Synopsis
Nishi is a loser who has a crush on his childhood girlfriend. After an encounter with the Japanese mafia, he journeys to heaven and back, and ends up trapped in an even more unlikely place.
Mind Game (2004) is a 1h 43min animation feature film by Masaaki Yuasa. Nishi is a loser who has a crush on his childhood girlfriend.
Key facts
Cast
Koji Imada, Sayaka Maeda, Takashi Fujii, Seiko Takuma, Tomomitsu Yamaguchi, Toshio Sakata, Jôji Shimaki, Rintaro Nishi
Original language
Japanese
First release
August 7, 2004 (Belgium)
Production companies
Studio 4°C
Awards
Ōfuji Noburō Award
Crew
Screenplay
Masaaki Yuasa
Producer
Eiko Tanaka, Masarô Toyoshima, Munetoshi Matsuo, Rika Hatakeda, Yutaka Suzuki
Editing
Keiko Mizuta
Music
Seiichi Yamamoto
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Busan International Film Festival 2026 generic - Special Program in Focus – Japanese Animation
- International Film Festival Rotterdam 2023 generic
- Hallucinations Collectives 2021
- Tokyo International Film Festival 2018 generic
- Belfast Film Festival 2016 generic
- San Sebastián International Film Festival 2013 generic
- Fantasia International Film Festival 2005 ★ Best Film (Jury); Best Director (Jury, shared); Best Script (Jury); Special Award for Visual Accomplishment; Best Animated Film (Audience)
Titles
| Original title | Mind Game | Japanese |
| Alternate title | Mindgame |
Soundtracks
| CD | Mind Game Original Soundtrack (2004) | 2 releases, 2004-2024: Beyond C.Records, Rambling Records |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Belgium | August 7, 2004 |
| Theatrical | Japan | August 7, 2004 |
| Theatrical | Germany | February 6, 2011 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | August 1, 2024 |
| Streaming | South Korea | October 2, 2025 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 15 |
Versions & editions
| Original version (Japanese) | ||
| Home video | Australia | December 3, 2008 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | April 30, 2018 |
| Home video | Italy | June 24, 2025 |
Full credits
| Director | Masaaki Yuasa |
| Cast | Koji Imada (Nishi (voice)), Sayaka Maeda (Myon (voice)), Takashi Fujii (Jiisan (voice)), Seiko Takuma (Yan (voice)), Tomomitsu Yamaguchi (Ryou (voice)), Toshio Sakata (Father of Myon and Yan (voice)), Jôji Shimaki (Yakuza boss (voice)), Rintaro Nishi (Yakuza (voice)), Kenichi Chujou (Atsu (voice)) |
| Screenplay | Masaaki Yuasa |
| Producer | Eiko Tanaka, Masarô Toyoshima, Munetoshi Matsuo, Rika Hatakeda, Yutaka Suzuki |
| Executive producer | Eiko Tanaka, Takaaki Kusaka, Yasushi Shiina |
| Editing | Keiko Mizuta |
| Music | Seiichi Yamamoto |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
