Frequently emerging from live shows covered in blood, snot and entrails, Pulled Apart By Horses must relax somehow.
Hooking up with the band at Dot To Dot, the riotous Leeds outfit were quick to explain how they spend their downtime. Guitarist James Brown is a bit of a film buff, and extolled the virtues of Japan's classic Anime output.
Asking him to write a guest blog for ClashMusic, the guitarist was only too happy to oblige.
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Akira
Probably the all time favourite for most Anime fans has to be Akira and its also the first one that got me into the genre as a kid. The film was a mile stone in Japanese animation and took around 4 years to make due to its intense detail and was released in 1988. It was also one of the first films that opened up the market in the USA for Anime. The film follows two friends who are part of biker gang in Neo-Tokyo but I wont tell you any more than that, just watch it. EPIC FILM!
Ghost in the Shell
This is the kind of film James Cameron would of probably made if he ever had a go at producing an Anime film. Its based on a series of comic books (Manga) as are the majority of most Anime films and series. It was released in 1995 and was one of the first Anime films to get a theatrical release in the USA and Europe. Its about a police force who combat organised technology crime set in the future. Opening scene of this film is proper fucking amazing.
Ninja Scroll
If you love action you will adore this film. Director Yoshiaki Kawajiri is well known for his work in making some pretty poor action Anime films in Japan but this is one hell of a fine piece of animation. The film does go down the road of the classic ultra-violence stereotype that Anime used to get in the early 90's, but the story behind all that is fantastic. A lone Ninja has to battle the 8 Devils of Kimon as they try till kill him to avenge the death of a comrade. Sounds simple but the plot eventually thickens and you get flung into one of the best action films I've ever seen.
Perfect Blue
Perfect Blue is a psychological thriller released in 1997 where a pop star singer decides to become an actress and is stalked and threatened by a psychotic fan. At the time no one had made anything like this which made it quite a ground breaking film even in Japan. Its seen as quite an important film to fans as it proves the point that Anime isn't just boobies and gore. It received many rave reviews, awards and gained critical acclaim at its time of release.
Princess Mononoke
Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are well known for the films Spirited Away and Howl's moving Castle which were huge hits of more recent times across the world which you may of seen, but I believe this to be his best film to date. Its a fantasy based tale like most of Hayao's work about a force of supernatural guardians who protect a forest and the differences between them and the humans which inhabit a local town.
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