2000s
Noah’s Barks pages covering things related to the years 2000 to 2009, i.e. the 2000s.
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Mermaid Forest
Legendary manga author Rumiko Takahashi’s series of parables about immortality are adapted in Mermaid Forest. Why didn’t that equate to a good series? (read more)
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Mt. Head
‘Mt. Head’ has a distinctive visual style, and the folklore story backed up by traditional Japanese music are cool, but I found it repulsive and dull. Most things are just one or the other, not both. (read more)
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Aquatic Language
‘Aquatic Language’ is a lightweight short film with a sultry café atmosphere and eccentric cast. (read more)
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Smile
Move over, ‘Hamtaro.’ ‘Smile’ is a music video about a hamster watching a girl get back together with her ex-boyfriend. Life’s one big hamster wheel, ain’t it? (read more)
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R.O.D: Read or Die
Created during the waning years of the OVA boom, ‘Read or Die’ is a nonetheless fun, superpowered action thrill-ride that’s only compromised by its cheap-looking digital animation. (read more)
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Buso Renkin
‘Buso Renkin’ is a surprisingly enjoyable, lightweight "battle shonen" series penned by the creator of ‘Rurouni Kenshin.’ (read more)
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Speed Grapher
‘Speed Grapher’ is an absurd, exploitative thriller that is nonetheless entertaining and shocking in its creativity (among other things). (read more)
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Melody
Why have I found so many anime short films to be unmoving? Melody inspires me to ask that question, and not for good reasons. (read more)
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sound / phantasma / mirror
A short film created by Kojiro Shishido, who would become an animation director for many Type-Moon anime adaptions. ‘sound / phantasma / mirror’ is a technical showcase of realistic lighting, and not very interesting. (read more)
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A Traveler’s Diary
These six surrealist fantasy vignettes offer a tour through a bizarre, picturesque, and often humorous world. (Includes ‘A Traveler’s Diary Specials’) (read more)