ð Summary
The plot follows Nishi, a frail and wishy washy young man who aspires to be a manga artist. He is still stuck on Myon, a childhood sweetheart he later meets at a restaurant owned by her family. Their uncomfortable reunion comes to an abrupt end when two yakuza members barge in and begin to threaten Myon and her sister Yan. Nishi is too frightened to do anything, and is shot and killed.
In the afterlife, he encounters God who shapeshifts while having a sarcastic demeanor, and chastises him for his unsuccessful life. Nishi goes against the typical path of acceptance into death, and begins to will himself back to the moment just before he gets shot. This time, he goes all out and kills the yakuza while escaping with Myon and Yan, all in a stolen car.
During the turbulent escape, they crash the car off a bridge and are then consumed by a giant whale. Inside the whale, they encounter the eccentric old man who has transformed his surroundings into a surreal sanctuary. Decades of living inside the creature allowed turning the whale’s interior into an unrecognizable refuge. While sheltered from the outside world, it allows one to become lost in contemplation. In time lost Nishi and the sisters think about their past, aspirations, as well as the regrets. In the end, all participating in the innovative sequences where they explore alternate versions of themself decide that in active self determination they will escape the whale through a rocket of parts they scavenge along the way.
The film concludes with a montage showcasing boundless possibilities, summarizing the core truth of the film: existence is full of surprises and avenues to explore; the only mode of living one can embrace is wholeheartedly and without fear.
ð Cast & Crew
Director: Masaaki Yuasa
Original Manga: Robin Nishi
Studio: Studio 4°C
Voice Cast:
KÅji Imada as Nishi
Sayaka Maeda as Myon
Takashi Fujii as Ryo
Seiko Takuma as Yan
Tomomitsu Yamaguchi as God
Masaaki Yuasa’s animation works are all regarded as unconventional, with Mind Game marking his feature debut. He would go on to direct The Tatami Galaxy, Ping Pong the Animation, and Night Is Short, Walk On Girlâeach lauded for their artistic merit.
â IMDb Ratings & Critical Reception
IMDb Rating: â â â â â (7.7/10)
Genre: Experimental, Drama, Surreal Comedy
Runtime: 103 minutes
Mind Game is considered a pioneer of animation for its originality, emotional complexity, and highly experimental visuals. It has received accolades from critics and audiences alike for pushing the limits of narrative and artistic expression within animation. Although never reaching mainstream success, it gained cult status and continues to stand as one of the most distinctive works of anime cinema.
Critics have remarked the experience as being âvisually overwhelmingâ but also ârewarding.â The themes of renewal, the critical turning points in oneâs life, and personal growth are influential, particularly for those who pay attention to unorthodox films.
Watch Mind Game on Kisscartoon
Read Also,
