Gin-iro no Kami no Agito
Encyclopedia
Origin: Spirits of the Past, originally released in Japan
as , is an anime
film produced by Gonzo. It premiered in Japan on January 7, 2006, and premiered in the United States
on September 24, 2006 at the Fantastic Fest
film festival
in Austin
, Texas
.
was brought about by extensive genetic engineering
on tree
s, conducted at a research facility on Earth's moon, in order to produce trees capable of growing in harsh, arid conditions. The trees became conscious and spread to Earth in a fiery holocaust, wiping out most of modern civilization and fragmenting the moon. Agito's world is covered mostly by the Forest, a huge expanse of living trees, ruled by the tree-like Zruids
, which now inhabit the earth and control the water supply of both trees and humans. Agito and his father Agashi, as well as his friends Cain and Minka, live in Neutral City, a city carved out of the ruined skyscrapers which acts as both a buffer and a bridge between the Forest and the militaristic nation of Ragna. While the people of Neutral City co-exist peacefully with the trees of the forest, the nation of Ragna aims to destroy the Forest in order to return the world to the way it was before the mutant trees invaded.
The movie starts with Agito and his friend Cain racing each other to see who can get to the water hole at the bottom of the city first. By disturbing the sanctity of the water hole and angering the Zruids, the two boys are separated, and Agito stumbles upon a large machine with cryogenic pods containing mostly dead bodies. Inside the only active pod he finds Toola, a young girl who has been asleep for the past 300 years. He revives her and then brings her back with him to Neutral City. The Forest is angered by Toola's awakening, since she carries a Raban — a portable personal electronic device, worn as a necklace, that can be used for communication and a variety of other tasks. The Forest fears that she will fall into the hands of Shunack, a soldier of Ragna and also a person from the past who was awakened from sleep, and that he will use her Raban to locate E.S.T.O.C. (Environmental Defragmentation System), a powerful weapon with the ability to wipe out the Forest and restore human control over the world.
Shunack eventually finds out about Toola and marches into Neutral City with his army to persuade her to join him. The Forest sends a giant creature to stop the meeting, which Shunack single-handedly destroys, revealing that he has been "enhanced" — he allowed himself to be genetically altered by the Forest in order to become stronger by using the power of the trees. Convinced that finding E.S.T.O.C. is the only way to restore the Earth back to the world which she once knew, Toola joins Shunack in his quest despite Agito's plea not to go. Agito consults his father Agashi, the founder of Neutral City who, as a result of being enhanced and having overused his powers, has turned almost completely into a tree. Agashi, with few days left before becoming a tree completely, encourages Agito to save the Forest from Shunack's plan, since destroying the trees would mean the destruction of mankind as well. Agito journeys to the Forest and allows himself to be enhanced, his hair turning silver as a result.
Agito follows Shunack and Toola to E.S.T.O.C., which turns out to be a huge volcano converted into a mechanized weapon. E.S.T.O.C., as it turns out, was created by Toola's father, the doctor who had begun the genetic research on the trees, as a safeguard against the new species. Shunack betrays the Ragna army and commandeers E.S.T.O.C., revealing his true intentions to use the weapon to clear his guilt: it so happens that Shunack worked on the original genetic alteration experiments on the trees, but, becoming impatient, had tried to speed up the alteration process, leading to the catastrophic invasion of the mutant trees. When Toola learns that Shunack intends to activate E.S.T.O.C. on Neutral City, destroying it completely in the process, she has a change of heart, tries to stop Shunack from activating E.S.T.O.C., but is quickly overwhelmed. Agito finds them and has a showdown with Shunack. To save Toola, he lets his enhancement take him over, and he transforms into a tree, essentially killing himself
and Shunack in the process. Toola deactivates E.S.T.O.C. and the weapon begins to self-destruct; however, Toola refuses to leave without Agito, having developed strong feelings for him.
Although Agito's body has been absorbed by the tree, his consciousness is intact on another plane, and there the Forest reveals to him the truth about the relationship between itself and the humans. Agito learns that the genetic admixture that gives humans extraordinary strength and eventually turns them into trees is really a two-way exchange; it also changes the Forest, causing trees to give birth to new humans in giant fruits (This may possibly be a reference to the "Peach Boy"
legend). Having become one with the Forest, Shunack is now at peace and no longer intends to fight Agito. The Forest, seeing that Agito can teach humanity that there is no need for either hostility or separation between themselves and the trees, grants him his human form back, allowing him and Toola to escape before E.S.T.O.C. erupts into flames. Having saved both the humans and the Forest, Agito brings peace between all humans and the trees. Toola finally lets go of her past by throwing her Raban off a ledge down into the depths of the Forest, learning to live in harmony with the trees at last.
and released on 7 January 2006 by Victor Entertainment
.
