Demon City Shinjuku | KYOTO VIDEO

[@otaking3582]

"Will Smith is ruining the integrity of the Oscars!" When did the Oscars ever have integrity?

[@ArtisticCeleste]

As someone in school for animation, its literally kills me, my classmates, and professors working in the industry with just how little respect people in the Oscars seem to have for animation. Like they're insulting the medium right before going 'Oh by the way here's you're award! :D ' to whoever won. Like...do they just not realize how rude that is??? To basically go on about how the medium 'Is just for kids' which essentially translates to 'Not an artform/worth watching' right in front of them? Animation is an artform that literally has NO LIMITS. No fearing for actor safety on set, no issues with the rules of reality, whatever time, place, character you want is possible-if you can draw it, you can do it. And it sucks that they don't realize how powerful that can be. Its why a film like say, Perfect Blue works-they originally planned on it being live action but funding changed their plans, yet as a result it suddenly made so many of the reality warping shifts work so much better than they ever would've in real life-animation makes such impossible things seem natural, and we can suspend our disbelief.

[@neoasura]

They don't respect it because it's a threat to their careers. Aside from voice acting, they don't have a place in the Animation scene, they don't want to credit the creators, animators, etc, because that takes away from their limelight.

[@KaiserMazoku]

It's wild how animation is seen as only for kids when, back in the 40's and 50's, it WAS considered for adults. Looney Tunes was shown before movies and was chock full of references to actors and pop culture that kids wouldn't get, the Flintstones smoked cigarettes, etc. Makes you wonder wtf happened to change the perception.

[@Mitsuraga]

Star Wars and the '80s, I think.

[@Launchpad05]

@@Mitsuraga While 'The Flintstones' was a prime time cartoon originally aimed at adults, it was kids who bought some of the merchandise, and became the first wave of loyal fans even after the show ended it's run. However, when the feature film spin off, 'The Man Called Flintstone' failed to draw big box office numbers, it was decided that the only place for 'The Flintstones' to survive was on Saturday morning television. Also, Peggy Charren's group 'Action For Children's Television' cracked down on whatever violence was found in 60's action cartoons. This resulted in the rise of 'Scooby-Doo', and changed the perception of animation by the public.

[@BroomPusher2024]

M o n e y

[@juststatedtheobvious9633]

The high price of hand drawn animation, strict censorship, and the ease of marketing to children. During the 60's and 70's, even Disney film animation was forced to cut corners and aim more for kids.

[@katiaplantscientist]

Maybe the Hollywood Hayes Code had something to do with it?

[@Launchpad05]

I agree that animation has been stuck in the same rut for decades now. It's either comedies for kids, or comedies for adults (With the occasional action cartoon thrown in.) You never see an animated drama, or animated horror. Nor do you ever see a prime time action cartoon.

[@lemonpepper3964]

There was Aeon Fluxx and the Max in the 90s but that ship sailed years ago:(

[@juliagoodwin9510]

...was not expecting the Amazing World of Gumball clip. Like, wow, talk about whiplash... Also screw the Oscar's. That is all.

[@Launchpad05]

'Akira' had Cam Clark (Leonardo) as Kaneda for the Streamline dub.

[@TBoneTony]

Oscars has been a poop show since the 2000s. The way they are in Hollywood, I don't want them anywhere near Japan.

[@chameleonhrt]

Honestly, the Oscars are people just voting for the movies they (or their kids) have watched without knowing anything about the category they're voting for. It would be better if they just let everyone in the industry vote for whatever their expertise is except for projects they've worked on. That way actual experts can know what to look for and the best of the industry gets chosen by their peers.

[@GleeChan]

It's telling that every year the Oscars nominate films that the general public as either never heard of before or else have, but were didn't pay it any mind until awards went it's way. Then again... if they did go by popular tastes, fucking Marvel films would win every year so there's that.

[@Thenumber1yoshi]

Honestly the way the Oscar’s treat animation as a lesser art form is a big reason why I’m glad that them and their fellow award show’s ratings are tanking these days!

[@uprightcitizenx]

They have that. It's called the SAG Awards.

