Jin-Rô (1998)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Hiroyuki Okiura

Writers:

Mamoru Oshii (creator) and
Mamoru Oshii (writer) ...

Release Date:

17 November 1999 (France)

Genre:

Animation | Drama | Fantasy | Thriller

Plot:

A traumatized member of an elite para-military police force falls for the sister of a female terrorist courier who died in front of him on duty.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Policeman | Terrorism | Sheep | Post Traumatic Stress

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Yoshikazu Fujiki	...	Kazuki Fuse (as Yoshikatsu Fujiki)
Sumi Mutoh	...	Kei Amemiya
Hiroyuki Kinosha	...	Atsuhi Henmi (as Hiroyuki Kinoshita)
Yukio Hiroda	...	Bunmei Muroto
Yukihiro Yoshida	...	Hajime Handa
Sendai Eri	...	Nanami Agawa (voice)
Kenji Nakagawa	...	Isao Aniya
Tamio Ôki	...	CAPO Officer (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Doug Abrahams	...	Narrator, Hachiro Tohbe (voice: English version)
Michael Dobson	...	Kazuki Fuse (voice: English version)
Paul Dobson	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Brian Drummond	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Ron Halder	...	Shiro Tatsumi (voice: English version)
Ryuichi Horibe	...	Shiroh Tatsumi
David Kaye	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Michael Kopsa	...	Hajime Handa (voice: English version)
Scott McNeil	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Colin Murdock	...	Atsushi Henmi (voice: English version)
Maggie Blue O'Hara	...	Nanami Agawa (voice: English version)
Yoshisada Sakaguchi	...	Hachiroh Tohbe
Moneca Stori	...	Kei Amemiya
French Tickner	...	Isao Aniya (voice: English version)
Lee Tockar	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Dale Wilson	...	Bunmei Muroto (voice: English version)

Also Known As:

Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade (USA)
Kerberos Panzer Cops
The Wolf Brigade (USA)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | France:U | Germany:16 | Japan:PG-12 | New Zealand:M (film festival rating) | New Zealand:R13 (DVD rating) | UK:15 | USA:R

Company:

Bandai Visual Company

Trivia:

Many of the weapons, vehicles, and equipment used are from the World War II period, mainly of German design. Some weapons include a modified version of the MG42 machine gun, the MP44 assault rifle, the FG42 rifle, a Panzerfaust rocket, and several British Sten guns. World War II German period vehicles, such as the Kubelwagen and Volkswagen, are also present.

Movie Connections:

References Rotkäppchen (1962)

Grim and depressing, but very good. 9/10

"Jin-Roh" or "The Wolf Brigade" is an amazing anime film. I had seen the 3-disc special edition DVD at a video store, and having never seen this movie before, I took a chance and bought it. I had heard nothing but good things about "Jin-Roh" and I was very pleased when I saw it.

The film is set in what it calls "an alternate Japan" and a special police force has been formed to defend the capital. It seems that the government is under constant threat from an underground terrorist organization that uses "Red Riding Hoods" (teenage girls) to deliver powerful explosives to the authorities. One of these "hoods" is cornered by Fuse in the sewers and in a grim act of suicide, blows herself up. Fuse who was right there, is instantly traumatized by the event, and is forced to undergo re-training at his academy. Seeking to gather information on her, he runs into the dead girl's older sister, who he befriends and eventually begins a romance with her. Soon forces in the government, as well as Fuse's own police unit, threaten to tear them apart and it becomes evident that the girl herself may or may not be all that she seems.

This is one of the most devastating films I've ever seen. They certainly picked the right actor to voice the gravely Fuse, who I don't think ever fully recovers from what happens. The soundtrack to this movie is one of the best I have ever heard. There are constant allusions to "Little Red Riding Hood" and excerpts from the story are read throughout the film, as it details with a lot of government conspiracy theory stuff.

The films ending, which I will not describe, is the saddest part of the film. Yet, movies, especially animated ones like "Jin-Roh", are rare. A film that focuses more on the emotions of the characters, much rather action and graphic bloodshed, like most anime films tend to do, is what "Jin-Roh" is. Though I won't let that discourage gore fans, as they will certainly get their fair share of blood and violent action when they watch "Jin-Roh", but be prepared to wait a while for any action.

As I stated earlier, this is one of the most depressing films I've ever seen. To say that Fuse's romance is doomed to end tragically is not saying much, as I expected that would happen. There is a lot of intrigue and conspiracy-like things going on in this movie and that sometimes tends to get in the way of the characters, which is why I gave "Jin-Roh" a nine instead of a ten. Despite that, "Jin-Roh" is still a moving experience and it is one of the best anime films I have ever seen.