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…

Genius Party & Genius Party Beyond (2007, 2008): various directors

What’s it about?

Wish I knew.

I’m just kidding – sort of. Genius Party and Genius Party Beyond are two feature-length anthology films composed of 12 wholly unique animated shorts (7 in Genius Party, 5 in Genius Party Beyond). The conceit behind the films is that animation outfit Studio 4°C gathered together 12 all-star Japanese animation directors and gave each free rein to tell his own story.

And most of them took full advantage of that freedom, crafting utterly bizarre and experimental short films. Some have relatively straightforward narratives, some twist the concept of storytelling on its head. Some have familiar animation styles, some go full-on experimental in their stylistic choices.

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

All 12 directors are Japanese, and all of the films are in Japanese, with a couple exceptions. “Shanghai Dragon” is in both Japanese and Mandarin, and “Gala” features – as far as I can tell – a fantasy language. But all 12 are VERY MUCH Japanese in flavor. Even the most experimental and… ahem, unique shorts still bear some of the hallmarks of traditional Japanese anime.

Will my kids like it?

Probably not. Despite its name, GKIDS has been acquiring and distributing some decidedly not-entirely-family-friendly films lately. They haven’t been bad films – they just haven’t been kids films. And that’s the case here. Genius Party and Genius Party Beyond have elements that kids will enjoy, no doubt, but I don’t see kids sitting through, enjoying, and understanding all three hours of these shorts.

Will I like it?

Some of them, sure. Standouts for me are “Baby Blue,” “Gala,” and “Doorbell” (in that order). Those three are also the most traditionally animated and have a more-or-less linear narrative. Others, such as “Dimension Bomb,” “‘Wanwa’ the Doggy,” and “Toujin Kit,” are gorgeously animated, and you’ll likely not be able to look away – even if you aren’t exactly pulled in by the story. And then there are a couple that totally fell flat for me.

However, none of the shorts is much more than 15 minutes or so, so by the time you realize you don’t like it, it’s over. But the good ones (especially those three mention up above) make up for the bad ones, and you gotta respect the imagination and ingenuity on display in both films.

Is there anything objectionable for young kids?

“Limit Cycle” has a few static images of a naked woman, and “Moondrive” features a recurring plot point where the criminal at the center of the story uses sex with his girlfriend as a bartering tool. The “acts” happen off screen, but they are accompanied by some rather… interesting sounds.

How can I see it?

GKIDS and Shout Factory recently released a Blu-ray with both films, which is the first time they’ve been available in North America. The disc features all 12 shorts but that’s it. There are no special features whatsoever. It’s available from all the usual outlets, including Amazon.

Final word?

It’s weird. I’m not gonna lie. Like I said, though, there are a few shorts that are worth the price of admission, but the few that aren’t? For me, they made the viewing experience somewhat less enjoyable. If you’re a fan of animation or anime in particular, this is definitely recommended. It’s not an easy or casual watch, though. As long as you know what you’re getting into, it’s a wild ride like none other.