We continue our series of reviews chronicling all of the (non-Studio Ghibli) animated films distributed by GKIDS Films — some of the most original and breathtakingly beautiful animated films from around the world — and how they hold up for a young American audience.

The entire retrospective is found here, and this time we’ve got…

Tokyo Godfathers (2003):
Satoshi Kon, director

What’s it about?

A trio of homeless people discover an abandoned baby in the trash on Christmas Eve. Included in the bundle are a few clues to the parents’ identity, and the three decide to follow the clues, locate the parents, and return the baby to them… or at the very least, find answers about why (and how) they could have abandoned the baby.

Over the course of a week, the three follow the trail of clues through a wild series of events and adventures until it all comes to a boil on New Year’s Eve. On its surface, the film seems fairly straightforward. But it’s so much more.

Tokyo Godfathers is, at its core, a story of hope, love, and family in the face of impossible odds. More important, it’s a story about redemption and forgiveness.

The protagonists (an alcoholic man who abandoned his wife and daughter, a trans woman who was abandoned by society, and a young woman who ran away from home after assaulting her father) are separated from their biological families for a variety of reasons, but they comprise a found family that’s one of the most compellingly beautiful things you’ll find in animation.

The journey of these four outcasts takes a lot of wild and unexpected turns and includes more than a few chance encounters, along with a few instances of what can only be called divine intervention.

This is more than merely a story about the righting of a terrible wrong. The roller coaster sequence of events force our heroes to face their pasts, confront their inner demons, seek and give forgiveness, and find a way forward that doesn’t ignore the maelstrom of pain they’ve inflicted on others… and in which they live.

What are the cultures at play? And how about the languages?

Tokyo Godfathers was the third feature film from legendary director Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Paprika). It follows three homeless people in Tokyo who have each experienced trauma and abandonment. There’s not a huge cultural barrier for Western audiences, but Kon doesn’t shy away from portraying some brutal realities homeless and trans people face on a daily basis.

As usual, I firmly recommend watching the film in its original language. However, Tokyo Godfathers recently got an English dub (its first, unless I’m mistaken), which is included on the new Shout! Factory release. I mention this because it’s worth watching just for Shakina Nayfack as Hana. As a trans woman, Nayfack brings an authenticity to the role that wasn’t entirely possible in 2003 with Yoshiaki Umegaki, a man, giving her voice.

Will my kids like it? Is there anything objectionable for young kids?

This is perhaps Satoshi Kon’s most straightforward film, although it still blends the boundaries between fantasy and reality a bit. It’s also probably his most kid-friendly film. Though it contains a few scenes of violence (including one where a main character is brutally assaulted) and one scene of a woman breastfeeding (the horror!), there’s nothing particularly objectionable for young kids. I’d say 10+ to be safe; younger if you preview it first. But you know your kids best, as always.

Young kids might have questions about Hana (the trans character) and a few scenes where we learn about and meet people from her past, but if you’re uncomfortable talking to your kids about treating trans people as people, then that’s on you.

Will I like it?

I’ll admit, Satoshi Kon’s films aren’t “easy” viewing. They’re not Miyazaki flights of mostly feel-good fantasy. Rather, they’re deep social critiques that have withstood the test of time. Tokyo Godfathers is no exception. But that’s hardly a critique; quite the opposite. It’s a film that transcends its medium and becomes art. It’s a story about the brittle nature of humanity and the bonds that connect us. And it’s required viewing.

How can I see it?

GKIDS and Shout! Factory just released a new Blu-ray edition of the film that is surprisingly fully featured (comparatively speaking to other recent releases). Many of the special features aren’t brand new; they’re holdovers from previous DVD releases or vintage Japanese TV specials: a few making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes and interviews.

The film has a brand-new 4K transfer for this release, and new features include a brand-new English dub of the film and an interview with Shakina Nayfack, who plays Hana in the English dub. Also included is a brief introduction to the film (from K.F. Watanabe, Deputy Director of Film for the Japan Society), which played before the film during its theatrical rerelease in March 2020.

The Blu-ray also includes Satoshi Kon’s 60-second short Ohayo, along with a brief making-of featurette for it.

The film is also available digitally from most retailers, but it looks like many only stream the film in one language (e.g., iTunes and Vudu list Japanese only, Amazon lists English only). Only Google Play specifically indicates both languages.

Final word?

I’ll be honest, until recently, I wasn’t really familiar with Satoshi Kon. However, between this, Perfect Blue, and Millennium Actress, I’m a fan. Sadly, Kon’s life was cut short in 2010 from a fast-acting and devastating cancer. His far-too-brief career only saw four feature films – each a masterpiece – plus a variety of work on TV series and manga. If you’re a fan of animation, you owe it to yourself to watch all four of his films. And this new release of Tokyo Godfathers is flat-out gorgeous. You won’t regret it.