In conjuction with the release of Ghost In The Shell: Innocence publisher Palgrave Macmillan has also decided to release a book called Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii, which is a comprehensive guide of his works and career.
Written by Brian Ruh, Stray Dog is an excellent work, in the sense that not only does it give a comprehensive overview of his work, it also gives the reader insight into the mind of Oshii and how this is readily seen in his films. Though most Americans may be unfamiliar with his name, many will recognize the landmark film which raised the bar of Japanese animation Ghost In The Shell. This film which Oshii directed, has been critically acclaimed to be one of the greatest animated films of all time.
Oshii's work in general contains a very existentialist philosophy. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Oshii's work actually elevates the genre to an entirely new level, giving viewers insights into a new world. Oshii is a dog lover, so the name stray dog is fitting. In other interviews he has compared himself to a dog, and in the industry in which he works, he film style is probably the reason Ruh refers to him as a "stray dog."
Stray Dog is the first manuscript in which a comprehensive analysis is not only done of films, but also his mind set. The only major flaw I see in the book is the absence of the man himself, Mamoru Oshii. However this isn't Ruh's fault. He did take a flight to Japan to interview Oshii, only to find that he was ill and unable to participate in the interview.
In the books opening chapter, Ruh outlines Oshii's background and briefly examines his history. In the following chapters, Ruh gives an detailed outline of each of his works. Some of his work, such as on films such as Gatchaman is hardly mentioned, while other projects he has worked on and directed is lumped into an entire chapter, in the case of Red Spectacles.
Ruh's writing is concise and distinct. He has examined everything that Ruh has ever published, and offers his own conclusions as well as opinions. Ruh admits in the book that Oshii is very evasive in both his films and interviews, rarely giving a straight answer.
This book has the current advantage of being one of the few books about Mamoru Oshii. However, exclusiveness is not enough to recommend this book. For those who are fans of Oshii's work or anime in general, this is a detailed and excellent read.