All pieces composed by Taku Iwasaki
, except where noted.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as , is an anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
film produced by Gonzo. It premiered in Japan on January 7, 2006, and premiered in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on September 24, 2006 at the Fantastic Fest
Fantastic Fest
Fantastic Fest is an annual film festival in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 2005 by Tim League of Alamo Drafthouse, Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News, Paul Alvarado-Dykstra, and Tim McCanlies, writer of The Iron Giant and Secondhand Lions. The festival focuses on genre films such as horror,...
film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Plot
Origin: Spirits of the Past is the story of Agito, a young boy living in a dystopian Japan set 300 years in the future. This apocalypseApocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
was brought about by extensive genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
on tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s, conducted at a research facility on Earth's moon, in order to produce trees capable of growing in harsh, arid conditions. The trees became conscious and spread to Earth in a fiery holocaust, wiping out most of modern civilization and fragmenting the moon. Agito's world is covered mostly by the Forest, a huge expanse of living trees, ruled by the tree-like Zruids
Dryad
Dryads are tree nymphs in Greek mythology. In Greek drys signifies 'oak,' from an Indo-European root *derew- 'tree' or 'wood'. Thus Dryads are specifically the nymphs of oak trees, though the term has come to be used for all tree nymphs in general...
, which now inhabit the earth and control the water supply of both trees and humans. Agito and his father Agashi, as well as his friends Cain and Minka, live in Neutral City, a city carved out of the ruined skyscrapers which acts as both a buffer and a bridge between the Forest and the militaristic nation of Ragna. While the people of Neutral City co-exist peacefully with the trees of the forest, the nation of Ragna aims to destroy the Forest in order to return the world to the way it was before the mutant trees invaded.
The movie starts with Agito and his friend Cain racing each other to see who can get to the water hole at the bottom of the city first. By disturbing the sanctity of the water hole and angering the Zruids, the two boys are separated, and Agito stumbles upon a large machine with cryogenic pods containing mostly dead bodies. Inside the only active pod he finds Toola, a young girl who has been asleep for the past 300 years. He revives her and then brings her back with him to Neutral City. The Forest is angered by Toola's awakening, since she carries a Raban — a portable personal electronic device, worn as a necklace, that can be used for communication and a variety of other tasks. The Forest fears that she will fall into the hands of Shunack, a soldier of Ragna and also a person from the past who was awakened from sleep, and that he will use her Raban to locate E.S.T.O.C. (Environmental Defragmentation System), a powerful weapon with the ability to wipe out the Forest and restore human control over the world.
Shunack eventually finds out about Toola and marches into Neutral City with his army to persuade her to join him. The Forest sends a giant creature to stop the meeting, which Shunack single-handedly destroys, revealing that he has been "enhanced" — he allowed himself to be genetically altered by the Forest in order to become stronger by using the power of the trees. Convinced that finding E.S.T.O.C. is the only way to restore the Earth back to the world which she once knew, Toola joins Shunack in his quest despite Agito's plea not to go. Agito consults his father Agashi, the founder of Neutral City who, as a result of being enhanced and having overused his powers, has turned almost completely into a tree. Agashi, with few days left before becoming a tree completely, encourages Agito to save the Forest from Shunack's plan, since destroying the trees would mean the destruction of mankind as well. Agito journeys to the Forest and allows himself to be enhanced, his hair turning silver as a result.
Agito follows Shunack and Toola to E.S.T.O.C., which turns out to be a huge volcano converted into a mechanized weapon. E.S.T.O.C., as it turns out, was created by Toola's father, the doctor who had begun the genetic research on the trees, as a safeguard against the new species. Shunack betrays the Ragna army and commandeers E.S.T.O.C., revealing his true intentions to use the weapon to clear his guilt: it so happens that Shunack worked on the original genetic alteration experiments on the trees, but, becoming impatient, had tried to speed up the alteration process, leading to the catastrophic invasion of the mutant trees. When Toola learns that Shunack intends to activate E.S.T.O.C. on Neutral City, destroying it completely in the process, she has a change of heart, tries to stop Shunack from activating E.S.T.O.C., but is quickly overwhelmed. Agito finds them and has a showdown with Shunack. To save Toola, he lets his enhancement take him over, and he transforms into a tree, essentially killing himself
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
and Shunack in the process. Toola deactivates E.S.T.O.C. and the weapon begins to self-destruct; however, Toola refuses to leave without Agito, having developed strong feelings for him.
