Memories (1995)

Memories (1995)

Dirs: Kōji Morimoto / Tensai Okamura / Katsuhiro Ôtomo

A trio of anime shorts by creators whose names will likely be familiar to fans of the genre. The works are labelled as episodes, but they're unconnected, except for each one being based on a manga by Katsuhiro Ôtomo, creator of the seminal Akira (1982-90).

01. Magnetic Rose

Dir. Kōji Morimoto. Approx 42 mins.

Four space-faring garbage collectors respond to an unexpected mayday call. Hoping for a big reclamation score, they end up getting a lot more than they bargained for. It's written by Perfect Blue (1997) director Satoshi Kon, who adds his reality-bending skills to Ôtomo's. Music is by Yoko Kanno.

02. Stink Bomb

Dir. Tensai Okamura. Approx 39 mins.

For a regular bio-lab worker, what starts out as a simple cold turns into the worst day of his life. It's more comedic than the other two, but it nevertheless has a serious side with a grave message.

03. Cannon Fodder

Dir. Katsuhiro Ôtomo. Approx 21 mins.

The only one helmed by Ôtomo himself, it's an Orwellian setting with some masterful world-building. It's like a showcase for the freedom of movement that animation offers a creative mind over live action, specifically with regards location panning and transitioning.

It's inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but it bugs me when the cover and/or promo art for any kind of anthology mixes up the running order. Memories does it... grrrrr.

- Fixed. The eye-twitch can now cease. -