Things I've watched recently, part 2:
Pigtails and Other Short Stories from Production I.G
In order of appearance...
Pigtails
I was enjoying this until it ended. And then... I didn't know what to make of it. It needs a rewatch or two. For now, I'd rank it fourth out of the five shorts included in this collection.
Kick-Heart
An S&M reimagining of Romeo and Juliet? Expressed through the medium of pro wrestling? Written and directed by Masaaki Yuasa?! Crikey.
Third in my ranking. Probably should really be second, but... well.
Li'l Spider Girl
I first saw this one as part of the Anime Mirai anthology at Scotland Loves Anime 2012 — and bloody loved it! More than meets the eye, is all I'll say, with a sting in the tail.
My favourite of these five shorts.
Drawer Hobs
This one's... all right, I suppose. The animation's certainly very nice, but... the story...? Basically, a single woman learns how to be a proper Japanese lady capable of doing everything society expects of her. She also learns how to do her make-up properly.
If I try not to look at it through a Westerner's eye, it's inoffensive fluff.
OVAL x OVER
NEO magazine declared this manic racing promo by Gurren Lagann director Hiroyuki Imaishi a "dud". It's easily my second favourite after Li'l Spider Girl. Maybe I'm just awkward.
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Momotaro: Sacred Sailors
A World War II propaganda cartoon commissioned by the Japanese imperial navy. It's an animation curio that's really difficult to judge objectively, but is certainly a very intriguing bit of viewing.
The Spider and the Tulip
A bonus short film included on the Momotaro BD. I know the spider's character design is rather iffy in this day and age, but I found the episode itself very enjoyable. It does include a hilarious and unfortunate animation glitch, though: the photographer's hands are caught on film in two rogue frames! Whoops.
