Memories (1995), The segmented film.

Directed by: Kôji Morimoto, Katsuhiro Otomo, Tensai Okamura | Written by: Satoshi Kon (segment 1),Katsuhiro Otomo
Produced by: Banday Visual Company, Studio 4°C, Shochiku, Kodamsha Co.

Awards

• Ofuji Noburo Award; Mainichi Film Concours

Genre

Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller






 The collaboration of 4 Animation masters as suggested in the many trailers and posters isn't falls. The 1995 segmented film Memories forms an ensemble of 3 feature films mostly based on Otomo's manga short stories. There is no question that the quality and dept is admirable among other things, but does it work as an ensemble?

The film caught my interest particularly because of the collaboration of Satoshi Kon and Katsuhiro Otomo in the first segment "Magnetic Rose". Little did I know that he did not actually direct anything until his first work in 1998 leaving me displeased with the fact he only did the script Notes

But you cannot judge such segments based out of petty presumptuousness. A film directed by such artist behind , The Animatrix "Beyond" (2003), Wolf's Rain (2003) and not to mention Otomo's previous work Akira (1982/1988). With Koji Morimoto and Tensai Okamura's experience in the countless anime works they directed/wrote/animated, the ideal episode-like feature film was not far away and made with utmost quality and efficiency. But as a full film? "efficiency" becomes a debatable praise.

The story cannot be seen as a whole and therefore cannot be review as such, the three episodes share no connection nor do they have any continuation what so ever. Unlike The Animatrix and Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) which -like this movie- was a collective of anime studios and director including Madhouse.

Story [SPOILER]

Episode 1

Magnetic Rose

Directed by: Kôji Morimoto | Written by: Katsuhiro Otomo,  Satoshi Kon (script)

A team of deep-space  salvage freighter get a distress signal coming from the space graveyard, they are lead to an asteroid made solely by space scrap when our two protagonists the down to earth Heinz and nonchalant womanizer Miguel are send to trace the signal which leads them into the web of a noble Opera singer or what is left of her and her tragic life while dealing with haunting memories that defy reality in every way raising the question of that distress signal was real to begin with.

This was hands down the best episode and a potential undeveloped story which could have lead to a prolonged film. The dept  and story have a tremendous impact which isn't replicated by the more easy going following episodes. Magnetic Rose set a league of it's own. The magnificent decor is paraded by it's clever 360° view which in turn stimulates the chaotic and frightening nature of particular scenes. 

This episode is a film on it's own and it is a shame that it was left "unfinished" and squeezed with two other episodes. The highlight of this movie, but then again that might just be me.

Episode 2

Stink Bomb

Directed by: Tensai Okamura | Written by: Katsuhiro Otomo

Nobuo, an employee at a medical company who is bothered by a nasty flu is advice by colleagues to try the "experimental medicine" in the Chiefs office which he mistakes for cold pills . When he wakes up the next morning he is horrified by the sight of all the dead employees who died by mysterious causes. Nobuo who foolishly ignore the cause of these deaths is tasked by the headquarter to go to Tokyo with the medical samples and files unbeknownst to the headquarter that the medicine in his body made him a walking bio-weapon which spreads his body odor like poison gas.
The dark comedy is very present in this episode as you witness an epidemic caused by a dimwit everyday man which happened to take the wrong medical sample. Nobuo is in every sense the pinnacle of stupidity. It should strike every person as odd when every one near him suddenly dies, animals and humans alike. It should clear some confusion. Not with Nobuo I was struck between entertainment and frustration by the excessive stupidity brought forth by this man. I had a hard time digesting the fact that a man covered inside deadly gas fails to understand the true cause of it even when the military is blocking his path with their every move to hinder the virus.




Episode 3

Cannon Flodder

Directed | Written by: Katsuhiro Otomo

In a heavily walled city which contains canon at every corner and every few houses in order to fight an unknown city which is implied to be nonexistent.We witness young boy who wishes to become a cannon shooter unlike his father who is a cannon-loader.

The last and more random episode of the bunch. The animation style and feel of the overall episode is more western-like due to the rough thick lines and chaotic shading. The story itself is meaningless pleasantry portrayed in a linear fashion. The few shots after the enormous Red cannon which is central and symbolic to the city strength, are seen as craters in an empty wasteland which questions the very existence of this "moving city", an interesting concept in this short episode next to the animation style.

Rating
8,5 -  Sci-Fi/ Fantasy entertainment pack
Though I enjoyed the bundle of episodes I'm still stupefied of the difference in quality between episodes. The collective rating is slightly down played by the episodes following "Magnetic Rose" which ended with a silent yet full-filling open ending. I'm well aware that the stories are based off the many short stories of Otomo which, without a doubt, is full of better alternatives to form a coherent pack of episode. I'd say it's a good time but the dept of every episode diminishes considerably due to the overwhelming performance of it's introductory episode. But opinions may vary, and so does taste. Comment bellow about your personal experience concerning this film

M.

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