Memories

[transmet]

Well, I finally got around to watching Katsuhiro Otomo's Memories. For those who don't know, it's 3 short stories done in the same style as Robot Carnival and Neo-Tokyo ( http://www.anime-planet.com/animerec/537_gatts.html ).
The first story, and the best OMO, is called "Magnetic Rose" which is directed by Koji Morimoto (Anamatrix) and is based on a manga short by Mr. Otomo. This is a brilliant story done in a Akira meets Cowboy Bebop style.
The second story, "Stinkbomb", is directed by Tensai Okamura (Wolf's Rain) and is very similar to "Order to Stop Construction" (Neo-Tokyo) which was also directed by Mr. Okamura.
The third story is a haunting Orwellian tale called "Cannon Fodder" which is directed by Otomo himself. This is the one that has stuck with me and ultimately drove me to write this review. It..."depicts a day the life of a city whose entire purpose is the firing of cannons at an unknown enemy." The story is not only timely, but also a little unnerving.
I whole-heartedly recommend this dvd. It's a little heavy and obviously not for everyone, but if you like short-stories written like a parable and/or myth, then you should check it out.
As the great Ray Bradbury has always said, "If you speak in tongues, if you write in metaphors, then people can remember them."

[Keropi]

I like Memories a lot although I like it primarily for the Magnetic Rose segment. The interesting thing for me about it is that I first seen the Magnetic Rose story through buying the colored manga of it in a comic book store many many years ago ?15-18 years ago. It was released as a graphic novel similar to how the early colored Akira manga "graphic novels" looked.

I read the Magnetic Rose story at least two years (it seems like several years) before the Star Trek the Next Generation "Casino Royale" episode first aired. After I watched "Casino Royale" I kept getting the feeling that I had seen this story somewhere before. I thought maybe it was from an Outer Limits episode until I finally realized that it reminded me of the Magnetic Rose graphic novel. The two stories have very similar ideas in them. Even though the Casino Royale episode was a lot less threatening and even comedic compared to Magnetic Rose, it's still very interesting to compare the two. They both have some eerie aspects in them (although much less in Casino Royale).

[Krafty]

I have to agree with both of you, MEMORIES is an amazing triptych of stories. Magnetic Rose and Cannon Fodder were my faves because of the sci-fi elements and intriguing plots and the way they were directed made me remember them well. The style in Cannon Fodder appeared 'East European' so it's not an anime in the traditional sense.

You're right Keropi, there are similarities between Magnetic Rose and that Star Trek episode and it did feel like an Outer Limits tale. It's pleasent to watch these short stories which don't have a complex plot/characterization that warrents a 26-ep series or full-lenth movie; they have more impact this way.

[In_Gabriel_We_Trust]

I had to pass on Memories.
I really liked Magnetic Rose but cut out after that because I just missed that Akira greatness.

[Baakay]

I'm intrigued because I don't think I've ever seen the Cannon Fodder part... I adored Stink Bomb and Magnetic Rose, though!