[@stevena488]

Yeah, can't uhh... Can't watch the Oscars because I hate that they don't seem to realise that 90% of film has ANIMATION in it, but no. You go make the category for kids and watch as thousands of hard working animation staff don't get the credit they deserve. It's like how they don't give horror genre films any time of day even when Horror and animation are both labour intensive mediums (though Horror IS A GENRE, animation isn't) where editors are in charge of the pace, the composer is in charge of the mood and the tone, the actors have to sell human emotions. All that goes ten fold with animation when they have to make you believe that a series of layered drawings are real. Why animation doesn't get respect will forever be a chip on my shoulder and I'm glad I'm not alone.

[@bryanc7094]

that’s what old white people like 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@johnsmith8906]

Ha! Was totally surprised to see you commenting here :)

[@Launchpad05]

Just like how a good animated show gets canceled while news shows, tabloid shows, and reality shows continue to exist.

[@stevena488]

@@johnsmith8906 evening my good man! Yeah, I see a reference to 80s anime that comes into my recollection of Channel 4 going "Legend of the Overfiend. Let's put this on!!" (The 90s man!) I'm going to watch it. Hope you're well dude!

[@johnsmith8906]

@@stevena488 I'm good. I used to have this on VHS way back when. I used to love when they put some random anime on late night Channel 4.

[@JinxTheLooneyToon915]

Yesterday, I've discovered that Demon City Shinjuku is on Amazon Prime and after watching this video, KB, I'm gonna watch it tonight.

[@electrofonickitty823]

I remember when Spirited Away was nominated, my sister wrote it off and nearly spat out her drink when it won. The academy never took Anime that seriously and honestly I have always felt Anime needed their own section. There is something more artistic in it, just as you pointed out in this video. There is so much more to it, the writing and the creation. Demon City and Wicked City were what I saw on Sci-Fi Channel when it played this on Mondays. I may have been a weird 14 to 16 year old who searched for more than what was given to me.

[@the-NightStar]

Honestly, I can't stand Spirited Away. In fact, most of my opinions for anything by Miyazaki and/or Ghibli is eye-rolling disdain. I love anime as a whole but maybe it's appreciation for the obscure and the anti-mainstream that makes me legitimately think that all the constant fawning over Ghibli is pukeworthy. Well, that and I just mainly consider nearly all of it to be pretentious, style-over-substance off-putting trash. That hatred that everyone heaps at Frozen or Cars 2 is exactly the anime equivalent of what what Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totaro, Princess Monokoke and Ponyo represent to me. Like if Frozen, Charlotte's Web, Ferngully and every Roald Dahl and Beverly Cleary book was mashed in a blender and directed by Don Bluth. And I don't mean Secret Of Nimh or Land Before Time Bluth, I mean Rock-A-Doodle and Pebble And The Penguin Don Bluth.

[@electrofonickitty823]

@@the-NightStar I was one of those kids who said, "MICE CAN'T DRIVE MOTORCYCLES, Rat and the Motorcycle SUCKS!" Yeah I trash talked a Beverly Cleary book that was a staple to most kids when I was little, I believed the movies sucked, the book was for mentally handicapped people and I was just sick of Animation made for my generation. Unico, The Last Unicorn, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings (RALPH BAKISHI), Wizards (Ralph Bakishi), and a few other were my go to for things as a kid. My mother let me at 8 decide my animation favorites. And let me say Miyazaki was maybe on the bottom rung of that list, my loyalty was solely to Tezuka and Ralph Bakishi, though I will say Miyazaki's crowning achievement was The Red Bull in The Last Unicorn, little to no credit is given to his team who spent months developing this and this was before Grave of the Fireflies and Valley of the Wind. I praise Miyazaki and his team for the fact The Last Unicorn is the truest hybrid Anime out there. I honestly think no other studio could handle it and of course this master piece won ZERO awards. Animation in general is never given any good status. I honestly HATE Disney for making it BABY SHOWS

[@Launchpad05]

@@electrofonickitty823 (Mice can't drive motorcycles') Have you ever seen 'Biker Mice From Mars'?

[@SerifSansSerif]

Disney film. You forget that Miyazaki has ties to Disney (or did). Spirited away was seriously pushed by Disney that year.