Although Agito's body has been absorbed by the tree, his consciousness is intact on another plane, and there the Forest reveals to him the truth about the relationship between itself and the humans. Agito learns that the genetic admixture that gives humans extraordinary strength and eventually turns them into trees is really a two-way exchange; it also changes the Forest, causing trees to give birth to new humans in giant fruits (This may possibly be a reference to the "Peach Boy"
Momotaro
is a popular hero from Japanese folklore. His name literally means Peach Tarō; as Tarō is a common Japanese boy's name, it is often translated as Peach Boy...
legend). Having become one with the Forest, Shunack is now at peace and no longer intends to fight Agito. The Forest, seeing that Agito can teach humanity that there is no need for either hostility or separation between themselves and the trees, grants him his human form back, allowing him and Toola to escape before E.S.T.O.C. erupts into flames. Having saved both the humans and the Forest, Agito brings peace between all humans and the trees. Toola finally lets go of her past by throwing her Raban off a ledge down into the depths of the Forest, learning to live in harmony with the trees at last.
Cast
- Ryō KatsujiRyo Katsujiis a Japanese actor. He graduated from Horikoshi High School.-Filmography:*All About Lily Chou-Chou - Terawaki Shioske*Yume oikakete *Battle Royale II - Haruya Sakurai*Hanging Garden - Morisaki...
(Chris PattonChris PattonChristopher David Patton is an American voice actor who works on anime for Funimation Entertainment, ADV Films, Seraphim Digital, and OkraTron 5000...
in the English adaption) as Agito- Yumiko KobayashiYumiko Kobayashiis a Japanese voice actress. She is currently a freelance voice actor but until August 2007 was affiliated with Arts Vision.She and fellow Excel Saga voice actress Mikako Takahashi are known as the duo "The Excel Girls"...
voices Agito as a child.
- Yumiko Kobayashi
- Aoi MiyazakiAoi Miyazakiis a Japanese actress. She is best known for her pure image and roles such as in Nana and Virgin Snow. Her brother Masaru Miyazaki is an actor, and they starred together in the film Hatsukoi. She married Sosuke Takaoka on June 15, 2007, her partner since she was fifteen.-Career:Miyazaki started...
(Carrie Savage in the English adaption) as Toola - Yūko KotegawaYuko Kotegawais a Japanese actress from the city of Ōita.- Biography :Yūko graduated from high school in the city of Ōita. She placed first in the 1976 Miss Salad Girl contest . She landed a part in a Kanebo cosmetics commercial and joined Toho Entertainment. Her sister Nobuko is also in acting.Yūko made her...
(Pam Dougherty in the English adaption) as Yolda - Masaru HamaguchiMasaru Hamaguchiis a Japanese comedian and actor. People have affectionately given him nicknames i.e. Gucchyon, Hamaguchyon, Hamaguche, Masaru-san, Massaru, etc.- Profile :Together with his screen partner, Shinya Arino, Hamaguchi is part of the comic duo, Yoiko....
(John Burgmeier in the English adaption) as Cain - Toshikazu Fukawa (Christopher SabatChristopher SabatChristopher Robin Sabat is an American voice actor, ADR Director, and Line Producer. He has provided voices for a number of English language versions of Japanese anime films and television series, as well as video games...
in the English adaption) as Hajan - Kenichi Endō (Robert McCollumRobert McCollumRobert McCollum is an American voice actor who works for anime series at FUNimation Entertainment. He has provided voices for a number of English language versions of Japanese anime films...
in the English adaption) as Shunack - Ren ŌsugiRen Osugi, born , is a Japanese actor. For his work in Cure, Hana-bi and other films, Osugi was given the Best Supporting Actor award at the 1999 Yokohama Film Festival...
(R. Bruce Elliot in the English adaption) as Agashi - Omi MinamiOmi Minamiis a Japanese voice actor. She is mostly known for her work in anime and video game roles.-Notable anime voice roles:*Tama *Shimajirō Shimano *Euphemia Li Britannia...
(Laura BaileyLaura Bailey (voice actress)Laura Dawn Bailey is an American actress, voice actress, Singer, Line Producer and ADR Director. She has provided voices for a number of English language versions of Japanese anime films, television series, as well as video games...
in the English adaption) as Minka - Atsuko YuyaAtsuko Yuyais a Japanese voice actress who works for Gekidan Subaru. Atsuko Yuya is originally from Nagasaki. She is the official Japanese voice dub-over artist for actresses: Angelina Jolie and Natasha Henstridge.-TV anime:*Angel Heart ...
