Michael McConnohie Movies

Gotham City has Batman and New York has Spiderman, but what dark hero protects the gritty, future Tokyo? The answer is the Karas, the main characters of this feature-film-length anime of the same name. Blending 2D cell-shaded animation and 3D computer graphics, Karas: The Prophecy finds the delicate balance between the humans of Tokyo and the ghostly beings that inhabit the city in a parallel universe suddenly disrupted. For thousands of years, the peace has been kept by noble beings called the Karas, who strive to make both the dark and light sides live in harmony. Power breeds corruption however, and now Eko, the current Karas -- who once swore to protect the city and maintain the balance there -- has since grown bitter and vengeful. He has granted some malicious poltergeists physical bodies so that he can personally rule the humanity he once served. The incarnate of the city, Yurine, must come to the people's aid and so she creates a new Karas to battle the old one. Two Karas have never existed in the same city before, and as a battle for the fate of humanity ensues, it is certain that only one will remain. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

This series relies on dry, non sequitur humor, puns, general bizarre content, and breaking down the fourth wall in the name of comedy. The plot serves mainly to create excuses for humor but is in itself something of a joke: the evil and entirely bald Margarita Empire is on a rampage to take over the world and render every inhabitant bald as well. The empire is led by the obviously hairless Emperor Tsuru Tsuruiina, whose name, in Japanese, is an onomatopoeia for something slippery. Only the hero, Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (whose own name is based on a mimic word in Japanese that describes shrubbery or unkempt hair), can save the world by harnessing his power to command every hair on his body to perform his own unique form of martial arts. He can "hear the voices of hair," including those of his giant yellow afro, which he can use to project images of squirrels in order to confuse his enemy. Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo mocks many manga and anime series to hilarious ends, including itself. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

The Ramayana, an enduring classic of Indian literature, comes to the screen in this animated adaptation that combines the visual styles of traditional Indian illustration with the bold look of Japanese animé. Ravan (voice of Tom Wyner) is the intolerant king of Lanka, who is determined to lay claim to any neighboring territories. Ravan, however, has yet to face off against noble King Dasharatha (voice of Mike R. Reynolds), who rules with the help of his sons Lakshman (voice of Richard Cansino) and Ram (voice of Bryan Cranston), the latter possessing magical powers and great strength. Ram is forced to do battle with the evil witch Tataka (voice of Catherine Battistone), but while he emerges victorious and wins the hand of the beautiful Sita (voice of Edie Mirman), a poor choice by King Dasharatha forces Ram and his new bride into exile alongside his brother. While in hiding in the forest, Sita is captured by Ravan, and Ram must find and defeat the corrupt monarch in order to rescue the woman he loves. While produced with the cooperation of Indian filmmakers, The Prince of Light: The Legend of Ramayana tones down the Hindu theological overtones of the original story in favor of its action and adventure-oriented narrative. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Based on a series of Dutch children's books by Hans der Beer, the animated feature The Little Polar Bear is a German production made up of three separate stories about polar bear cub Lars. In the first, Lars meets and befriends a seal named Robby. In the second, he is stranded on an island and makes friends with a hippo, an eagle, and a killer whale. In the third, he and his friends plot to crash a ship that has been stealing all the fish out of the sea. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

The crime-fighting Turtles -- Michaelangelo (Michelan Sisti), Donatello (Leif Tilden), Raphael (Kenn Troum), and Leonardo (Mark Caso) -- return in this quickly made sequel to the popular superheroes' first film. The story concerns arch-enemy Shredder, who kidnaps nutty professor Jordan Perry David Warner, the man who invented the infamous ooze, in order to use the ooze to destroy the Turtles. Shredder enlists his hapless German shepherd puppy named Rahzar and a baby snapping turtle named Toko and dips them in the ooze to turn them into horrible and imposing ninja warriors. But on the Turtles' side is proficient kick-boxing pizza boy Keno (Ernie Reyes Jr.), who uses his moves to help the Turtles stop Shredder and his monster warriors. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

This action-packed and stylish Japanese animated adventure is set in a smoldering, ruined post-nuclear holocaust world where violence rules. It is based on a popular series of graphic novels. Since the great war, the world has become divided into tough little nations, nations that must fight hard to survive. Ken is the leader of one such nation, North Star. One day, elder Ryuken commands him to go into the world and make peace with the other barbarians. During his journey, Ken befriends a mischievous teen and a sweet young girl who is too naive to be as hopeless as the rest. Along the way, the three engage in graphic, bloody battles with a series of terrifying mutants. Although animated, this film may be too vividly violent with its stylized but realistic scenes of dismemberment, decapitation, and blood- gushing disembowelment for children. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In the era of U.S. pulp novels, basically between the 1920s and 1950s, "space operas" emerged as some of the most popular fiction going. Few authors had more success selling these improbable tales than E.E. (Doc) Smith, and his "Lensman" series remained popular well into the 1970s. This Japanese animated feature, begun in 1979, is based on those novels and was not released in its final form until 1984. It was not seen in the West until 1991. During a war between the Bosconian War Lords (the bad guys) and the Galactic Alliance, Kim becomes a lensman, and wields the unusual powers granted by that transformation to fight for the right. Even with his new powers, he barely escapes alive in his numerous engagements with the bad guys. An unusual amount of work went into this feature's highly detailed animation, the voiceovers (for the American version) are competently done, and the film features a score which includes disco and "new age" music. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide