The end of the seventies was the time when japanese anime began invading italian television channels. Millions of italian kids grew up watching these, now classic, cartoons and some were more passionate then others about Giant Robots. One of them, is Francesco Ermanno Torchia (aka TIF) and the Mon Amour Tokyo trilogy is his homage/parody to japanese animation from the seventies.
The first episode is a new take on the giant robot genre as it was in his first incarnations like Grendizer or Mazinger. Mixed with citations from live-action movies, using voices from actors (Tsukamoto Shinya, Aikawa Sho) and situations seen so many times before in our beloved mostermovies (Godzilla. Mothra, etc.) are only a taste for episode number two, Mon Amour Tokyo 2 - Storm. More difficulties for the hero (as any sequel that respects itself) and even more irony are the ingredients of the sequel. This time the monsters not just attack Japan, but the whole world!
Mon Amour Tokyo - Storm, sets a new level using different graphic styles, mixed techniques, vectorial painting (Flash), paintings and photographies as backround images.
The trilogy closes with Mon Amour Tokyo 3D - Silent Jealousy and the result is a bombardment of images and japanese rock music, interrupted only for a hilarious fake japanese tv spot (you have to see it!).
The shorts are pure fun to watch (particularly part 2), give it a try !
The Dude abides …
Mon Amour Tokyo (at YouTube)
Mon Amour Tokyo 2 - Storm (at YouTube)
Mon Amour Tokyo 3 - Silent Jealousy (at YouTube)
Other TIF Shorts (at YouTube)
TIF Studio (only in italian)