This is no Josie and the Pussycats.

There's a shallowness to the theme of being true to one's self. It’s introduced very early as the basis of “Golden” and just honestly isn’t really explored in any interesting way. How does that self-honesty intersect with the state of shame that Rumi doesn't (or does) experience? Or the parallels between Gwima and Celine? Nothing.

Also a remarkable difference in just how unendingly reverential this is about its music industry. Josie also loved the music, but distinguished art and industry. This can’t conceive the distinction.

Watched from a DVD (ick) of the American version (ick) at the Asian Art Museum. Glad they showed it, but throughout I could tell that this copy has cropped what was almost certainly filmed in Tohoscope. Multiple scenes where speaking characters are only visible by their nose poking into the frame.

Unlike the last time, this actually was in HD! But I wasn't prepared for new subtitles, so I used the same old olds from the DVD I've known since high school. “is he a satin from hell?” is just cozy. Manybe one day I'll allow myself a better fansub.

Trying again to appreciate this. And it's nice. But it’s just nice.

Again I’m fixated on the images. There are so many instances in this movie where the characters’ experience of the world is mediated through screens. Jeff Goldblum in fron of a massive screen of the presidential address. Pullman in front of the blurry screen waiting to see if the nuke was successful. These characters get slapped on top screen-filling video feeds. Love it.

I know this is a commercial. I've intentionally watched commercials in pursuit of some artistic merit. This doesn't have that. But it's still adequately well enough put together to have a good time with my brother.

I did genuinely think he was going to die at the end, though, and I thought that would have been pretty bold! Maybe not ideal for the sponsors. But maybe yet! “Punk rock” as some corporate board member in the film calls it.

A live action cartoon. The smash cut to the neighbor, Kousuke (or something), who's a chimpanzee is just wild. The extended dance/song interlude of school clubs. Lovely stuff.

In the end, it does turn into a cartoon in more literal ways, as the characters get conveyed and moved around on top of some primitive 3D effects like paper dolls. It's this ending sequence that is perhaps most harmed by being too early to communicate a more coherent otherworldly space. But the very hand-drawn aesthetic of effects maintains the cartooniness from atmosphere to appearance.