."
Great topic to cover! Happy Holidays to everyone!
Literally just finished watching this movie for the first time ever, with my siblings!
Loved this movie. Great video essay
Merry Christmas to you AC, thank you for this wonderful video :-)
I would of never known why Asia has so few Christmas films but once you explained it it made total sense. Was a fun watch and helped us in the USA (Wife and I are in Chicago) learn some more about Asian cinema we love. Hope @Accented Cinema you and yours have a wonderful Merry Christmas :)
Watching this on Christmas, really nice 👍
My favourite movie! Just had my annual watch of it yesterday.
Lovely insights - actually very appropriate to the season! Happy holidays and here's to more great work in 2020!
Just a small note, not that I think anyone realistically was confused, but the subtitle at 10:40 should presumably read Dir. Hayao Miyazaki - might want to change that if you get a chance.
Great video!
I watched this a year later, two weeks before Christmas. Thank you for this review. It was one of my favorite anime movie by one of my favorite director (may he rest in peace), and now I miss this movie. It has been a few years ago since I last watched it, that I didn't even remember the part when Gin met the loan shark. 😅
hey yang i just finshed watching the movie and its wonderful tnxs for doing the video essay on it
Your analisis are always stupendous. Please make more about anime!
For the sake a thematic consistency, I'll come back next year to watch this again.
I love these videos xD
This movie is going to show in a theater near me in March. I'm ready to get them christmas vibes during springtime
I'll have to put this on my list for Wednesday, thank you for the recommendation!
I hate to be that person, but you have Brian Henson credited as the director of Princess Mononoke at about 10:40.
AMAZING JOB!
This movie is like so so so so amazing for me I can't even tell you... It was nice seeing someone talks about it
Merry Christmas, AC!
GOD DAMN IT! subscribing to you was possible the next best thing I've done since smoking crack
I watch Tokyo Godfather every christmas lol
Bro, you got an EXCELLENT voice.
This was beautiful😌😌 Great video, friend. I remember seeing clips of this movie on RUclips in 2018 but paying no mind to it. I only started watching anime in late 2020 and I forgot about it until now. It's such a feel-good wholesome movie that i want to buy it and watch it. Also, the way it handles the themes and characters is so beautiful and reminds of why I came to love anime. One of the characters is a transwoman but she is written so well and without any of the toxic identity politics westerners usually push on those kinds of characters and that is so refreshing. I'm a guy and I found myself relating to each of these characters because of how well developed they are😥😥👏👏
Love this movie! When Netflix dropped it years ago. I went out and got copies for me and my friends!
Tokyo Godfathers is still the only Christmas film I've seen that I think adequately captures Christian pathos and the ethics in light of the challenges it faces in the modern world. If Jesus were alive today society would probably push him to the fringes to be among these three outsiders.
good stuff
First of all thank you very much for this great review....and I Apologize for my english! I starting saying that Tokyo Godfathers is one of my fav Anime movie ever! definitely in the top 10! I love Anime since I was a small boy ( Now i'm almost 53😉). Obviously for example, i Love Sensei Miyazaki Anime ,but i'm really glad You mentioned this awesome Anime and the works of Sensei Satoshi Kon ( r.i.p.) . I really miss his art! Anw, Grazie and Greetings from Italy. "See you Space Cowboy!!"
We have been deprived of Satoshi Kon. He left us too soon and his last letter still haunts me to this day.
It is refreshing to watch someone mention Tokyo godfathers. Usually, it gets buried by the weight of other Satoshi kon masterpieces including Paranoia Agent.
It's been a long time since I've seen this movie (boredly browsing old directtv movie channels back in 2009 lol) but I remember Hana being transgender, not a drag queen.
Great movie though. Beautiful artstyle and a really touching, heartfelt plot.
Hana is indeed transgender. The original episode script calls Hana by the pronunce "her", but I changed it for the following reasons:
The "Animax Making of Featurette" introduces Hana as an ex-drag queen and the pronunce "him".
Hana worked in a drag queen bar, which I supposed is the reason.
Hana says he is a woman at heart, but also calls himself a homo (for being in love with Gin), so his gender identity isn't as concrete.
Of course, Hana is a fictional character written by cis gender people, so I have no idea if that's intentional or not. To remain respectful to the source material, I decided to call Hana by his official description.
@@AccentedCinema That sounds fair. Thanks for explaining!
Did anyone catch the theater release with the English dub a few months back? It was pretty good & watching it in theater was a wonderful experience.
Good video
For a moment, I thought you were talking about a mob epic set in tokyo lol
Tokyo Godfathers it’s out on June 2nd next week!
日本の映画が注目を浴びるのは嬉しいなぁー！！
There are Christmas films in the Philippines, too... most famously, the 1998 film "Puso ng Pasko (Heart of Christmas)".
Why are u reading my mind?
Lol...
I am waiting for English dub from long time
Dude your good
I think it's worth noting that the commercial and banal permeating the spiritual is not entirely new in Japan. For example, Asakusa Shrine/Sensoji (a major Tokyo temple/Shinto shrine complex) has had it's famous street of vendors on the grounds since likely the 1700s, and during the Edo period it was a big spot for gambling, drinking, etc.
"You have turned my Father's House into a Den of Thieves!"
Christmas in August . ❤
one of the best films ever made imo
I watched this when I was little, but I found it to be boring because, you know that kids aren't that interested in animes with heavy topics. But taste changed, and I appreciate this more.
Well his films are not meant for children to watch.
Hey, how about a video about cyberpunk next year?
Just a suggestion for looking about Christmas movies from Asia, I wonder if searching for movies from the Philippines or East Timor might help you find more of them. Both have majority-Christian populations
Ohh I love this movie 🍿🎥
It’s just not Christmas until Hana falls from Nakatomi Plaza.
just a small correction at 2:45 the ad actually says "angel of tears"
Japanese speaker here. You’re correct.
one year has passed
Have you considered philippine cinema for xmas special?
I think for me he should do that in other topics because lets be honest though we dont have that much memorable xmas themed cinema but I hope he would do topics such as neo realist cinema mostly preferred by filipino independent filmmakers especially when it comes to topics like drugs and poverty because we have a plethora in that area.
Some people might choose "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya" as Chrismas movie.
YES THIS IS MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE
I suppose Chinese have movies that center around Lunar New Year hijinks 🤷🏻♀️
There is a Japanese saying...
"Live Shinto
Wed Christian
Die Buddhist."
I want to see this film
Should have seen the anime first before finishing this video