[@SerifSansSerif]

@@the-NightStar ghibli is overrated, though I feel Kiki's delivery service and Totoro might be the few exceptions because they were his earlier works. Nausicaa is..... Boring. Kiki's really is the only one I have feels for, and even then, the dub is the version that evokes that feeling.

[@teddyfurstman1997]

This Anime is proof that Animation is for everyone including Adults. The Oscar's are poop. Lol

[@Launchpad05]

Because they don't want to go outside their 'narrative'.

[@wiselogicliberate]

When you have a good drink in hand while watching this...it's a ball. I definitely liked it more than Ninja Scroll, honestly.

[@GleeChan]

Speaking of western elites tastes in animation, I'm so sick of them thinking that Hayao Miyazaki is the only gifted animator outside of the US. He and his company are great, but I think we all know the guy has his tropes and fallbacks like everyone else. It's not like he's an animated God like the West tends to think he is.... but then again if you don't watch any other anime I can see why they think this.

[@Margatroid]

"Spirited Away won an Oscar!"

[@KaiserBeamz]

If I ever get around to Spirited Away, I plan on talking length about how its critical success may have harmed the perception of anime than it helped.

[@ELEKTROSKANSEN]

@@KaiserBeamz please do, now I'm really curious :)

[@quintessenceSL]

Miyazaki is alright. He just suffers from the Stephen King disease of not knowing how to do an ending (which really puts an added string for everything he does well) and getting fawned over by the same types who think every coming of age story is deep. Hitchcock never won an Oscar. Neither did Kubrick. The Academy has a certain oeuvre that Miyazaki can fit in to, which why he gets praise, but if you look over the history of any industry awards, the omissions are pretty telling that maybe it isn't the best of the best they are celebrating.

[@Sqwivig]

@@KaiserBeamz That sounds really interesting! I look forward to that video!

[@tipulsar85]

Here's another kicker to the whole treating film animation as a joke has backfired. The year Up won best animated feature, it was was also put into the same spot as Beauty and the Beast was 18 years prior. Also can't have it go to an Anime, because then Disney, Dreamworks, or Sony Animation would cry unfair. Yeah, the Animation ghetto is still reinforced at the Oscars for some reason.

[@Launchpad05]

Animation continues to live in this ghetto while news shows, tabloid shows, reality shows, and tween sitcoms continue to get treated like royalty. The mainstream media HATES animation, and would rather air live action from now until the end of time while relegating animation behind a pay wall.God forbid A cartoon get more praise, and recognition from the masses than A live action movie, A tween sitcom, or A reality show. If Hollywood can't recognize the limitless potential of animation, that's their loss.

[@EvaFull]

An 80’s Classic that I have always been interested ever since I saw those late night Anime ads for VHS.

[@Launchpad05]

'State Of The Art Japanese Animation!'

[@EvaFull]

@@Launchpad05 Is that commercial archived somewhere, because I have always wanted to go back and rewatch it after all these years since I only have vague memories of the commercial since it only aired late at night?

[@Launchpad05]

@@EvaFull kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWrCcpVjgZKnhqs

[@Launchpad05]

@@EvaFull kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnrJpmB8qN16ZpI

[@jamcalx]

Holy Crap, I was 8 when I watched this on SciFi Channel in 1996. Mephisto really shaped my love of mysterious cool guys alongside D. Heck, this really helpped shaped my sense of young hero stories in general, like a urban dark fantasy legend of Zelda or something.

[@davidburnett5049]

18:00 you show the main villain while talking about his personality traits. He looks like an evil Vash the stampede.. or perhaps and and older Knives wearing his brother's coat. It's a good look.

[@deathtone1614]

Yea, a lot of the animators I follow on Twitter didn’t care for the Oscars “joke”. Neither did I of course. Saw this film after I saw the directors other works. It’s a bit weaker but still enjoyable. Wish he had continued directing like he had in the late 80s early 90s but the market started to drop off at that point (guessing that’s the reason why) I remember enjoying his Highlander film easily the second best of that series. Granted, I’m viewing the first film with nostalgia glasses I’m sure.

