Review of 'Tokyo Godfathers (Tôkyô goddofâzâzu)'

tokyo_godfathers.jpg It is Christmas in Tokyo and three homeless people, middle-aged alcoholic Gin (voiced by Tôru Emori), young runaway Miyuki (voiced by Aya Okamoto) and transvestite diva Hana (Yoshiaki Umegaki) discover an abandoned baby. They take it upon themselves to discover what has happened to the child's parents and return it to them. As they crisscross the snowy city in their difficult search they will each have to face their own troubling past before they discover the child's.

Yet another sensational animation from Satoshi Kon that manages to look absolutely amazing, feature rich, human characters, warm humour, and have a moving, engaging story. The animation is superb, often highly realistic and engaging yet at the same time light and fun with the three quirky main characters.

Despite the rather depressing sounding plot this is a film of hope and love that resonates throughout. In this short film we grow to love the three mis-matched homeless people whose tragic stories unfold on the screen telling us how they ended up where they are. Their often frenetic interactions are filled with humour but also pathos which brings the three to life: We feel for Hana who is obviously unwell, Gin as he struggles to cope with his lost family and Miyuki as she tries to find her way.

An engaging and moving story from a master of Japanese animation.


Review Date: 2020-05-15

Directed by: Satoshi Kon and Shôgo Furuya

Studio: Madhouse

Year: 2003

Length: 88 minutes

Genre: Japanese Animation

Other reviewed films by Satoshi Kon: