Tekkonkinkreet [DVD] [2007]

Tekkonkinkreet is not a Hayao Miyazaki film. Straying away from the family friendly Anime that Studio Ghibli have so effectively colonized over the past two decades, Tekkonkinkreet is a much darker tale - following the lives of two street urchins, named Black and White respectively, as they run riot around territory getting into more and more dangerous scrapes as they go along.It's a fantastic film and it flings the viewer deeper into an emotional vortex as it progresses, with its rich cinematography, dazzling animation and captivating score. The two protagonists are brilliant - White, the younger of the two is naive, innocent and pure, whilst the protective Black is a far more morally grey character. To survive in the tough streets of Treasure Town they must steal and pilfer whenever and wherever they can.Throw into that mix some Yakuza, a bunch of bone-quakingly strong superhumans and an array of inner demons and you know you have a radical rollercoaster-ride of a movie on your hands.I highly recommend you watch it, although be warned if you are looking for a Studio Ghibli style film, this is not it - there are a number of gritty, violent scenes that make it unsuitable for youngsters. Other than that, top notch stuff.

I'm very fond a Japanese anime but (to my shame) this title had eluded me. I bought it primarily because it's one of the first animations on Blu-Ray and I was curious to assess the image quality. Well you live and learn: this film is extraordinary in the extreme. It's appears to be a simple tale of two boys living and surviving on the streets of a run down Japanese town but it becomes far more than that. Their names are 'Black' and 'White' and I would urge you to consider yin & yang at this point.The animation is amazing. There's so much detail in each frame that I wanted to frame (as in wooden) most of them. Sometimes the animation is deliberately simplistic but it all blends and builds magnificently. The high-definition really brings this out and any lover of anime will be drooling at this one.This is now one of my top 5 films and that's really saying something because I'm 43 years old and I've seen a lot of movies. I don't impress easily. If you like anime then just buy this, a no-brainer. If you like a thoughtful and interesting (but at times surreal) story then also buy this.Genius!

Before purchasing this title from Amazon UK, I had already watched it for, at least, 2 times.So I knew it was good.I've watched tons of anime and this one is amazing - very well written with a great story development; realistic and fantastical at the same time. You'll be blown away by the amount of details and the thought behind them. The characters have simple clothes (that change everyday!), but the backgrounds, the city, everything is alive, moving, and believable. You can find complex, real personalities within every face you'll see. The style is very distinctive and unique, without the now-regular big eyed faces that would change the spotlight - since this film is more about what's happening than the shiny looks. The animation itself is very fluid, with either action scenes or daily-life situations. Everything happens for a reason, even if you don't get it right away, and you can expect rage, nostalgia and panic from the little guys on the screen. Expect some funny moments too.I recommend it to anyone who wants to spend their time with something worthwhile.One of my top favourites, no doubt.

I really struggle to review this anime. First, it is so puzzling a story that I doubt I can describe it. Decaying town and two kids caught in it. Yakuza. Police. Death and super humans. Chaotic events. Homeless people are the only ones feeling any compassion, the rest of them totally soulless. Ruined buildings and a super amusement park being built. When you start watching it doesn't make sense at all. Once I wanted to terminate the video but continued out of sheer stubbornness. And slowly, very slowly the story began to come together. It is a fight over the soul of the boy who is caught in some sort of a limbo, and the choice this boy makes will either save or destroy the planet. There was nothing straightforward about this story, not in the way we are used to in the West. But it was b-dy touching.

My 5 year old daughter and I were utterly rapt by the quality of the story, the nuances, the interplay between characters and the focus on so many existential facets. The symbolism particularly in the fairground scene with the minotaur toward the end and the critical bond between the two main protagonist (Black and White) is both moving and a key theme connecting many of the characters engaging in what probably needs a second viewing. This is film for older children as there is significant violence, but I rated the soundtrack enormously and rank the film alongside such anime greats as My Neighbour Totoro and Ponyo although the latter two I love for their simplicity and innocence. This is not a film I would let my 3 year old watch but this film will stay in my anime file for many years to come of that I have no doubt.

Incredible animation - puts me in mind of Belleville Rendez-Vous (which I hated). The animation here is quite amazing. A little quirky, yet you find you actually start to care about these little fellas. Great soundtrack. Bit of bad language. Worth the £4.I have to compare it with the 10 out of 10 which is Otogi Zoshi (still the high point for me) - and I am still looking for one to beat it for story and animation.So I give it a 3.5

Love this film. It is done in an exceedingly beautiful and unique style, with lively animation and decadent layouts.For those who have read the book, the film although following the same plot feels entirely different, focusing more on white and black's relationship rather than the general state of the city. Having a more satisfying ending, where as in the manga it is the same but feels entirely different leading you to further think and question their purpose and its validity.

I think this is a underrated movie.Very strong storyline.One of the best anime movies I have ever seen!