Every Anime Fan Must Watch This Forgotten Masterpiece on Prime Video

A masterfully crafted anime anthology has the rare ability to weave disparate narratives into a singular, resonant tapestry. Consider Robot Carnival (1987), which brought together visionary creators like Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), Kōji Morimoto (Kiki’s Delivery Service), and Hiroyuki Kitazume (Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam). While each segment explored different stylistic ground, they were unified by a surreal examination of humanity’s perilous dependence on technology, blending biting satire with poignant, digitized melancholy.

Eight years later, Otomo returned to this format with Memories, a seminal 1995 anthology that further dissected our complex, often fraught relationship with the machine age. The film comprises three distinct shorts—Magnetic Rose, Stink Bomb, and Cannon Fodder—showcasing a powerhouse lineup of talent including Morimoto, Tensai Okamura (noted for his storyboard work on Neon Genesis Evangelion and My Hero Academia), and the late, legendary Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Paprika). For those who appreciate the roots of modern anime, Memories, now streaming on Prime Video, remains an essential watch.

Both Stink Bomb and Cannon Fodder are built upon scripts by Otomo, yet they diverge significantly in tone and theme. Stink Bomb, directed by Okamura, follows lab technician Nobuo Tanaka after a flu-induced misunderstanding leads him to consume experimental medication. The resulting physical transformation turns him into a walking biological hazard, blending slapstick dark comedy with a haunting look at the profound isolation that comes with being a societal pariah.

Conversely, the Otomo-directed Cannon Fodder presents a claustrophobic, militarized society obsessed with the perpetual maintenance of massive artillery. The short is technically mesmerizing, designed to mimic a continuous, fluid long shot. As the citizens mechanically labor in a smog-choked crater, the film offers a scathing indictment of war economies and the exploitation of the proletariat. The seamless visual style elevates the narrative, transforming a grim critique of manufactured conflict into a striking, avant-garde experience.

While those segments are compelling, it is Magnetic Rose—written by Kon and based on Otomo’s concept—that elevates Memories to the level of high art. The story follows the crew of the freighter Corona as they investigate a mysterious distress signal originating from a decaying, opulent space station. Inside, they encounter the lingering holographic ghosts of an opera singer named Eva Friedel, leading them into a surreal, psychological labyrinth.

Magnetic Rose serves as a somber meditation on the perils of obsessive nostalgia, illustrating how the desperate yearning to reclaim the past can turn memory into a suffocating cage. Morimoto’s direction excels here, utilizing atmospheric sound design and striking animation to capture the disorienting, desolate beauty of the station.

Though the premise may seem conventional by modern genre standards, Magnetic Rose breathes new life into classic tropes through gothic imagery, such as weeping gargoyles and intricate, decaying mechanical statues. It is a testament to the creative synergy of Kon, Otomo, and Morimoto that they could elevate such familiar elements into a deeply moving, timeless experience.

Memories is frequently overshadowed by the more widely known works of its creators, yet it remains a masterclass in the anthology format. While these shorts may be smaller in scale, they stand as an essential exploration of the intersections between human obsession, the fragility of memory, and our technological evolution.

Memories is available to stream on Prime Video.

Source: Polygon