Fade back to the apartment where the woman stirs in her bed. She sees her tiny friend marching triumphantly across the floor. She smiles at him, and he fades away before her eyes. Renewed and exuberant once again, the woman throws open her sealed window and revels in the sunlight, the wind playfully tossing her hair as she smiles down on Joy Street. This marvelous short did not belong on the same DVD with the other films. It is not even noir, for that matter. However, in keeping with our theme, sometimes the most delightful prizes are found in the most unexpected places, and they are all the sweeter for it.

Finally, I came across a gratifying surprise that stands out for both quality and uniqueness of style. The anime trilogy Memories dates back to 1996, but has only recently appeared on DVD. Katsuhero Otomo, a name instantly recognizable as the mastermind behind Akira and Steamboy, presents the tales. All three short films are of very good quality, but the final one (directed by Otomo himself) truly raises eyebrows. Otomo’s film Cannon Fodder is notable because it steps far outside of the visual and narrative content found in more typical anime. Contrast this film with the preceding one on the DVD (“Stink Bomb”) and the stylistic differences are immediately apparent.

Otomo places his film at some indeterminate point in the future where an entire city has become a deadly fortress and every domicile seems to house menacing cannon. Here lives a family under militaristic rule including a young boy who dreams of commanding a mighty gun crew. The lad’s education consists of nothing but the mechanics of aiming cannon, and no one in the dark, crowded city seems to be concerned with little else. His father goes to work each day loading a mile-long cannon, a dreary, hazardous job requiring dozens of steps just to fire a single shell at an unseen enemy.

Otomo’s film Cannon Fodder is notable because it steps far outside of the visual and narrative content found in more typical anime. It’s included on the recently released DVD Memories.

One minor mistake by a single individual results in terrible punishment for the entire loading team in this cold, totalitarian society. There is considerable question as to whether or not an enemy actually exists. Not until the very climax of the film does Otomo tip his expert hand, and, even at that point, several interpretations may still be possible.

With this film, Otomo makes a severe indictment against both militarism and the economic and political complexes that support it. The predominant color in “Cannon Fodder” is red, recalling the monolithic Soviet state. Posters seen in a train station are reminiscent of those seen on Communist kiosks and the lettering on them is vaguely Cyrillic. Later in the short, the boy’s crayon-drawn fantasy sequence morphs into a parody of Soviet propaganda cartoons. Throughout the film, the symbol of Hitler’s SS also appears in various places, and one shift supervisor even resembles the Führer. The State motto blares over radio and television, “Shoot and blast with all your strength for our country.” The citizens wholly accept the necessity of devoting their lives to lobbing shells into the far distance and every evening glowing reports of victory are broadcast in the best Orwellian fashion.

Anti-war films such as Grave of the Fireflies and Barefoot Gen are common to anime, but Otomo harkens back even further, taking as his inspiration European propaganda films of the 1940s. The theme extends to the animation — Nothing (save for a few backgrounds) much resembles anything found in anime. Therein lies the shock of the unexpected. The hollow-eyed, drab style used for the characters and overall design strongly suggests the sort of work found in the Communist bloc during WWII or in the immediate postwar period. Nestled within an anime trilogy, Otomo’s film is a striking statement that channels Eastern European propaganda films while transcending any particular culture or style of animation.

Because animation finds its source in human imagination, unpredictable delights can appear from anywhere, at any time. The first piece highlighted in this column is European. The second originated from a commercial network. The third piece is by an American independent and the final one comes from Japan. All that is truly required to appreciate the surprises animation has to offer is an open mind, a modicum of discriminating taste, and a respect for creativity that includes artists of every stripe. You will then have no need to seek out the unexpected; indeed, it will come looking for you.

Martin “Dr. Toon” Goodman is a longtime student and fan of animation. He lives in Anderson, Indiana.