[@Margatroid]

Bloodlust is an incredible film, and certainly one of his best. I wouldn't count Highlander as being fairly representative of his later work.

[@paulsto6516]

The Oscars has been a sh!t show for a looong time.

[@brig.badger2896]

8:30 this re alignment thing explains a lot. Stuff from the late 80s is excellent. LOGH especially

[@jamesmoss3424]

I remember watching Demon City Shinjuku on the sci fi channel when I was a kid and it's bloody cool. 😀👍

[@DouglasMeloche]

Always enjoy your lovingly thoughtful and well-researched reviews, with ARMITAGEiii and Dirty Pair being some of my personal favorites… THIS has to be your best video!!! Covering one of (if not THE BEST) iconic duos of animation Kawajiri/MADHOUSE, this showcases the full glory of golden age anime with all the experimental passion of indie filmmaking. Thanks for spreading the love of off the most diverse art forms

[@Rahxephon91]

I actually just bought this because it was finally in stock at Amazon. I remember watching this on Stars Action(where I saw a lot of Manga/CPM/ect stuff as a teen. As always love your videos man. You really capture the feeling of anime fandom of the Suncost era millennials.

[@seanmcgee8772]

stars action was definitely the channel I saw so many obscure anime(mostly ovas like this anime) when I was a kid/teen. Hell it introduced me to some of my favorite oldies like bubblegum crisis and patlabour.

[@Rahxephon91]

@@seanmcgee8772 Yeah man. It’s where I saw X The Movie. A movie I could only love as a teen

[@BaronVonCatipeen]

I must be losing my mind, I could have sworn you did this one already. Must have been a reference in another video.

[@ELEKTROSKANSEN]

I really like your vids, man, always awaiting another one. Thanks!

[@Davethe3rd]

I just remember thIs anime because the protagonist looks like Kyo from King of Fighters...

[@KyleKatarn1980]

13:33 Amazing to hear Ryu Hayabusa's voice actor in this anime film!

[@joshjoson27]

Kawajiri…. My favourite anime director

[@wbl_unlimited]

This channel has become my new go-to for anime reviews.

[@veggsbacon1891]

The Oscars and its foolish "kids-in-adult-bodies" can just jump somewhere off. They deserve NO respect and integrity to begin with.

[@dwainsimmons3447]

Can you do Both Magic Knight Rayearth and the 3-part ova?

[@user-rc3cm1zv4j]

Case and point, screw the oscars

[@TBoneTony]

Another 80s nod to Japanese Animation, the President of the WORLD is flying in what can only be described as a NASA style Space Shuttle. If you know the 1980s in America, you know what I am talking about.

[@nicklundy9965]

I just bought the Blu ray a couple of weeks ago. Probably might check out Wicked City.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

Still have a soft spot for Demon City Shinjuku. Yes, I was the generation that abused this film on Sci-fi Channel , but still found myself searching for a dvd copy! Also, maybe its me, but couldn't Kenichiro ( Izayoi's father) be Taki/ Maki's love child? Now his son has taken up the mantle? Maybe it's just me? Also...since you've mentioned Mephisto as a vampire...couldn't he be a very young D?

[@joaquinvaleri7022]

This is an channel about anime and animation not the oscars

[@SHELLY_BELLY_YT]

I was literally just listening to Glass No Sogen… and to hear it playing at the beginning of this video is fucking hilarious

[@DragonKingX78]

I have always liked this one.

[@lorddalek]

Ah my first REAL anime (IE: the first time I was watching something I was made aware was made in Japan purely for adults only). This hot garbage takes me back,

[@samwill7259]

When you have to note "This is the one with the LEAST purposeless sexual violence in it! (not none, just the least)" I think I might have to bow out on this one my dood. Not that I don't appreciate the recommendation but I know my limit and THAT warning is my limit. I skipped Goblin Slayer for the same reason, doesn't matter how good the anime is but I just...I can't, I do not want to.

[@hitachicordoba]

Current season, you will want to avoid Skeleton Knight- opens with a very disturbing scene. Even more disturbing is the comments section with fanboys defending it/attacking those who were offended "Well that's how it was in the Light Novel" Well maybe the LN is trash as well. BTW I did enjoy Demon City Shinjuku and Ninja Scroll.

