The Red Spectacles

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Main article: Kerberos saga
紅い眼鏡
The Red Spectacles
Directed by Mamoru Oshii
Produced by Shigeharu Shiba
Daisuke Hayashi
Written by Kazunori Ito
Mamoru Oshii
Starring Shigeru Chiba
Machiko Washio
Hideyuki Tanaka
Music by Kenji Kawai
Cinematography Yosuke Mamiya
Editing by Seiji Morita
Distributed by Omnibus Promotion
Release date(s) Flag of Japan February 7, 1987
Flag of United States November 4, 2003
Flag of Canada November 4, 2003
Running time 116 min
Language Japanese
Followed by SrayDog

The Red Spectacles (紅い眼鏡 Akai Megane?) is a 1987 Japanese feature film directed by Mamoru Oshii, co-written with Kazunori Ito, and starring Shigeru Chiba.

Contents

[edit] Kerberos saga

[edit] Overview

A still from the film's opening color sequence.
A still from the film's opening color sequence.

Akai megane is a live-action feature film shot mostly in sepia-toned black and white with colour opening and closing sequences.

Akai megane is the first movie, but last episode, of Oshii's Orwellian, dystopian Watchdog of Hell feature trilogy.

The second and third feature film of the trilogy are based on the Kerberos Panzer Cop (犬狼伝説, Ken-roh densetsu) manga series published by Kadokawa Shoten between 1988 and 1990. This manga is illustrated by Kamui Fujiwara and written by Mamoru Oshii. A sequel, Kerberos Saga Rainy Dogs, was launched in 2003 in collaboration with a different illustrator, Mamoru Sugiura.

In early April 2006, Mamoru Oshii theatrically released an animation movie, Tachiguishi-Retsuden based on key elements, including characters, from Akai megane. This spinoff is part of the Tachiguishi arc.

In late April of the same year, the Japanese author launched a radio drama series Kerberos Panzer Jäger".

[edit] Kerberos

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos saga#Kerberos.

Primarily, the term kerberos is a reference to Hades' three-headed watchdog of hell in the Greek mythology. It is also used to designate the Panzer Cops.

[edit] Protect-Gear

For more details on this topic, see Protect-Gear.

The Protect-Gear is the full body armour used by both the Kerberos Riot Police, the Metropolitan Police, and the Customs assault units. Various types are used within the saga.

[edit] Tachiguishi

For more details on this topic, see Tachiguishi.

As tachigui professionals, the legendary Fast Food Grifters have the privilege to eat in stand-and-eat street restaurants without paying.

[edit] Prequel (1987)

For more details on the radio drama, see While Waiting For The Red Spectacles.

While Waiting For The Red Spectacles (紅い眼鏡を待ちつつ, Akai megane omachi tsutsu) Is a radio drama prequel written by Kazunori Itoh with an original soundtrack composed by Kenji Kawai.

[edit] Sequel (1988)

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos Panzer Cop.

In 1988, the manga adaptation of The Red Spectacles was serialized in Amazing Comics magazine as Kerberos Panzer Cop. Mamoru Oshii wrote the story and the illustration were done by Kamui Fujiwara. This series was first compiled in 1990, then adapted to a live-action film in 1991, and adapted to an anime feature in 1999. The 2nd part of the manga was serialized in Shōnen Ace magazine, and compiled in 2000.

[edit] Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Chronicles

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos saga chronicles.

Kerberos saga historical background and significant dates in both the real and fictitious History.

[edit] Prologue

The cult of personality in a dystopian totalitarian 2001 Japan.
The cult of personality in a dystopian totalitarian 2001 Japan.

Summer 1995. With the arrival of the "Age of Cats" (猫の時代), the former Kerberos police unit is now disbanded. However one member remains, a stray dog who returns to his old roost after a three-years exile. This wild dog no longer has a master, but now the "Young Lady of Fate" (運命の少女) will guide him on his journey...

