Help me Remember an Anime from my Childhood
December 30, 2007 10:33 PM Subscribe
When I was a child I was exposed to some very early anime. I remember fragments of it, but not what it was called, the plot or any reall relevant details. The general theme seemed to be that an evil...thing was trying to control the world. His primary henchman was a man whose power was to turn people into...mannequins seems to be the best fit.
I also remember that the man could make flowers sprout from any surface. I also have the impression that the man was not working for the villain of his own free will, rather that the evil had some sort of hold over the man. As if he were tragic character. I suspect this because of some half remembered scenes involving the man and his family. The man's father seemed disapproving of whatever the son was doing. And the man seemed sad, but resolute. Also the man - in many scenes - was seen to be wearing a large blue cloak with a very large hood that would shadow his face.
I don't remember who the hero was, or even if there was one. I do remember a rather extended sequence where the hero (or someone opposing the bad guy) was running down a hall. The hall's walls would then attempt to crush him, but only geometric pieces (the shapes remind me of tetris blocks) of the walls would separate and close together, narrowly missing the person running and jumping down the hall to avoid being crushed.
I also remember a sequence in which a whole village of the "mannequin-people" were marching back to the evil fortress for some nefarious purpose.
I was about 8-10 (1990 - 1992) years old at the time of viewing, it was definitely an anime or animated movie (I have the impression that it was dubbed), it was shown in the United States during the evening.
I would very much appreciate it if anyone could help me find clues to what this show might have been. It's been surfacing in my mind for the last 10 years or so.
I also remember that the man could make flowers sprout from any surface. I also have the impression that the man was not working for the villain of his own free will, rather that the evil had some sort of hold over the man. As if he were tragic character. I suspect this because of some half remembered scenes involving the man and his family. The man's father seemed disapproving of whatever the son was doing. And the man seemed sad, but resolute. Also the man - in many scenes - was seen to be wearing a large blue cloak with a very large hood that would shadow his face.
I don't remember who the hero was, or even if there was one. I do remember a rather extended sequence where the hero (or someone opposing the bad guy) was running down a hall. The hall's walls would then attempt to crush him, but only geometric pieces (the shapes remind me of tetris blocks) of the walls would separate and close together, narrowly missing the person running and jumping down the hall to avoid being crushed.
I also remember a sequence in which a whole village of the "mannequin-people" were marching back to the evil fortress for some nefarious purpose.
I was about 8-10 (1990 - 1992) years old at the time of viewing, it was definitely an anime or animated movie (I have the impression that it was dubbed), it was shown in the United States during the evening.
I would very much appreciate it if anyone could help me find clues to what this show might have been. It's been surfacing in my mind for the last 10 years or so.
Vampire Princess Miyu had a chaacter that would turn people into marionettes in the second OVA episode.
posted by fnerg at 11:19 PM on December 30, 2007
posted by fnerg at 11:19 PM on December 30, 2007
If you can remember any names, it would help greatly in the search.
Anime News Network has a nice list, sorted by date here. The series doesn't sound familiar but I'll keep an eye out.
posted by kureshii at 11:35 PM on December 30, 2007
Anime News Network has a nice list, sorted by date here. The series doesn't sound familiar but I'll keep an eye out.
posted by kureshii at 11:35 PM on December 30, 2007
Lore's got it.
posted by fleacircus at 12:33 AM on December 31, 2007
posted by fleacircus at 12:33 AM on December 31, 2007
Response by poster: Excellent work! Thank you L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg!
How'd you find it so quickly? With my vague description I thought it would be days, rather than minutes!
=D
posted by Pontifex at 12:57 AM on December 31, 2007
How'd you find it so quickly? With my vague description I thought it would be days, rather than minutes!
=D
posted by Pontifex at 12:57 AM on December 31, 2007
Dammit, Lore! (harrumph)
Yeah, my college friends and I used to watch this show periodically to make fun of it.
"This one's the woofer, and this one's the tweeter. You can't stop your feets from dancing!"
posted by blenderfish at 1:58 AM on December 31, 2007
Yeah, my college friends and I used to watch this show periodically to make fun of it.
"This one's the woofer, and this one's the tweeter. You can't stop your feets from dancing!"
posted by blenderfish at 1:58 AM on December 31, 2007
It was in the Onion's "Ask the AV Club" a while back, and your description sounded similar.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 3:39 AM on December 31, 2007
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 3:39 AM on December 31, 2007
« Older How to take apart plastic items that are "snapped"... | Software solution for Electronic Medical Records Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 11:03 PM on December 30, 2007