Anime like Cello Hiki no Gauche

Oni

Studio: Hifumi Shobou
Status: Finished
Genres: Supernatural

One morning, two brothers living in a hut with their mother set out for the mountains to set traps for deer. They move silently through the forest undergrowth until suddenly a demon's arm reaches out from the treetops and grabs the younger brother. The older brother aims carefully, calms the shaking of his hands and lets an arrow fly, thus saving his brother's life. The demon's arm is left behind and somehow it looks familiar. After returning home a horrible truth is revealed.... Drawing on an early medieval Japanese legend, the film is reminiscent of the horror psychodrama Kwaidan. The Demon (1972) took awards at many animation festivals.



Tags: Demons , Archery , Cannibalism , Tragedy , Puppetry , Stop Motion , Historical , Rural , Outdoor Activities , Gore , Primarily Adult Cast

Doujouji

Studio: Kadokawa Pictures Japan
Status: Finished
Genres: Supernatural

Based on an ancient legend, Dojoji Temple tells the story of a young priest who finds himself the object of intense infatuation and lust from a young woman. As he rebuffs her advances she becomes more and more desperate eventually turning herself into a gigantic serpent. The priest is hidden under the bell of the temple but the woman's passion is so intense that escape is impossible.

A short animation from filmaker Kihachiro Kawamoto. This film utilizes both stop motion and standard animation techniques.

Tags: No Dialogue , Historical , Religion , Stop Motion , Puppetry , Dragons , Mythology , Demons

Konohana no Sakuya Mori

Also known as Forest this flower bloom.

Studio: Tomoyasu Murata Company
Status: Finished
Genres: Mystery

A horse puppet wanders into a silver world and pauses before an ethereal flower.

Tags: No Dialogue , Stop Motion , Tragedy , Animals , Puppetry , Post-Apocalyptic

Donguri to Yamaneko

Studio: MADHOUSE , Konami , Project Team Argos
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

The Acorns and the Wildcat is a unique short film in picture-book format from the creator of Night on the Galactic Railroad and Gauche the Cellist. Unusually for an anime, a narrator reads Kenji's story aloud while the action is played out on the screen by a succession of warm and evocative illustrations brought to life by subtle touches of animation. If the film feels somehow familiar yet you can't put your finger on the reason why, it's probably the sumptuously minimalist animation by Yasuhiro Nagura, who was the animation director of Mamoru Oshii's artsy 1986 feature Angel's Egg. That, and Kenji's wildcat is said to have been the inspiration for Miyazaki's Panda/Totoro creature. The idea of reading Kenji's story aloud instead of playing it out as a drama is quite refreshing, and Kenji's magical language and narrative style are entirely sufficient to sustain interest. Combined with the spacey music and breathtaking art, the result is a pleasantly unassuming little gem of a film.



Tags: Kids , Animals , Rural , Classic Literature