Metrograph Screening Mamoru Oshii's 'Angel's Egg' and 'The Red Spectacles'

Mamoru Oshii is an icon among anime directors. Best known for the original 1995 Ghost In The Shell and its 2004 sequel Innocence,  he has directed a number of acclaimed anime feature films and television series. Oshii is back in cinemas for 2025 thanks to the newly restored 4k version of his feature Angel's Egg, released by GKIDS Films for its 40th anniversary.

Angel's Egg will be screening at the Metrograph in New York City, as part of a season called Mamoru Oshii Restored: Origins and Inspirations. The film will be screened alongside a restored 4K version of Oshii's debut live-action film, 1987's The Red Spectacles, and a selection of films that Oshii has cited as inspirations. 

Oshii's first live-action film was poorly received on its initial release, but in the years since has developed a cult following. "The Red Spectacles was my first live-action film," said Oshii," and it marked the beginning of the so-called Curse of the Dog that led my subsequent live-action films to be deemed as “unsellable,”“unsuccessful,” “difficult to understand,” “tedious,” “indulgent,” and even “cursed.” At the same time, it remains the origin point for the “Kerberos Saga,” which continues to this day."

This is a reference to the fact that despite his success in animation, Oshii has yet to find success in the live-action world. Despite numerous attempts with films like Avalon, Garm Wars and Assasult Girls, he has yet to replicate his anime success.

"It’s an unfortunate film that had been originally criticised by 90% of its viewers, but for some

reason, a small number of “cursed” movie lovers and those who were attracted by the strange pheromones emitted by the black body armour [Protect Gear], have lingered on to this day like the aftertaste of vinegar tofu. The original negatives of the film have survived to this day, and I am very grateful for that. As a director, there is no greater joy than this."

The film is set in the then-futuristic late 20th Century. Soaring crime waves in Tokyo led to the establishment of the Anti-Vicious Crime Heavily Armoured Mobile Special Investigations Unit, nicknamed "Kerberos". Kerberos troopers are heavily armoured and heavily armed, and soon become overzealous in their approach to law enforcement. When a Kerberos member beats a petty criminal to death, it leads to the disbanding of the unit. Three Kerberos members- Kōichi Todome, Washio Midori, and Sōichirō Toribe- refuse to disarm and instead decide to flee Japan. When Midori and Toribe are badly injured, Todome promises he will come back for them.

Three years later, Todome, now a fugitive from the government, returns to Tokyo. But he finds it unrecognisable from the city he left, a shadow of its former self.

The film is directed by Mamoru Oshii and written by Oshii along with Kazunori Ito. It is produced by Shigeharu Shiba and Daisuke Hayashi, with cinematography by Yosuke Mamiya. It stars Shigeru Chiba, Mako Hyōdō, Machiko Washio and Hideyuki Tanaka. It was originally distributed by Omnibus Promotion. 

The film is the first instalment of the Kerberos Saga. The saga is set in an alternative history late 20th Century, where Nazi Germany won World War II, eventually denazified and occupied Japan, establishing authoritarian rule in the country. The franchise primarily focuses on the Mobile Special Investigations Unit or Special Armed Garrison- better known as Kerberos. Kerberos members are identified by their Protect Units, powered exo-skellingtons with distinctive glowing red eyes... ie 'red spectacles'.

The saga comprises several movies including StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops, and the anime feature Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, plus several short films, radio dramas, a manga known internationally as Hellhounds and a novel.

The rest of the season at Metrograph includes Alphaville, Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Branded To Kill, Inflatable Sex Doll Of The Wastelands, Stalker and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.

Tickets for Angel's Egg, Red Spectacles and all other films can be purchased here.