Tokyo Godfathers

Name: Tokyo Godfathers
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Comedy, Animation
Released: January 16, 2004
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Aya Okamoto, Toru Emori, Yoshiaki Umegaki

2004

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Ratings

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Tokyo Godfathers

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia TriStar | Release Date: January 16, 2004 | PG-13

Starring: Aya Okamoto, Toru Emori, Yoshiaki Umegaki

Summary: In modern-day Tokyo, three homeless people’s lives are changed forever when they discover a baby girl at a garbage dump on Christmas Eve. As the New Year fast approaches, these three forgotten members of society band together to solve the mystery of the abandoned child and the fate of her parents. Along the way, encounters with seeminglyIn modern-day Tokyo, three homeless people’s lives are changed forever when they discover a baby girl at a garbage dump on Christmas Eve. As the New Year fast approaches, these three forgotten members of society band together to solve the mystery of the abandoned child and the fate of her parents. Along the way, encounters with seemingly unrelated events and people force them to confront their own haunted pasts, as they learn to face their future, together. … Expand

Director: Satoshi Kon and Shôgo Furuya

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Comedy, Animation

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 92 min

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Awards & Rankings

84	#84 Best Movie of 2004

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Shawn Levy

This is a first-class film that will appeal to anyone who wants to see a plausible, witty, absorbing human story told well -- indeed, told gorgeously. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

A spellbinding piece of Japanese anime from one of the form's new masters, director-writer Satoshi Kon. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

A singularly strange and affecting comedy.

Roger Ebert

An animated film both harrowing and heartwarming, about a story that will never, ever, be remade by Disney. Read full review

V.A. Musetto

Ends in magnificent fashion, with skyscrapers bowing to Beethoven's Ninth. It's a stirring ending to a sweet movie. Read full review

J. Hoberman

A welcome exercise in anime weirdness. Read full review

Maitland McDonagh

Features phenomenally beautiful background animation and complex characterizations, and offers glimpses of a poverty-stricken Tokyo underclass that's rarely featured -- let alone portrayed sympathetically -- in mainstream Japanese films. Read full review

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User Reviews

Jamejarrs

Mar 12, 2020

Given Satoshi Kon's previous works you wouldn't expect a Christmas-centric comedy from him to work at all, but this film had me grinning from ear to ear.

The art and animation here is absolutely top notch, getting to see this on the big screen was a delight. The writing is sharp and witty,Given Satoshi Kon's previous works you wouldn't expect a Christmas-centric comedy from him to work at all, but this film had me grinning from ear to ear.

The art and animation here is absolutely top notch, getting to see this on the big screen was a delight. The writing is sharp and witty, and the film is as touching as it is hilarious with a dynamic and well-rounded cast.

As a fan of the original I was worried that the English actors wouldn't hold a candle to the Japanese version but this dub knocked it out of the park, all the characters feel authentic to their original language counterparts and the performances are great.

There's a reason Satoshi Kon is a legend in the anime industry, this sits right next to all his other works as an all-time classic.… Expand

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JeffT.

Jun 3, 2006

Half these critics don't know squat. One of the best movies in recent years that's not just extremely entertaining... it also stays with you. You owe it to yourself to watch it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Woojnwot

Dec 22, 2014

Being a story of love, human kindness, and friendship; Tokyo Godfathers seamlessly integrates its themes within a loving, emotional, and spirited Christmas tale.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ryohji

Dec 31, 2014

"Tokyo godfathers" tells you a better story about family, love, people and life in 1h 32 than all of the movie on these subject made by DreamWorks Animation, 20th century Fox and Universal put together, for a 100th of what one of their movie costs.
It's simple, the first time I saw that"Tokyo godfathers" tells you a better story about family, love, people and life in 1h 32 than all of the movie on these subject made by DreamWorks Animation, 20th century Fox and Universal put together, for a 100th of what one of their movie costs.
It's simple, the first time I saw that film, I left the theater and felt much lighter than I was when I stepped in.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

XV_

Jun 2, 2019

I didn't know anything about Tokyo Godfathers before I watched it, only the basic premise; 3 homeless people find a little baby in a junkyard. By the time the 2act starts to kick in I was already fell in love with all the characters and was expecting what is going to happen next, I thinkI didn't know anything about Tokyo Godfathers before I watched it, only the basic premise; 3 homeless people find a little baby in a junkyard. By the time the 2act starts to kick in I was already fell in love with all the characters and was expecting what is going to happen next, I think that one of the strong points of this movie is how it manages to maintain you surprised even when you "solve its mistery" and it does it in such an organic and natural way that it almost look easy. The writing and the animation are amazing, is a hopeful movie about so sad subjects, that really touches you. If you haven't seen it, give it a go, perfect for Christmas time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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