Summary
It’s become common for people to take stock of the opinions celebrities have on pop culture media, and legendary video game iconHideo Kojimais no different. Whether through his highly detailed praise or his brutally short criticisms, Kojima’s reviews have always drawn a lot of attention from people, and in many cases, they’ve been used as a sign of quality for something, or a lack thereof.
Hideo Kojima is no stranger to reviewing pop culture media, includinganime. Over the years, Hideo Kojima has offered reviews and recommendations for a multitude of anime, and even if it’s just a coincidence,every anime recommended by Hideo Kojima has been great to watch through a combination of engaging writing and stellar visuals.
A few of Kojima’s anime recommendations have particularly stood out over the years, and whether they’re major hits or comparatively niche works, they’ve all been worth highlighting.
Anime Series By Bones & Orange; Based On The Godzilla Franchise By Toho
Godzilla Singular Point
Written by Toh EnJoe and directed by Atsushi Takahashi, Godzilla Singular Point is a Japanese Anime that was released on Netflix in Japan in 2021. The series centers on two young geniuses that end up stumbling into a worldwide struggle between an array of classic Godzilla monsters from the Showa Era.
Bones and Orange’sGodzilla Singular Pointis centered around the sudden appearance of deadly kaiju, the deadliest of them all, of course, being Godzilla. Mei Kamino, a graduate student specializing in mythical creatures, and Yun Arikawa, a genius engineer with a knack for A.I., end up roped into the government’s response to the kaiju, and the two of them quickly become the world’s best chance at taking down Godzilla and the other kaiju.
The highly scientific approach to kaiju action gaveGodzilla Singular Pointa unique and engaging take on theGodzillafranchisethat allowed for inventive interpretations of the typical monsters and formula, and the great action that always accompanied it sold that even further. Hideo Kojima said that the show was so good he binged most of it in a single day, and that, of course, is one of the best statements of its overall quality.
9Ride Your Wave Is a Wonderfully Surreal Take On Grief
Anime Film By Science Saru; Directed By Masaaki Yuasa
Science Saru’sRide Your Wavestars Hinako Mukaimizu, a young surfer whose life begins to fall apart after the sudden death of her boyfriend, a firefighter named Minato Hinegishi. One day, Hinako discovers that she can summon Minato’s spirit into water whenever she sings their favorite song, but as thrilled as Hinako is to have Minato back in her life, it soon becomes clear that she needs to let him go and move on with her life, no matter how hard that may be.
As is common with the works of Science Saru,Ride Your Waveuses surreal artwork, animation, and storytelling as a means of conveying deeply human and emotional narratives, and that comes out in a story about loss that’s as poignant as it is funny. Hideo Kojima consideredRide Your Wavethe best Japanese film of 2019, and overall, it’s easy to see why.
8Train To the End Of the World Was the Breakout Hit Of Spring 2024
Anime Series By EMT Squared; Directed By Tsutomu Mizushima
EMT Squared’sTrain to the End of the Worldis set two years after the disastrous launch of the 7G cellular network completely warped reality and turned every part of Japan into an utterly bizarre landscape. Despite the danger it entails, Shizuru and her friends decide to take a train to Ikebukuro, now a seemingly impossible distance away from them, to try and locate their lost friend, Yoka, who disappeared during the 7G Incident.
While itdidn’t receive a lot of attention in the lead-up to its release,Train to the End of the World’ssurreal and absurdist storytelling with appropriately fluid and creative animation quickly made it stand outand it quickly became one of the biggest anime of the spring 2024 season. Hideo Kojima’s were mostly about how he just wanted to know where it was going, but for someone like him, it’s a glowing recommendation, nonetheless.
Summer Time Rendering
Cast
Summer Time Rendering is an anime series based on Yasuki Tanaka’s manga. The story follows Shinpei Ajiro as he returns to his hometown for the funeral of a childhood friend, only to uncover mysterious and supernatural events. As Shinpei digs deeper, he realizes that the island and its inhabitants are caught in a perilous loop of time and fate. The show blends elements of suspense, horror, and science fiction.
In OLM, Inc.’sSummer Time Rendering, Shinpei Ajiro returned to his hometown after two years for the funeral of his childhood friend, Ushio Kofune. Shinpei was suddenly killed after discovering that Ushio was murdered, but his death awakened a power to turn back time upon death, and Shinpei must use his newfound abilities to solve Ushio’s murder and save his hometown from a dark threat, all with Ushio’s ghost along for the ride.
Summer Time Rendering’s intricate mystery plot, combined with supernatural elements and engaging character work, made for an incredibly well-crafted animefrom start to finish, and Hideo Kojima thought it was so good that he watched the first 10 episodes in a single night. Thanks to being licensed by Hulu in the West,Summer Time Renderingnever got the attention it deserved, but with how good a series it is, it’s one that no one should ignore.
Anime Series By A-1 Pictures; Created By Spider Lily & Asaura
Lycoris Recoil
Lycoris Recoil is an anime series set in an alternate Japan where an all-female task force, Lycoris, maintains peace covertly. The story follows Takina Inoue, a disciplined member of the organization, and Chisato Nishikigi, a carefree yet talented Lycoris, as they tackle missions while working at a seemingly ordinary café. The series explores themes of duty and personal freedom against the backdrop of their thrilling and dangerous lifestyle.
A-1 Pictures’Lycoris Recoilrevolves around the Lycoris organization, a secret anti-terrorism task force where young girls are trained as elite fighters to protect Japan. After injuring her teammates during a mission, Takina Inoue is fired from the main force and sent to work with Chisato Nishikigi, an elite but eccentric agent who teaches Takina how to have a life, all while a new threat to the country slowly emerges.
