Based on the novel by Ryu Murakami, Love & Pop marks the live-action feature debut of Hideaki Anno, the visionary creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion, one of the most celebrated anime series of all time.
Radical in its stylistic approach to teenage ennui, the film navigates the seedy streets of Shibuya with handheld digicams, distorted lenses, and a barrage of unconventional camera angles. Criminally underseen for years, Love & Pop remains a singular portrait of Japanese youth coming of age at the turn of the 21st century. Following the massive success of Neon Genesis Evangelion in the late '90s, Anno ventured into live-action filmmaking for the first time. His frenetic, expressive animation style found new life through handheld mini DV cameras and rapid-fire editing, resulting in a wholly original take on a dark Tokyo subculture.
Since its debut, Love & Pop has rarely screened in North America, developing a cult following among arthouse cinephiles. Now, it has been newly restored in 2K.