Take in the genesis of cult Japanese filmmaker Yuasa Masaaki’s psychedelic and strikingly strange visuals with his first animated feature, Mind Game. Based on Robin Nishi’s manga, the film follows the frenetic and crazed adventures of Nishi and Myon as they battle gangsters and dabble with death on a surreal voyage of self-discovery. Released in 2004 by Studio 4°C, Mind Game climbed to cult status and collected a host of awards from festivals around the world.
With an unrestrained vision, Yuasa tackles complex themes of identity and pre-determination using a mash-up of traditional and modern techniques. Never sticking to any particular style, the film flips between hand-drawn animation and digital effects as Nishi slips between the worlds of the living and the dead while struggling to change his destiny.
With Mind Game, Yuasa has created a manic, mind-bending adventure that barely pauses for breath. Having set up his own studio, Science SARU, he continues to incorporate influences from Hayao Miyazaki to Dali into cutting-edge animation.
– Justine Maybank
Trailer
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Film details
- Country of production
- Japan
- Year
- 2004
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2023
- Length
- 103"
- Medium/Format
- 35mm
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