[edit] Plot

“ "We are such stuff as dreams are made on...
and our little life is rounded with a sleep."
(William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act V, Sc.1)		 ”

End of 20th century,

"Complete history of Criminal Police Organization (刑事警察機構 Keiji keisatsu kikō)" by Shōubei Shiozawa (塩沢庄兵衛)

Chapter IV: Brutal crime & fight (凶悪犯罪と闘争)

Appendix from "Glory & fall of the Kerberos" (ケルベロスの栄光と没落)

[edit] Characters

Moongaze Ginji and Koichi eating ramen in an illicit underground tachigui bar named Udon Soba.
Moongaze Ginji and Koichi eating ramen in an illicit underground tachigui bar named Udon Soba.
For more details on this topic, see Kerberos saga characters.
Spoilers end here.

[edit] References & influences to other works

[edit] Possible inspirations

For more details on this topic, see Protect-Gear.
The Nationalist Chinese Army was equipped with Mauser arms and trained by German officers.
The Nationalist Chinese Army was equipped with Mauser arms and trained by German officers.
Maneki neko are prominent during the "Age of Cats".
Maneki neko are prominent during the "Age of Cats".
An explicit reference to the 1964 French, cult SF film, La Jetée.
An explicit reference to the 1964 French, cult SF film, La Jetée.

The most obvious inspirations in Akai megane's dystopian story are probably Chris Marker's avant-garde black and white science fiction short film La Jetée and George Orwell's 1984. However, the totalitarian Tokyo of 2001 imagined and described by Oshii back in 1987, is anachronistic (e.g. the Londonian Austin FX4 '50s taxicabs) and politically ambiguous with two antagonistic forces, the Dogs and the Cats, whose successive regimes are named "Ages". The serious tone of the film is tempered by elements of black humor. A strong influence on this film is Godard, to whom Oshii self-admitted borrows his anti-conformist view of screenplay [1]. The torture and philosophical dialogue scenes seems reminiscent of Godard's political black and white 1960 film, Le Petit Soldat.

The use of stylised sepia photography in contrast with the realism of full colour scenes was further developed in Oshii's later live-action film, Avalon.

The Dogs (Kerberos) uniforms are mainly inspired by the 1940s German Schutzstaffel and the Protect-Gear suits are inspired by the samurai armor (yoroi).

Maneki neko (beckoning cats) are appearing in The Red Spectacles, as a metaphor for a structural change in the society Todome left in 1998. It incarnates the "Age of Cats". In a video interview (available on the DVD of Jin Roh) Oshii states he his fascinated and focuses on warriors who are not adapted to the world they live in and they perish for that. [1]

[edit] References

Akai megane is probably Oshii's most literate feature work. Not only, dialogue and narrative parts are prominent over drama but the film contains a variety of philosophical concepts such as Free will and Determinism, mentioned through fables, like "The Magnet and the Iron Sands" and "The Ogre Saved by the Fisherman", or through classic poet-authors quotes, Shakespeare and Pushkin. The characters refers to European medieval tales and Greek mythology, such as oral versions of Little Red Riding Hood and the three-headed watchdog of Hell Cerberus.

[edit] Influences

[edit] Releases

Akai Megane VHS (Japan)
Akai Megane VHS (Japan)

In February 25, 2003, the DVD edition was made available in Japan as part of the Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy anthology box set, which contained four DVDs and one soundtrack CD. On November 4 of the same year, a subtitled version of Akai megane was released in North America as both a single DVD and also as part of a US release of the box set. The US version of the trilogy box set has different box artwork and lacks the "Revisited Scene & Production" DVD of the Japanese version.

The American The Red Spectacles DVD edition was reprinted in 2004, and since then is only available in the box set which was printed three times as of 2006 and remains the only edition released outside Japan.

[edit] Audio

  • Flag of Japan 1987.XX.XX: Original Soundtrack Akai Megane [LP] (King Record, K20G-7317)
  • Flag of Japan 1987.12.21: Original Soundtrack Akai Megane Special [CD] (King Record, K30X-7103)
  • Flag of Japan 2003.03.26: Kenji Kawai Cinema Anthology [5CD] (King Record / Star Child, KICA-9601~4)