[@SerifSansSerif]

This is stupidly tame to today's god awful mess.

[@samwill7259]

@@SerifSansSerif I don't know how that changes my point.

[@SerifSansSerif]

@@samwill7259 I mean that it aired on regular TV back when there were standards. It's an extremely tame movie. By contrast, redo of a healer and goblin slayer and world's end harem I pass on just for the reputation they have. I also avoid "ecchi" series from today for similar reasons. Today, anime goes to far with the sexual content in that, say, golden boy may be pervy as hell, it's comedic and sex positive. Today's ecchi tends more to just fanservice laden cheesecake that tries to cram in as much nudity it can instead of substance. SAO is basically set up after set up for NTR and rape fantasies, and goblin slayer's scene is gratuitous for the same. I can see how his other works would fit this assessment, but Shinjuku is the tamest and could get a pg-13 rating where as the others are....not. The funny thing is that now I'm trying to talk this out, it's a weird point about redo of a healer and interspecies reviewers may actually have more value and hearken back to 80's/90's titles than I had originally given them credit for. I feel the need to clean myself now..... :( EDIT: I think one of the things that allows me to differentiate the 80's content from the current crap is that the current stuff seems to seep into content that is set for a younger audience than the older stuff. Ninja scroll, demon city, and first of the north star seem pointedly more adult/realistic in art style and target audience tends to be more mature with adult characters rather than 15-18 year olds.

[@stickershock66]

I was just reminded of the 1990s tv anime, Blue Seed. Maybe that's worth a video?

[@KyleKatarn1980]

15:00 And I always thought that Cindy sex scene from Golgo 13: The Professional was probably the steamiest scene in 80s anime.

[@aramfingledingledopple]

Hah haaaahhh, MST3k Honestly the dub version of Mephistopheles (while clearly intended to sound like a stereotypical vampire) sounds more like Father from The Brak Show.

[@cthellis]

Yara was Mephisto here, and shared TV time with Tsuru in KOR, as…. Master. Which I find hilarious to compare. 😝 Isn’t versatility grand?

[@cthellis]

Demon City Shinjuku…. YA BASIC Amusingly, I’d find this kind of story frustrating for a novel. But like…. an 80 minute OVA? Feels pretty normal.

[@joaquinvaleri7022]

And you better talk about what happen that 2022 fifa world cup match argentina vs netherlands and of those yellow cards

[@chrisossu2070]

Josef Fares already said it best. So when are you covering Cyber City Oedo? You gotta complete the set.

[@gjergjaurelius9798]

Dude I LOVE THE DUB!!!😂

[@bryanc7094]

Kawajiri is a good artist but I can’t see many people appreciating his work for his constantly dated female characterization. The Oscars don’t respect animation

[@aramfingledingledopple]

One could call it 'dated' or one could also call it 'transgressive.' Transgressive art, lovingly created, is infinitely memorable and gets passed down from cool uncle to jerk teenager in a generational cycle of re-discovery. "What's Heavy Metal? Sorry kid. Your mom would kill me. Well... tell ya what. We'll watch it when mom goes to the gym. DO NOT TELL HER." (true story, by the way- one of my favorite film memories)

[@elipticalecliptic481]

@@aramfingledingledopple it's definitely dated; characterizations like that aren't very uncommon imo

[@melasnexperience]

I remember watching this on Sci-Fi Channel back in high school & thinking it was amazing, so imagine my disappointment (to put it mildly) when I found other work by the same director & it was Rape-a-palooza.

[@aramfingledingledopple]

I do make sure to warn people to whom I recommend Wicked City that it's like, 60% rape by volume but at least it manages to find new and horrible ways to do the rape with each instance- including the one scene where it LOOKS like the sex is consensual but then it turns out they were actually psychically manipulated into doing impreg. Think I might just start describing it as Rape-a-palooza, though, thanks!

[@theredknight1757]

Give it time. TRON was denied the award for animation because CG wasn't considered animation. People can keep their heads in the sand all they want, but anime/manga is getting more known each generation. Given another decade or so and it will be seen as on-par to other media forms.

