City Hunter Movie: Shinjuku Private Eyes

City Hunter Shinjuku Private Eyes is awesome. After a long time, City Hunter returns to animation with a brand new original movie by Sunrise (the studio that originally animated City Hunter in the first place). I think it replicates what made City Hunter so awesome in the first place & is a fantastic return to form. The story really isn’t anything special tbh. It isn’t bad, it’s about our boy Ryo getting hired as a bodyguard (as he usually does in the series) by a famous model & then evolving into a plot about trying to stop a corporation & their super weapon. It’s not aparticularly stand out plot, but City Hunter being an episodic series was never known for its plot in the first place, so this is fine. Even as a plot it still brings with it some high stakes, good character moments, & serves as a great driving force for the action set-pieces in this movie. So although nothing too special it’s hard to really complain about this plot that much. The characters are pretty much exactly what you remember from the series & I wouldn’t have it any other way for what’s supposed to be a standalone, return to form after a long absence City Hunter movie. Ryo is the same perverted yet reliable sweeper you know & love from the original series, although his perverted side has been dialed back a bit for modern sensibilities. I honestly don’t mind this as they really didn’t dial it back as much as my statement would lead you to believe & he’s still the same Ryo Saeba I know & love from the OG so I have no complaints. Kaori is the same trusty sidekick who keeps Ryo in check whenever his antics get too out of hand. Other characters you remember from the series such as Sayako & Umibouzu return as well. While my explanations of these characters make them seem like very simple characters (because they are) I need to bring up that City Hunter’s cast consist of largely comedic characters. Comedic characters don’t necessarily need to have a large amount of depth to them provided they allow for good comedy & can offer good dynamics & I feel as though City Hunter’s characters succeed at both of these as I found myself laughing numerous times throughout this movie. Even when this movie starts getting more serious the characters know how to act in the situation & it never really leads to any tonal whiplash because the movie knows how to balance comedic & serious scenarios. The artwork in this series is exactly what I would want a modern day interpretation of City Hunter to be. Character designer & animation director from Gundam The Origin, Tsukasa Kotobuki lends his hands on this project & I think it’s a good fit. His character designs achieve that right balance of old school but modern. These characters look & feel like the characters I loved in the original anime from 1987 so I have to give big credit. The art design generally speaking is pretty spectacular too, it’s got bright colors, detailed backgrounds, action scenes that flow well, & crisp shading. I will say though this movie can be lacking polish at points, I did notice some no-faces & badly drawn background characters in a few scenes. They aren’t riddled throughout the movie enough in order to ruin it for me but I did notice them more times than I would’ve liked to notice them. These mainly come at the beginning of the movie though, by the middle & end it’s pretty polished overall. The movie also has moments of CGI, but I actually don’t mind it because CGI is used the way it was in Gundam The Origin & Gundam Unicorn, mainly used on background objects off in the distance or machinery. I will say the CGI is more noticeable here than it was in either Gundam series I mentioned but I don’t think it’s bad enough to detract unless you just really hate CGI being in anime. The sound department is pretty crisp with most of the voice actors returning to their roles. Akira Kamiya reprises his role as Ryo Saeba & he’s still got it despite getting up there in age. I will say that if you’re like me & have seen anything City Hunter prior going into this movie you can notice that Kamiya has aged but he still brings a good performance in spite of that so I won’t dock points for it. The music is pretty good with fan favorite tracks returning such as “Footsteps” & ‘Fall in love” returning (I got really giddy when I heard these in the movies). Even the original tracks are really solid too, the opening sequence of this movie has a banging rock piece playing that really gets you in the mood to see this movie. So the returning cast & an OST that keeping with the theme feels retro but brings City Hunter into modern times simultaneously? Sign me up. This movie is a treat. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end & I really hope Sunrise makes more City Hunter movies like these, I’d be so down for them. Do I think this movie is a great way to see if you’d like City Hunter or not? I think so, the story is pretty simple to understand, & it’s got everything I ever liked about City Hunter crammed into it. I would say you might wanna do some research into who these characters are going into it, but even if you don’t the movie does a great job at introducing you to these characters. It reminds me Cowboy Bebop Knockin on Heaven’s Door(‘s) opening scene in which the animation & directing portrays to the viewer Spike & Jet’s personality, dynamic, & differences all without really needing to tell you about it. I give this movie a 9/10

What a fun reunion full of fan-service ("the Professor" is here !) with every character apart from Saeko getting some action and the required humour. Each one is faithful to his old self, with maybe Kaori and Ryô who seemed rather childish a good chunk of the movie (I could mention Umibozû but it's a joke so...) The modernization is everywhere (even running through the story in an interesting way) in this concept confronting the City Hunter to the "present world", with some exaggerations here & there (ex: a virtual visitors board?!). The great musics from the series sound superior to the rest of an otherwiseanecdotal soundtrack. But they're sometimes weirdly placed. On the contrary, while it's nice to hear our old pals with the "same" voice again, several actors have largely lost their voice from back then; and the guest-seiyû sound very good, namely Yamadera and his henchman whose name I forgot. The movie is clearly pretty poorly drawn and colourized (reminiscent of a 2000 TV show rather than a movie): the bold outline and extremely sharpen colours accentuate the lack of integration of the characters in their (nicely made) environment. Chara-design-wise, most characters didn't change much (Kaori's eyes make a big fifference though) but they're often oversimplified. While the animation is okay (with some well done fights), the characters don't look good as soon as they leave the foregrounds and feature inhuman hands most of the time. The 3DCGI mechanical ennemies can look out of place. Also, as a theatrical release, it could have featured mokkori jokes. But there were none. Enjoyment: 4/5 Score: 6/10 Okay film made for fans (who'll be more or less excited)

