Tekkon Kinkreet - Surrealism, metaphysical, allegory, state of the art anime
 |
| Black sitting on the pole |
 |
| Black and White |
After I watch this almost two hours movie, I was moved by the visionary of surrealism and background art that just spectacular. It is like in a dream world surrounded by buildings. At the beginning I thought that they are a bunch of brat kid group who snug around town with the power to fly, but when I watch this, it is a completely different kind of story.
I also read many review from fans to just audience and also heard interview from director himself. (I really want the review from Matsumoto-sensei himself, hope I'm lucky to see him one day) And before I review this movie, let me tell a bit about Tekkon Kinkreet in general. (well I don't think it is general, if you want to watch the movie, better skip this part and jump on the review)
Well, the story begin with White and Black (why I mention White first?...hehe....that's for you to find out) whom more and less like a 'guardian' of Treasure Town (Takaramachi) or owned the town (self-proclaimed). They are two orphanage who share bond more than just brother (not yaoi or gay alright). People, yakuza and police are terrifying of them but at the same time protecting them (they are like urban legend and myth) whom they called 'The Cat' or Stray Cat. One day, the return of The Rat/Suzuki, a yakuza who once want to conquered the town but failed had bring his apprentice, Kimura to take over the town. (more like playing game with Black and White). Police also there to keep the situation under control, but mostly Black took care of the control.
Insecure of his self-proclaimed territory, Black decided to take care of Kimura from taking 'his' town. Based on his reason to protect White and keep the town safe from any evil from adult, he actually want to channel his inner darkness into violence and release it to bad people. After two season pass (fall and winter) Kimura decided to quit yakuza business based on his mentor advice, love is the most important treasure of all. He get married and all went well.
Until.....
Another businessman tycoon name Snake propose to the mayor of the town to built Kiddie Kastle, an large amusement park at the heart of Treasure Town. Many people revolt and didn't like it, but they use yakuza and alien assassin to keep town under control and follow Snake's wish. However, Snake must eliminate 'The Cat', the pesky problem he thought like a pest that must be exterminate. He sent three alien-like bodyguard ( I thought more like bionic weapon) to exterminate Black and White. He also asked Kimura's help to give him advice about hunting them and help him built Kiddie Kastle, or his wife will be killed.
Black finally met his match when he isn't capable to kill alien-like assassin. They were hunted to kill by the assassin, but White able to kill one of the assassin by burning him with gasoline and fire. White unstable change of emotion from innocent to disturbed and twisted make Black terrified. Snake feel really irritated that they couldn't kill two little kid but thought there is time when their time is up.
White begged Black to stop hitting people as they will go to hell if they do it. White focus more on planting apple tree and waiting it to grow, rather than bothering about the problem of the town. Black is more irritated that White just ignore what is happening around him and only dependent on Black even when it will took their life someday.
They being hunted again by alien-like assassin and this time, one of them stabbed White. White is taken into the hospital and Black is so worried about White. He feel like everything around him doesn't matter anymore if White die. To ensure White's safety, Black ignore White saying that he only getting in his way although he didn't mean it. He let police take them and bring him into another town. They separated after so long living together.
Spring comes and White confine in the room where he can draw anything he like (like nursery house) given by the police. Meanwhile urban legend called The Minotaur terrorized town and beat anyone to death, especially yakuza. Shorten the story, Kimura is ordered by Snake to kill Suzuki as he is just a nuisance to his vision of developing the city. With regret, Kimura had to kill Suzuki to ensure his wife safety. The town is in chaos and inbalance, emerging The Minotaur. Black is becoming unstable and soulless, having short term memories loss and missing his buddy, White. White also feel the same way, repeating that his heart is broken because his screw is missing, and so does Black. But he will get them all back someday.
At the Kiddie Kastle, Black encountered alien-like assassin ordered to kill him. He no longer have fear, or sanity as he lose reason to live. White having schizophrenia and drawing The Minotaur, fearing evil and darkness already grow large in Treasure Town. The link between these two kids break when The Minotaur came and kill both of the assassin. The Minotaur seduced Black to embrace the darkness as pure power and strength. Meanwhile White keep screaming and actually sending a message to Black not to fall into the darkness. Kimura decide to kill Snake after seeing many terrible thing that Snake had done.