Lycoris Recoilis another anime that didn’t receive a lot of attention before its release, but after it premiered,Lycoris Recoilbecame a major hit with fans and critics alike thanks to its stellar action and animation combined with great character writing. Humorously, Hideo Kojima only foundLycoris Recoilby accident when he was looking forLicorice Pizza, but that led to him giving it a glowing endorsement, and that’s a great sign of its quality, as a whole.
Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden is a Japanese anime series that follows the titular character, a former child soldier, as she reintegrates into society by becoming an Auto Memory Doll, a professional letter writer. Through this role, Violet embarks on a journey to understand and convey human emotions, seeking to comprehend the words of her late commanding officer. This series explores themes of love, loss, and healing within a post-war setting.
The titular hero of Kyoto Animation’sViolet Evergardenis a former orphan turned soldier who spent her entire life fighting in a war that’s only now ended. Now needing a new purpose in life, Violet takes up a job as a special type of ghostwriter called an Auto Memory Doll in the hopes that writing for others will help better understand people, and she especially hopes it will help her understand why her commanding officer told her he loved her before he died.
Ever since its release,Violet Evergardenhas been praised for its gorgeous animation and mature narrative surrounding the human condition, and six years later, it’s still often regarded as one of the best Kyoto Animation projects of all time. Hideo Kojima even regardedViolet Evergardenas a “masterpiece of animation,” and overall, it’s hard to see that as anything other than an apt description.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
David Martinez (Kenichiro Ohashi) is a streetwise kid living in the slums of Night City in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. To survive, David becomes an edgerunner, also known as cyberpunk, taking on mercenary jobs outside the system. Together with a group of new and veteran edgerunners, David will shoot for the moon to escape the underbelly of the increasingly cyber-obsessed city. Unfortunately, the law isn’t the only group that the edgerunners will have to contend with, as other heavily cyber-augmented humans will pose an even more significant threat.
Studio Trigger’sCyberpunk: Edgerunnersis a spinoff prequel ofCyberpunk 2077starring David Martinez, a young boy who’s grown up in poverty within the dystopian Night City. After the death of his mother, David decides to take his life into his own hands with a powerful cybernetic implant, and that leads to him finding a new life for himself within a gang of criminals called edgerunners.
Cyberpunk 2077had an infamously disastrous launch that it never fully recovered from, but conversely,Cyberpunk: Edgerunnerswas an instant hit thanks to its gorgeous animation, brilliant use of cyberpunk storytelling, and its engaging, yet tragic, storytelling from start to finish, essentially making the anime the best thing to come out of the game. Hideo Kojima watched the entire series in one sitting and considered it a victory for Japanese animation, and with the universal praise it’s received, it’s easy to see why.
Pluto
Pluto is an anime series set in a dystopian future where advanced robots coexist with humans. Based on the manga by Naoki Urasawa and inspired by Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy, the story follows Gesicht, a robot detective investigating a series of robot and human murders. As Gesicht delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a conspiracy that challenges the very essence of humanity and robotics.
Studio M2’sPlutois a modern reimagining of the classic “Greatest Robot on Earth” story arc from the legendary animeAstro Boyby Osamu Tezuka. In this take on the series, robot detective Gesicht begins investigating the mysterious murders of the world’s strongest robots by a mysterious figure named Pluto, and in doing so, he uncovers a massive conspiracy that threatens to put the entire world at risk.
It took six years forPlutoto come out after its initial announcement, butPluto’s incredible art and animation, combined with a war story that was both maturely written and highly relevant to modern day, made the long wait completely worth it. Hideo Kojima felt thatPlutowas a work that captured the soul of Osamu Tezuka’s writing, and that can be seen as a major endorsement for its handling ofAstro Boyand its quality, as a whole.
2Look Back Has the Makings Of an Instant Classic
Anime Film By Studio Durian; Based On The Manga By Tatsuki Fujimoto
Studio Durian’sLook Backstars Ayumu Fujino, an aspiring young artist who loses her drive after another girl, Kyomoto, is shown to be far better than she could ever hope to be. Kyomoto, though, turned out to be a major fan of Fujino’s work, and that inspired Fujino not only to stick to her art, but to befriend Kyomoto and draw manga with her as a team.
Just like the original manga,Look Back’s gorgeous artwork and heartbreaking narrative of loss and tragedy made for a highly engaging short story, and the stellar animation courtesy of Studio Durian and Kiyotaka Oshiyama helped emphasize that even further. Hideo Kojima said thatLook Backhad him “shaken to his core” and made him feel moved by the future of entertainment, and overall, it’s a film everyone should try to see once it reaches a wider release.
Anime Series By Studio Khara; Directed By Hideaki Anno
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Studio Khara’sNeon Genesis Evangelionstars Shinji Ikari, a reserved young boy who goes to the futuristic Tokyo-3 to see his father for the first time in a decade. There, Shinji is told that he has to pilot a giant robot called an Evangelion and protect the world from monstrous beings called Angels, all of which gradually takes a toll on Shinji’s fragile psyche.
Neon Genesis Evangelionwas one of the biggest anime of the 1990s, and decades later,the brilliantly dark and thoughtful writing ofNeon Genesis Evangelion, combined with its incredible animation and direction, still makes it one of the best anime to watch. Hideo Kojima’s comments were a simple statement that he was watching it instead of a movie, but it’s a far cry from his infamous one-line film reviews, soNeon Genesis Evangelioncan still be seen as thebest anime recommended by Hideo Kojima.
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