Ways to Demolish Weekends, Absolutely the Best Entertainment of All Time

Forget your Weekend

  The world of anime isn't only limited to the simplistic 24 minute run times of TV (without commercials), anime can also take the form of complex stories that evolve over the course of two hour long movies. Ranging from the bittersweet bewilderment of a child discovering the harshness of reality to the preposterous complexities of questioning just what is the human consciousness and can the soul be weighed?
  Discover what helped millions find that child in your heart, or look at questions of great perplexity. It's time now to watch some of the best anime movies that have ever graced God's green earth, are you ready to waste that weekend?

  For what seems like ages, man has told stories through the art of feature film. Anime is no different, albeit all sources of entertainment stimulate you on some level, movies just have that magical effect of capturing all our attention and focusing it onto a single point of plot. These movies do that and then some, taking us to philosophical perspectives on the basic principals of humanity.
  Making us contend with the demons of the psyche and sometimes using the old romantic methods of depicting mystical gods or more often giving a western audience a visual narrative of Japanese mythology and ideologies that are weaved into even the basics of their culture. So if anything, watch these movies and gain a glance on a culture entirely foreign to us here in the land of Cowboys and Indians.

Lets start with one of my favorites, Akira! A movie that came from a manga waaaaaay back in the day that easily speaks volumes for itself (read the plot here; Akira) The reason why I think everyone should at least watch it once is because of the subjects it addresses or makes the people look at. Its an amazing sci fi story that eventually leaves you scratching your head and wondering what the hell just happened?!
  It makes us ask the question of just what is man if given more and more power? What can we become through war, and the perfection thereof? This kind of movie prods at the back of your noodle with a eerie worm of self examination and the what if questions that follow it. That alone is amazing, but lets take it one step further.
  This movie's nature is the kind where you could watch this movie a thousand times and still be blown away by the ending, even the build to that climax is enough to creme yourself, but when you sit down and look at it you realize sooooooo much is laid deep into the movie.Themes of despotic governments along with secrets that are pushing a society to total annihilation without even their knowing. So much more too that would take up your time so watch it for yourself if you wanna just see what I'm talking about (Akira in english full movie).

  Next comes Ghost in the Shell, a series that is seeing an American adaptation in 2017 (don't believe me? Check it!) anywhoooooo the movies that followed it and the anime that was made have inspired so much in American media that it has snaked its way into so many facets that I wouldn't even know where to begin (besides THE MATRIX)!
  This movie looks deeper at just what makes a human...well a human. In a society where human beings can become fully integrated with technology as well as make their brains cybernetic it doesn't take long before you can see a problem start to form with hackers as well as people questioning if they were even human at all?!

  "Ghost in the Shell follows the hunt by the public-security agency Section 9 for a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master. With the assistance of her team, Motoko Kusanagi tracks and finds their suspect, only to be drawn into a complex sequence of political intrigue and a cover-up as to the identity and goals of the Puppet Master. The overarching philosophical themes of the film include self-identity in a technologically advanced world. The music, composed by Kenji Kawai, included an ancient Japanese language in a wedding song that serves as a key piece of music leading up to the climax of the movie. Widely considered one of the greatest anime films of all time, critics particularly praised its visuals, which at the time were the most effective synthesis of traditional cel animation and CG animation. It has served as inspiration for filmmakers such as the Wachowskis."

   I could describe more but I feel that would do this movie a diservice by toning down the impact it will have on you once your finished with the movie (it's available on Hulu with all it's other movies that I promise will leave you blown away). But what more do you need? I've watched it so many times and each time I'm simply blown away by everything the movie offers, especially the questions it purposes. But I gotta move onto the next one lest I talk about this all day!

Watch Spirited Away Here

  Now what anime movie list isn't complete without talking about Studio Ghibli. They alone have put out 15 masterpieces of anime gold. Movies like

1. Grave of the Fireflies
2. My Neighbor Totoro
3. Kiki's Delivery Service
4. Howl's Moving Castle
5. Princess Mononoke

and of course Spirited Away which many to this day believe to be the best of all anime movies of all time. Most of Studio Ghibli's movies are set up to be for all ages while at the same time also incorporating messages of deep life lessons. All of this comes mainly from one man, Hayao Miyazak.
  Of course he isn't alone, but he is credited with the best work from the studio as well as giving the best ideas that make up their most amazing movies. Usually his movies intertwine the old mythology of Japan with modernistic perspectives of it, showing us the fantasy of a child while in the same time giving adults something to mull on as well.
  But that's just what makes Studio Ghibli so amazing! Instead of hand holding us through a plot like so many of today's entertainment, they instead give you a palatable point of entry into the plot like moving into a new house or waking up to go to work in a bakery or shop and then slowly take you on this world of fantasy brimming with excitement, breath taking scenery, and mystical enchantment to leave you with deeper fundamental questions like "what is the nature of man?" or "what is man's impact on the environment" or better yet "has man's progression made him lose some of that childlike fantasy?"
  Certainly these kinds of questions can't be answered so easily, but at least need to be look at in depth. We need this kind of lens of self examination cause where else are you gonna get it? Sometimes it takes a children's movie to prod at your inner self and ask those big questions.
  Anyways, begin slowly to watch all those movies and take in those lessons about humanity, philosophy, and psychology.