(Colleen ClinkenbeardColleen ClinkenbeardColleen Smith Clinkenbeard is an American voice actress, Line Producer, ADR Director, and Script Writer who works for Funimation Entertainment, ADV Films, and OkraTron 5000. She has provided voices for a number of English language versions of Japanese anime films and series, most notably, Monkey D...
in the English adaption) as Jessica - Kurumi MamiyaKurumi Mamiyais a Japanese seiyū from Yasu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. She is affiliated with 81 Produce.-Voice roles:*6 Angels *Battle B-Daman *Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san *Dokkiri Doctor...
(Luci ChristianLuci ChristianLouisa Michelle Christian is an American voice actress and ADR Script Writer who is affiliated with Funimation Entertainment, ADV Films, Seraphim Digital, and OkraTron 5000...
in the English adaption) as Bērui - Tomoko KanedaTomoko Kanedais a Japanese voice actress, J-Pop singer, and radio personality who was born in Yokohama, Japan. She had worked at Aoni Production for 11 years, and had worked at freelance since April 2011, and it was announced to belong to Across Entertainment in August 2011. She graduated from Department of...
(Monica RialMonica RialMonica Jean Rial is an American voice actress, ADR Director, and Script Writer who works for Funimation Entertainment, ADV Films, Seraphim Digital, and OkraTron 5000...
in the English adaption) as Zērui - Hideyuki TanakaHideyuki Tanakais a Japanese voice actor. He is a graduate of the Toho Gakuen School of Music. He is most known for his roles in Dokaben , Kinnikuman , Captain Tsubasa , Touch , Saint Seiya , Metal Gear Solid and Slam Dunk .-TV Anime:*Akagi...
(Kent WilliamsKent Williams (voice actor)Kent Williams is an American actor and voice actor who works for anime series at Funimation Entertainment. He has provided voices for a number of English language versions of Japanese anime films.-Anime:...
in the English adaption) as Doctor Sakul - MugihitoMugihito, better known by his stage name of is a Japanese voice and stage actor from Musashino, Tokyo. He is employed by Media Force. Mugihito was formerly credited under his birth name and also...
as Nabe Oyagi - Katsuhisa Hōki as Agohige
- Takehiro Koyama as Kuchihige
- Hiroshi NakaHiroshi Nakais a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Production Baobab. He is originally from Ōita Prefecture.- TV anime :*Baki the Grappler *Clannad *Comic Party Revolution *Cowboy Bebop...
as Oyakata - Mitsuaki HoshinoMitsuaki Hoshinois a Japanese actor and voice actor who works for Arts Vision. He is married to Yūko Kobayashi.-Anime:*Black Jack: The Movie *D.Gray-man *Gallery Fake *Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex...
as The Soldier - Yukari Horie as The Announcer
Soundtrack
The film soundtrack was composed by Taku IwasakiTaku Iwasaki
is a Japanese composer and arranger. His hometown is Tokyo, Japan. He is a graduate of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Iwasaki is generally known for his jazz-like score music.-Anime:...
and released on 7 January 2006 by Victor Entertainment
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
.
All pieces composed by Taku Iwasaki
Taku Iwasaki
is a Japanese composer and arranger. His hometown is Tokyo, Japan. He is a graduate of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Iwasaki is generally known for his jazz-like score music.-Anime:...
, except where noted.
- "Mori no Kioku"
- "Chouwa oto (With Reflection)" (KokiaKokia (singer)is a Japanese singer-songwriter, who performs under the stage name Kokia . She is best known for her songs and "The Power of Smile." She is also recognised for her numerous contributions to anime/game soundtracks, the most notable being "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto " for the film...
) - "Agito to Kain"
- "Doruido"
- "Toola"
- "Dai Kouzui"
- "Chuuritsu Toshi"
- "Taizai Kyoka"
- "Ragna Gun"
- Houshi Katsudou"
- "Agito to Toola 1"
- "Agashi"
- Kako Kara Kita Otoko"
- "Sudachi"
- "Toria City"
- "Minka no Kanashimi"
- "Kikan Shinden"
- "Kyouka Karada"
- "Agito to Toola 2"
- "Chikara no Bousou"
- "Yolda no Omoi"
- "Tsuki ga Kowareta Hi"
- "Chikyuu Ryokka Project"
- "Istolk Shidou"
- "Soukougeki"
- "Istolk wo Yamero"
- "Dai Funka (Agito to Toola 3)"
- "Boku Tachi no Mirai no Tame ni"
- "Mori to Nin wo Tsunagu Mono"
- "Ai no Melody (Soundtrack Version)" (KokiaKokia (singer)is a Japanese singer-songwriter, who performs under the stage name Kokia . She is best known for her songs and "The Power of Smile." She is also recognised for her numerous contributions to anime/game soundtracks, the most notable being "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto " for the film...
) - "M-10a - M-10b"
- "M-21a"
- "M-21b"
- "M-23"