Satoshi Kon is one of the most prolific and acclaimed film directors in the annals of anime, even if his name isn't exactly mainstream. The same goes for some of his films, with movies like Perfect Blue becoming beloved classics while others have fallen under the radar. The latter is definitely the case for an anime Christmas movie classic.
Tokyo Godfathers isn't exactly the cheeriest or brightest film to watch during the holiday season, but it is one centered around the concept of family. When combined with Satoshi Kon's usual film artistry, it makes for an anime masterpiece that's been overlooked for far too long. Here's why Tokyo Godfathers is a must-see for viewers who want to experience the Christmas spirit in a much different way than usual.
Tokyo Godfathers Is a Unique Take on the Christmas Season
Released in November 2003, Tokyo Godfathers is not the sort of film that many would expect to be based around the Christmas holiday. Its story revolves around three homeless people -- Gin, Hana and Miyuki -- as they experience a rather strange set of circumstances beginning on Christmas Eve. Discovering an abandoned baby girl, the trio opts to take care of her as they search for her missing mother. Along the way, they not only uncover the mystery of the child's parentage but also deal with their own mounting trauma. In doing so, the characters restore their former families while also building a new one.
Anime in general isn't largely associated with Christmas given that this is a Western holiday. The idea of Christmas-themed specials of holiday movies, while not uncommon, is a lot rarer than in America. Likewise, Christmas films are rarely anything as serious and dark as Tokyo Godfathers, which mostly eschews any Christmas kitsch and schmaltz in favor of a more realistic setting. The characters -- many of whom are voiced by big-name Japanese actors -- all have their harrowing circumstances, some of which begin and end on a tragic note. Nevertheless, the film is still incredibly magical and wholesome in its own way, touching upon the idea of what it means to hurt, heal and be human.
Tokyo Godfathers Is a Grounded Yet Miraculous Holiday Film
With nothing in way of elves, reindeer or magical old men in red suits, Tokyo Godfathers might not seem like the typical "wholesome" Christmas film. This more realistic scope is strengthened by director Satoshi Kon deliberately avoiding the more fantastical elements of his previous films, as well as their tendency to blur the lines between reality and fiction. Nevertheless, the movie still has a magical charm to it thanks to how serendipitous the story's events are. There's a continuous series of inexplicable and near-miraculous circumstances, all of which crescendo into a conclusion that borders on the edge of impossible.
Despite this, care is taken to keep the plot from being too contrived, neither feeling too jarring nor totally outside the realm of possibility. The reality of these themes also comes from the cast, who are homeless people from vastly different walks of life. Gin is an alcoholic who left his family, Hana is an aging drag queen and Miyuki is a runaway who escaped from a controlling home life. These elements -- along with homelessness itself -- are definitely on the fringes of Japanese society, especially when it comes to anime. Using the anime medium to shine a light on these societal concepts through the filter of Christmas was perhaps the perfect way to do so.
An anime film has the capability of drawing in a crowd that might not otherwise go for such a serious drama, especially as the medium has grown more mainstream among global audiences. The overarching Christmas theme further gives it a veneer of the "mainstream," acting as a gateway to a story that's sometimes heartbreaking and frequently touching. As somewhat saddening as said story can be, it ultimately culminates in an ending that connects its many characters in an extended family, both of blood and circumstance. With family togetherness being the most important gift of all, this makes Tokyo Godfathers the quintessential anime Christmas movie.
Tokyo Godfathers can be streamed for free through Tubi TV.