Cinema of Mamoru Oshii: Fantasy, Technology and Politics

by Dani Cavallaro

Today's animation is much more than kids' stuff. Increasingly complex subject matter has produced a corresponding increase in artistic interest, and forms once specific to certain cultures have crossed borders to enjoy international popularity. Japanese animation has been particularly successful in the United States, and among the most celebrated Japanese animation artists is director Mamoru Oshii. This book is an analytical survey of Oshii's cinematic works from the early years of his career through his 21st-century productions, including Beautiful Dreamer and the acclaimed Ghost in the Shell . The author examines these and other Oshii productions in relation to the Carnivalesque movement, technopolitics and the director's post-robotic vision. Oshii's films are particularly significant in their defiance of the premises of Western animation and their presentation of a highly personal commentary on both individual and collective identities in the 20th and 21st centuries. Special emphasis is placed on Oshii's revolutionary film techniques, including the stylistically and thematically diverse features of productions ranging from animation to live action to Original Video Animation (OVA), a format Oshii invented. A complete filmography is included.

Genres: Japan, Film, Anime

Paperback

First published July 5, 2006

About the author

Dani Cavallaro is a freelance writer specializing in literary studies, critical and cultural theory and the visual arts. Her publications include The Gothic Vision<?em>, Critical and Cultural Theory and Cyberpunk and Cyberculture.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was satisfactory, though it’s more like a slightly anal and superfluous overview of Osshi’s work. While there are several insightful notes about his recurring techniques he applies in films and some interesting aspects of the work he covers, such as Patlabour’s looming technological industrial boom, where in the streamlined production process often blurs out the aspect of how much is being changed societally and culturally, which Osshi makes evident through the use of stressing lots of deserted neighborhoods and remnant architecture and structures. In this sense, the book comes off more as something to peruse after watching one of his films if you want more insight; that being said, this book is academically thick and sets out what he sets to do in covering Osshi. But I would have preferred a more succinct book, which is what I’m being led to believe Brian Ruth’s 'Stray Dog of Anime' is.

Take this more as a bit of a textbook about Osshi and skim through the contents and look for any of his work that catches your eye.

[B.szoke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for a film studies class in undergrad. It's pretty typical BS attempt at movie analysis and interpretation. Not worth reading.