[@tskmaster3837]

I love Wicked City and when it comes to Demon City Shinjuku... I love Wicked City. Demon City Shinjuku is a movie so generic that I have to remember if I ever saw it or if I'm thinking of some other Demon City movie every single time I come across it. Even just two days ago when I found it available on a streaming site... "Oh, Demon City Shinjuku! Well, anyway..." I'm more fond of Darkside Blues than Demon City Shinjuku and I loathe Darkside Blues. I didn't like thatone but there is at least something that's worth remembering, a trans-dimensional horse drawn carriage, while Demon City has... I'm writing this after I saw the video and I still haven't a clue.

[@hitachicordoba]

I prefer Cyber City Oedo TBH

[@SerifSansSerif]

That's its appeal. Its story telling us more fluid and not awkward or missing too much info, and it's a popcorn flick. It's also a movie that represents it's particular place in time.

[@4danieltorresjr]

I watched this in English Dub on Amazon and wow, the English Dub ruins the whole tone of the film and I wasn’t sure wether it was supposed to be funny and dumb. It was lifeless. In general, the story and the characters were handled pretty well and I liked the film. Seeing these clips in it’s original voice acting gives it so much life and I’ll be rewatching in it’s original dub

[@Firechick12012]

I agree that the Oscars' blatant disregard for animation as a medium is really stupid. It just really makes my blood boil that people like them seem to believe that all animation, even animation specifically aimed at kids, is nothing more than colorful babysitting fodder and can't seem to accept that animation can tackle all kinds of stories, and even when faced with evidence proving such, they'd rather stick to their own narratives about animation. It's like they think all animation is like the crappy G3 My Little Pony Newborn Cuties specials, which even My Little Pony fans hate because of how saccharine and corporate pandering it is. Seriously, it says a lot that Japan, even during the 70s-2000s, realized what animation was capable of and went buck wild compared to America. I have no interest in Demon City Shinjuku or other Kawajiri works, as they're not my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the impact he and his works had on the medium of anime as a whole.

[@ohhey3187]

Damn, man. What do you have against Shrek?

[@Launchpad05]

I blame 'Shrek' for convincing the entire animation industry that ALL animated films have to be CGI comedies, or fair tale deconstructions. When's the last time you saw A 2D animated film on the big screen, or an animated film that doesn't play to kids? (Or even A cartoon short?)

[@ohhey3187]

@@Launchpad05 I don’t blame Shrek for that. Not one bit. Shrek didn’t try to convince that to the people. The people convinced themselves of that. It’s kinda hard to pin point what really killed 2D animation in the US since there are so many other factors to consider. Blaming one movie for it when that wasn’t the message it was trying to convey is a little absurd. I can see where you’re coming from though.

[@KhayJayArt]

@@Launchpad05 that's not Shrek's fault , CLOWN

[@StoneCresent]

I've gotten the impression that America has a live action bias. I.e. it's not prestigious art if live actors are not used. The irony is that a lot of live action movies these days use digital effects (i.e. animation) excessively, sometimes to the point that it's just actors in front of a blue/green screen. It's almost to the point where actors could be replaced by hyperreal digital likenesses and some likenesses are already being brought back from the dead.

[@SGALAXIA]

What is the name of the song that starts every video!?!?!?

[@bancoran]

What is this opening theme?

[@JoshuaJamesWagoner]

I thought the villains was Rebi Ra, not Lebi Ra. Small nitpick, but otherwise great video.

[@ハトシェプスト-f7c]

I prefer his later movies

[@DragonBall-Manga-1984]

👍

[@blessingsoke8291]

Do Jungle De Ikou next time.

[@blessingsoke8291]

Thank you,now spread the word.

[@aramfingledingledopple]

No, Boko no Pico

[@stanleyteriaca2184]

Oddly, I like this movie, but can't stand Wicked City. Both movies are based on novels based on the same author.

[@joaquinvaleri7022]

And i'm just saying

[@joaquinvaleri7022]

And sorry for ruin the fifa world cup argentina netherlands