Spoilers warn you that you’ve chosen violence today.

I fear that even today, we need to warn that animation is not always meant for children. This feature explores a lot of adult themes, specifically political and human issues. I’m glad I saw this now rather than as a kid. It has more violence and trauma than you’d expect. We really need to go into this one, because I was surprisingly more into it than I expected. Forget all anime tropes. Pick up the machine gun and march along.

(Credit: Production IG)

Jin-Roh (1999) is directed by Hiroyuki Okiura and written by Mamoru Oshii. In an alternate 1950’s Japan, Tokyo is under a totalitarian regime engaged in an urban civil war against a terrorist group called the Sect. Japan’s Capital Police has unleashed an elite group of para-military troopers, the Special Armed Garrison “Kerberos”, dressed in powered exoskeleton armor and branding heavy weaponry. One of the couriers, known as “Little Red Riding Hoods”, Nanami Agawa, is caught running in the sewers. The Kerberos member, Kazuki Fuze, has her dead to rights but hesitates to shoot. Nanami chooses to pull the trigger in her satchel, resulting in a massive explosion. Fuze survives with just a few scratches due to his armor and physique, but he is mentally traumatized.

This is going to be as far as premises go, because this one you either get into or you don’t. So, would you at all care for a political drama with historical fiction? Before you answer that, you have to know that this story balances moments of pure violence with long stretches of quiet contemplation. The main characters are Fuze, who’s mostly quiet and still processing what has happened to him and Kei Amemiya, Nanami’s sister who doesn’t appear to have been affected by her sister’s death at all. Most of the talking is done by the side characters who are different factions within the government as they decide how to deal with Fuze and how to ensure their own survival during this political upheaval.

It most definitely works, but be aware that the difference in tones might be jarring and not all audiences will get into it. It’s sort of a political thriller, but it relies on a slow burn and dialog with sparse moments of violence. There is no clear “big boss” to bring down, and there is no clear bad guy vs good guy distinction. This is headed to one very fiery showdown with a bleak but fitting aftermath. No happy ending for this fairy tale.

Extremely recommended, specially for fans of anime films with political intrigue. There’s nothing about this feature that evokes any hope, and despite some hints at romance you know that the outcome is going to be full of shades of grey. Definitely recommended for fans of the more thought provoking anime that doesn’t conform to tropes. Do expect a lot of bodies to drop and bullets to ring out.

That will do for now.