As story unfold, The Minotaur reveal himself to be the manifestation of Black's inner demon, darkest soul deep in his heart. All this while, Black is The Minotaur who kill most yakuza alive. As Black fight between light and darkness (in the manga, they actually fight each other) but in the anime Black trying to reach the light that White beamed on. Holding to his memories of White, he choose to believe White and fall into the light. He awaken back in his house (in the manga back at amusement park) where he able to conquered his darkness. Kimura bring his wife and unborn baby to another city and fled from Treasure Town. But then he being shot by another of Snake gang. Kimura hoping to naming his baby 'Makoto' meaning truth. His wife left him to death, saying that she is not hoping to born a son (or baby literally).
Summer came and White can't wait to see Black again. Appear in style, Black falling from the sky and drop in cool fashion, making a cool flashy entrance. White welcome him back with open arms, but Black reluctant. Then Black decide it is time to let go of uncertainty and reaching for their pure dream. They arrive at the beach after that and happily play like two innocent kids.
After much synopsis, I can conclude that this story is indeed a metaphor. What I think the artist wanting to convey that Treasure Town is in fact our heart and imagination affected by our emotion, and Black and White is our conscience, between following the path of darkness or light. Our heart is indeed pure, but when disturbance from outside (it is actually lust) illustrated by Snake character (traditionally a character that always seduce people) for money, power and trying to play God. The theme is intertwined with the adult issue, doing development in peaceful town (or metaphorically urban jungle) for their own benefit. The way that Matsumoto-sensei interpret simple concept in such twisted and hidden way of storytelling really blowing my mind. It is like trying to decrypt a code from Da Vinci Code and people review in such different intrepretation. Even the director of the anime had different interpretation of the manga. (It is so hard to think what is on Matsumoto-sensei's mind)
For the anime, the visual is mind blowing and breathtaking, for the animation aspect, concept art and background design, it is a thumb's up and 5-star rating. However from the plot, it is too dragging and completely narrative, making it so heavy and decrease the anticipation and excitement for audience (Even the director and screenwriter comment they are not too happy with the screenplay). If it to say it is an experimental anime project, I can see this is one of the kind and excel in every aspect, but it would be better if it is entertaining. However, it is still a masterpiece and one of avant-garde anime in 21st Century. What makes this really interesting (despite it is surrealism art) , both the artist and director able to portray and distinguish two character, even when the design is almost the same in the beginning, their pose, characteristic and personality are totally strong and distinguish these two character (Black and White) Even when the others are like boring and most of them as much or less the same and usual yakuza character, the strong personality of Black and White bring out the theme pretty well, and attract people to watch it more (especially Black and White)
The only animation flaw that I saw when one blondie using pampadour style hair police (I dunno his name) at the beginning of the scene that his hand go through his mouth, although it suppose to be in front of it. (Maybe the arrangement of layer is wrong). Needless to say, this kind of anime should be one of top list, and should be follow by other animation company who just think about the commercial value rather than thinking the aspect of the art itself or neglecting the principle of art and animation.
For the manga, it is a thumbs up and defy all law of design and art, I can feel his Westernization art style heavily influenced by European (which I do not seen often) and still didn't feel disgust even when reading it. It is soothed the eye but the paneling is a bit scattering in action scene, even so I can feel the action scene inside the panel with strong pose and characteristic. I remember back his style is reminded me of Zot!, another avant-garde comic written and draw by Scott McCloud. And his squiggling line give me courage to draw art too, as my line also squiggly and uneven. Oh yeah, at the last of page or scene in movie after credit, there's a sentence saying "From here, you can see everything/I can see everything from here." meaning you have to see the world from many perspective (from the manga, more or less the interpretation that it is all clear to us if we return back to square one/home).
Last word, if you are tired of conventional manga/anime or superhero comic story, then this comic/anime is for you. If you expect perfectionism, go somewhere else and don't claimed yourself to be true artist.
Comments
Post a Comment