Tokyo Godfathers is the story of a not so ordinary group of homeless in Tokyo. United by common misfortune, three bums and an abandoned baby learn about life, truth, and family. A man who abandoned his family, a homosexual who wishes to be a mother, a child runaway, and a foundling may not be a conventional family, but with love and luck they may make it work.

The important characters in Tokyo Godfathers are Hana, Gin, Kiyoti, and the baby. Hana is a homosexual man who dresses as a women throughout the movie and treats Kiyoti and the baby as his children. Hana’s greatest wish is to be a mother. Gin abandoned his family when his drinking and gambling caught up with him. Gin now lives on the streets with Hana and Kiyoti. He has been saving up money so that some day he can give something as a father to his daughter. Kiyoti ran away from home at a young age after non-fatally stabbing her father. She longs to be back with her family even though she refuses to admit it. Although Hana gives the baby a name we never find out what her real family named her.

One Christmas Eve this makeshift family of bums find an abandoned baby girl while scrounging through a trash pile. Hana instantly falls in love with the child and names himself the baby’s mother. The four go to a graveyard to steal the offerings meant for the dead. There they find a well to do man and save him from being run over by his own car. In return the man invites the four to a fancy party. Once there Gin sees the man who he blames for ruining his career. However, before he gets a chance to kill this man, an assassin shoots the man. The assassin kidnaps Kiyoti and the baby as she runs away from the party. Hana fears for their safety and hunts them down to save the two. Gin, on the other hand, tired of the shananagins, seems that he could not care less. He returns to the hideout and meets an old man dieing in the street. Gin shares some sake and stories with the old man. The old stranger dies back in the hideout (debatably making Gin a murderer). Gin is then dragged out of the hideout by a group of teenage boys who then beat Gin up. These boys are most likely making a bum fighting video for youtube.

I recommend viewing this movie so I am not going to ruin the ending for you. Does Gin return to his wife and child? Does he go back to Hana and Kiyoti? If you can not figure it (I know its obvious, I am truly sorry), go and watch it NOW! There is an exciting twist ending to this wild night romp on the streets of Tokyo that will leave you at the edge of your seat….if you happen to have a really thin chair….

I rather enjoyed the art style, especially the faces. I swear, Hana’s jaw must be made of rubber! Truthfully the music was not all the memorable (thats code for I already forgot the music).

I give Tokyo Godfathers 7.5 male mothers out of 8 (It was an 8 out of 8 until I realized Hana is a guy….that was one awkward night…)

Tags: Anime Review, movie review, Tokyo Godfathers

Category: Movie Reviews