For May we’re examining the full filmography—a scant four feature films—of Japanese animation director Satoshi Kon. Despite his career being cut short by pancreatic cancer at the age of 46, Kon was able to quickly emerge as (and remain) one of the most exciting and influential anime artists of the past 25 years. Able to seamlessly flit between dream and reality, modern technology and admiration for the past, and genre-style action and literary concerns, Kon’s films see forward to what it’s like to live one’s life online.

Ani-May with Satoshi Kon is sponsored by Japan America Society of St. Louis.

Tokyo Godfathers (Satoshi Kon, 2003, Japan, 92 minutes)

In a plot that will be familiar to those who have seen anything from the John Ford classic Western 3 Godfathers to the 80s comedy Three Men & a Baby to 2002’s animated feature Ice Age, Tokyo Godfathers finds a homeless trio discovering a baby in the trash and struggling to take care of it as they search for its mother. Our rascally crew of unintended caretakers include cranky alcoholic Gin, moody teenager Miyuki, and optimistic trans woman Hana. Tokyo Godfathers shows Kon’s range as a filmmaker, here aided in the story department by co-screenwriter Keiko Nobumoto of Cowboy Bebop fame.

Tokyo Godfathers is available to watch for free with many public library cards through Hoopla (subject to change). Alternatively, it can be rented digitally on most platforms for $3-5.

With a free post-film discussion on May 20 at 7:00 p.m. from Ethan Halker, animator and animation critic at ZekeFilm.org.

Register for this event here.