Ōtomo, K. (1995). Memories. London: Mash room.
This DVD is comprised of three anime shorts: Magnetic Rose, Sink Bomb, and Cannon Fodder. At 15 years Memories is hardly contemporary, but I’d be willing to argue for its classical qualities. Every fan of modern manga and anime must know the name Kagoshimo Otomo, and fans with depth will have seen this for sure.
The animation is excellent, albeit slightly choppy/stilted in action scenes, but I feel that that’s kind of a feature of anime style anyway. Everything is unique about these works; each story stands out with its own distinct atmosphere, every character is a new person, and every setting its own place. In addition to this there is a central theme that pervades each short. The unifying thread throughout this DVD is that war is brutal, stupid, and futile. Whether you’re destroyed in space, turned into a biological weapon, or spend your days blasting a city of cannons at an unseen enemy, Mr. Otomo is sure we remember that war is not the answer.
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