As an anime comes from 1980s era, this remake really something you can not seen on everyday. Their art was something pretty better than your decent hystorical show lately. The City Hunter series on 20s centuries, quite fun watch, and even too nice rather other show on this original era. I mean, look that their motion. Their comical art and animation so rememberred as something come from my past. Yet, im born from the 90s. But this show was much cool than almost my entire cartoon thingy i ever seen. The quality too, to be rememberred as West country cartoon, ofc on USA or fromUK. This is better than most of their relative cartoons show, i think! Maybe i wrong about some parts. But, thats just all of my initial thought with their art originality. Not mentioning their character too, like coming from the past and feel my future-present day, how funny! So long until wandering what was going on in these show action figured really match the Shounen style, and the hero of an America classic standard style. Thats was it. Even their villain persona character seem so be their past classical standard. I mean, yeah, i am an old dude. This show suit well to my past years. Their story trying to adjust on these era's problem, and be solved as a futuristic way of conclusion. They did it, with the more classical finishing blow as i ever seen before at my cliche 20s era show. What a match, what a show! Not much i can say again. If you interested with the style of an American video of animation, this series will be my recommendation. If you like the Shounen or the hero style, traditional way of power, this suit you well. Not much romance, no ecchi scenes to satisfy your desire. But, this show had a huge amount of action with a massive battle and contact of gun on the way through the end. Happy ending, and they live happily ever after forever. Thats my summary. This show overall shall get my 8 to show my gratitude, even i dont even fitted with MC power explanations (i dont watch their first series, i dont have a resources tho) To the detail of every section: Story shall get 8 (can not be my best story, so the 7 score was good for me) Sound at 7 (my negative was the sound too ambient and too noisy, like it close some character voice of dialogue) Art got my 7 Character take my 9 And enjoyment get my 9 Thats it, i dont get along with the art, because i dislike the american comic style. All of them can not get my 10 because really had solid explanations to be the masterpieces by my judgement. Only character really be my liking, i like how their woman be a heroine on this show. Love their action, especially with the trio woman combat. Love the way they move along, so naturally like they will life forever on that universe. Not much mentioning MC, his action combat like a Ramboo, with much funny-joke-perverted man action. Thats your typical hero on most of Holywood film, right? Just imagine it, and you will be surprised. Unexpected.

Ah I am back to the 80's again ! Even after 30 years the action, story and charismathic characters are still fresh! They did a great job with this City Hunter movie ! Sunrise brought back many good memories of that 80's action packed show that I watched a long time ago. Mokkori! Man do I missed hearing those words for such a long time... Thank you Sunrise for bringing back even as a movie all of the elements that made City Hunter a hit back in the 80's! The story for those who know this anime follows the usual pattern, Ryou and Kaori receivea request written on a board placed in Shinjuku under the code XYZ to protect someone and often that person is a beautiful grill. Well why not since Ryou is a big pervet.... This time the place ain't the 80's Shinjuku but a modern nowadays society where the technological warfare is undergoing. Despite all of that it was nice to see how our main characters adapted to this society and fit in it so naturally. The characters are the same and I mean it in a good way especially in 1080p quality.Ryou is the same womanizer who you can rely on him in time of need or his trademark Magnum, Kaori with her big hammer always brings back Ryou to his "senses" and the aiding characters such as Saeko, Umibozu, Miki never fail to fit those holes and protect Ryou's back. Also that means Saeko's "debts" are increasing each time when she manages to use Ryou so well...Well you gotta love her... Moving on the action scenes never dissapoint you at all, and I was entertained especially Ryou's accuracy as a marksman. While some of them seemed unreal compared to the one's from the 80's you can still turn a blind eye to them and enjoy them. The music as always is the BEST and bringing back the 80's cacthy songs and themes that define this whole anime series is one of the best things that can happen in a modern anime! It was a joy to almost wreck my sound system by turning on the volume to max each time the background music started. And the best thing is that it was so well coordinated with the action scenes. Regarding that I gotta mention the best scene of this movie where the bullet flying milimeters near Kaori's hair showing her trust in her partner Ryou that it will hit the target and their perfect chemistry as a duo, the catchy background music during that scene...oh ...the feelling you get from that can't be put in words as a viewer... The girls are the best in both looks and personality, this show manages to bring out their traits and make you love them. That rule is applied this time to the beautiful client that Ryou must ensure her safety. In the end you either hate or love her but this movie makes her memorable in both aspects: beauty and personality. Main problem that this movie has and most of the City Hunter movies is the predictable plot and outcome.. but despite that we still watch it and enjoy it right? Because despite all of that deep down you hope that our hero Ryou will save the day and do his job of protecting that girl until the end. As a conclusion if you are a fan of this show I think you will enjoy and like this movie as Sunrise intented to do by combining all of the succes elements in this movie that made City Hunter a hit during the 80's !

Merchandise

Links may contain affiliate references

Studio

Producers

Themes