[edit] Video

  • Flag of Japan 1987.03.28: Akai Megane [VHS] (Bandai Visual, BES-164/BEB-164)
  • Flag of Japan 1987.07.28: Akai Megane [LD] (Bandai Visual, BELL-127)
  • Flag of Japan 2003.02.25: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [4DVD+1CD] (Bandai Visual, BCBJ-1519)
  • Flag of United States 2003.11.04: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [3DVD+1CD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2430)
  • Flag of Canada 2003.11.04: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [3DVD+1CD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2430)
  • Flag of United States 2003.11.04: The Red Spectacles [DVD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2431B)
  • Flag of Canada 2003.11.04: The Red Spectacles [DVD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2431B)

[edit] Quotes

  • Koichi Todome (offscreen, in the trailer only): "If I execute justice... it will enrage half of the world."
  • Bunmei Muroto (to Koichi): "A dog is supposed to obey his master."
  • Koichi Todome (answering to Bunmei): "A dog is supposed to know who his master is."
  • Bunmei Muroto (answering to Koichi): "Rather than a long, pointless life, an immediate death could be better in some cases."
  • Koichi Todome (to himself): "A dream? It can't be!"
  • Bunmei Muroto (answering to Koichi): "How many times do you have to repeat it until you are satisfied?"

[edit] Trivia

  • Shigeru Chiba who plays the main character, Koichi Todome, in Akai Megane also does voice cast for the TV anime series Urusei Yatsura. Ine the series the Japanese actor dubs Megane ("spectacles"), a character with Nazi Germany militaria and tachigui (stand-and-eat) interests.
  • The Kerberos use a MG34 machinegun. This model will be replaced with the later model MG42 in the following episodes. They also use the Mauser C96. Both are World War II vintage German-built firearms.
  • Bunmei Muroto's police car is a Honda CR-X MkI (1983~1987).
  • Taxi cabs are UK import Austin FX4.

[edit] Cast

Mako Hyodo plays as the "Young Lady" dressed like Little Red Riding Hood, aka Foxy Croquette O-Gin, an allegory for Fate which is leading Kōichi in the movie.
Mako Hyodo plays as the "Young Lady" dressed like Little Red Riding Hood, aka Foxy Croquette O-Gin, an allegory for Fate which is leading Kōichi in the movie.
  • Kōichi Todome: Shigeru Chiba
  • Washio Midori: Machiko Washio
  • Sōichirō Toribe: Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Bunmei Muroto: Tessho Genda
  • Young lady: Mako Hyodo
  • Middle-aged man in billiards, taxi driver's voice: Ichiro Nagai
  • Taxi driver: Yasuo Otsuka
  • Oriental Hotel receptionist: Oikawa Hiroe
  • Yakuza A: 兼松隆
  • Yakuza B: 古川登志夫
  • Chinpira：西村智博
  • Bunmei subordinates: 中村秀利, 平井隆博, 立木文彦, 船戸健行, 中村大樹, 三井善忠, 上部光弘
  • Bodyguard: 吉永尚之
  • Soba Udon cook：Fuyuki Shinada
  • Billiards master: 田内和夫
  • Helicopter pilot: 栗崎教雄
  • Airport announcer: Fumi Hirano
  • Cat: 伊藤乃良
  • Umibōzu: Kintaroh Sakata
  • Moongaze Ginji (Moon-viewing Ginji): Hideyo Amamoto

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Making of Jin Roh, DVD published by CTV Int'l, 2000, France

[edit] Sources

  • Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy DVD box set.

[edit] External links

Japanese Cinema BANZAI!! ^^
Live action films by Mamoru Oshii
The Red Spectacles (1987) | StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops (1991) | Talking Head (1992)
| Avalon (2001) | Killers: .50 Woman (2003) | Onna Tachiguishi-Retsuden (2006)
Kerberos saga by Mamoru Oshii ケルベロス
KERBEROS ARC
| While Waiting For The Red Spectacles (1987) | The Red Spectacles (1987) | Kerberos Panzer Cop (1988)
| StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops (1991) | Jin-Roh (1999) | Kerberos Saga: Rainy Dogs (2003)
| Kerberos Panzer Jäger (2006) | Kerberos & Tachiguishi (2006)
TACHIGUISHI ARC
| Hisatsu! Tachigui Wars!! (1984) | Tachiguishi-Retsuden (2004) | Onna Tachiguishi-Retsuden (2006)
KERBEROS FILES
| Saga | Chronicles | Characters | Protect-Gear | Weapons | Vehicles
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