Tokyo Godfathers by Satoshi Kon [2003]

In "Tokyo Godfathers," famous Japanese Anime director Satoshi Kon tells the story of three homeless who find a baby on Christmas eve. 

heir search after the parents of the newborn develops into a wild yet heartwarming adventure.

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[spoiler ahead]

The movie certainly is a comedy, but it doesn't miss to discuss social issues in society, such as family abandonment, depression, abuse, homophobia and violence. Kon brilliantly walks this difficult line without ever stultifying the gravity of those topics.

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Gin is a stubborn alcoholic who claims he was a former competitive cyclist who lost it all after his daughter died. There is Hana, a trans woman and cabaret performer who became homeless following the death of her boyfriend, and Miyuki is a teenage runaway who left home after a violent argument with her father. Their stories would've remained hidden, wasn't it for the discovery of a baby in a dumpster.

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On their search for the baby's parents, the three meet various characters from yakuza bosses over long-lost thought people to friends and enemies. What makes this movie exceptional and sensitive are the storylines of the characters. They are so well-drawn that you can emphasize with them from the first to the last minute.

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Another exceptional drawing achievement are the detailed background scenes. Snowy Tokyo never looked as good as in Tokyo Godfathers. The realistically scenery and landscapes perfectly align with the sometimes surrealistic emotional outbursts of the characters. That's what makes the story rounded and dramatic—a perfect movie for the time between Christmas and the New Year. Even for people with no anime experience, this movie is an absolute recommendation.

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