Movies and Aikido, Aiki Anime?

I was wondering if anyone knew of movies or animated films available in the U.S. depicting aikido other than those with Steven Segal. Japanese films would be of particular interest. Thank you.

I can't think of any aikido anime .....

Best I can recall is "Yawara!" The main character is a judo player. In a nut shell, the series ran for 124 television episodes, started in 1989, and ended in 1992.

For more information, try

JudoGirl.Com

Regards,

Paul

I seem to remember Sean Connery use aikido-like techniques in the movie "Rising Sun". Wesley Snipes was in the foreground fighting hoodlums using karate/kungfu with a lot of high kicks. He was jumping around like a cat with it's tail on fire. Connery on the other hand was calm and didn't even once raised his feet to kick. Can't remember which techniques he used but they sure look like aikido to me. Watch it and decide for yourself.

Ranma 1/2 depicted almost every fighting style there is outhere (in a very funny, outrageous manner) including some you´ve never heard of (combat gymnastics anyone? iceskating? baking?) And I remember in Samurai II (Miyamoto Musashi´s biopic, played by Toshiro Mifune)after a victorious duel, he encounters an O´Sensei lookalike figure (couldn´t be him, Mushashi´s exploits occurred in late 16th century) who deplores Musashi´s reliance on his exceptional strength. He advices him to give up his ways but his message does not get to him at first...

about Rising Sun, I think someone on this board said that he was actually an Aikidoka. I don't know if that movie started him on it or if he used it because he knew it. I haven't seen it, but I might now. Thanks for that tip.

re: Ranma 1/2

Originally a comic (manga) by Rumiko Takahashi. Bound volumes of the 38 volume tale should be available at major bookstores. I'd suggest persuing one or two to see if you'll like it. The anime follows the manga fairly closely for a season or two, then diverges. The manga is considered "cannon" as Takahashi had the most creative control there.

re: Rising Sun

Based on Michael Crichton novel by the same name. If you like this movie (and consider the fight scenes to contain aikido) let me recommend:

Fist of Legend --- which I'd recommend to nearly anyone, actually....

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to adjust my pocket protector .....

Regards,

Paul

About Rising Sun - I'm pretty sure I saw Connery do some uchikaiten-nage things towards the end there. . .besides some other stuff.

Anime. . .been watching for years, but haven't really seen much aikido . Well, there was one kotegaeshi in Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (movie), but that looked more like jiu-jitsu than aikido anyway. . .As to Ranma, have never seen _aikido_ depicted in Ranma, but then, I don't like Ranma very much and haven't seen enough to judge.

There's the John Frankenheimer movie



The Challenge with Toshiro Mifune and Scott Glenn which I highly recommend (Steve Seagal is credited as martial arts coordinator); Batman threw Robin into a vat of goo with kaitenage in

Batman & Robin which I do not recommend.