Anime Movie Review: Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish

**spoiler-free!**

Plot summary: Kumiko, also known as Josee, is a young woman who uses a wheelchair but is prevented by her overprotective grandmother from going outside on her own, as she is afraid Josee will be harassed or hurt by cruel strangers. They meet Tsuneo by chance one night, a university student who is eager to earn money so he can study abroad in Mexico. Grandmother decides to hire Tsuneo as Josee’s informal caretaker, and he chooses to use his new job to help Josee explore the city against her grandmother’s wishes.

As soon as I saw the trailer, I was like “this is exactly the type of movie I would like” and I was right! For just a 98 minute movie, they really do jam pack a lot of story into it, and I was fully compelled the entire way through. Like, I had planned to watch this movie in parts because I thought I was too tired for a whole movie but I ended up watching it in one sitting because I was so invested (side note, the animation is amazing)!

First of all, I was very glad to finally see an anime romance movie having to do with college aged people/adults in their 20s. If you follow this blog you know I love a good cute high school rom com, but adults deserve cute love stories too, and I think Josee is a very good one if that’s the kind of content you’re looking for.

I also was glad to see an anime protagonist in a wheelchair, but I was a bit wary as I know stories about disabled people told by abled people are sometimes filled with harmful stereotypes. I’ll admit I haven’t looked into who actually wrote this story; for all I know they could be a wheelchair user. And of course I am not a disabled person so take my opinion on all this with a grain of salt, but I did think this movie avoided some of the common harmful stereotypes I’ve seen in other movies with disabled characters.

For example, Josee never implies that using a wheelchair is ‘restrictive’ or something, and she likes herself the way she is. However, there were other moments where I was like ehhhh that’s questionable, but I really don’t know what I’m talking about lol so I’m very curious as to what a disabled person/someone who uses a wheelchair thought of this movie. If that’s you, please share your thoughts below if you want!

Overall though I did really enjoy it, but I am the type to enjoy sappy trope-filled romdrama slice of life stories, so if that’s not your thing you probably won’t like this either lol. It definitely has some very ridiculous tropey scenes. But if you do like this kind of stuff (think Horimiya, Your Lie in April, Your Name), I highly highly recommend it because you will almost definitely cry!

Thanks for reading!

-threecheersforinking

Anime Review: The Boy and the Beast

**spoiler free!**

I’ve seen a few of Mamoru Hosoda’s other works, like Mirai, Wolf Children, and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of them but I think The Boy and the Beast (2015) might be my new favorite.

A quick summary: The Boy and the Beast is about a young boy named Ren who runs away from his extended family after his mother’s death. On the streets, he encounters a frightening beast man named Kumatetsu who recruits Ren as his disciple. Kumatetsu is in training to become the new lord of the beast realm, so he needs to find somebody to train to prove that he is worthy of being the Grandmaster’s successor. As he grows up, Ren begins to grapple with his place in the world, both in the beast realm and in the human realm as well.

This movie is fairly long as far as animated movies typically go; it runs at a minute shy of 2 hours, and they do jam pack a lot of content into that two hours. I was worried that I would be bored or it would get slow, but the movie does a great job of compelling you the entire time through. Both the beast world and the cityscape of Shibuya are fleshed out and complex settings, and I particularly loved the creative choice to show some shots of the busy streets of Shibuya through security camera footage.

Ren is a great protagonist, because you get to see him grow and develop from a bratty child into a strong, intelligent fighter. All of the characters are vibrant and life-like, and I particularly loved the portrayal of the relationship between Kumatetsu and Ren. The movie focuses a lot on mentor/child relationships and it is incredibly heartwarming.

As always with my movie reviews, I like to state whether or not I think the film is appropriate for children, and I think this one definitely is! There are a few scary and sad moments throughout the film, and there’s some mild violence/swordfighting scenes, but overall it is very safe and would be a great watch for the whole family.

I hope you liked this review, and if you haven’t seen it yet, go watch The Boy and the Beast. Thanks for reading!

-threecheersforinking

Movie Review: Mirai

**this review is spoiler-free!** 

Mirai (or Mirai no Mirai) is another work by Mamoru Hosoda, creator of films such as The Boy and the Beast, Wolf Children, and The Girl who Leapt Through Time. Unfortunately, in my opinion this film is on the weaker side compared to those classics.

Mirai tells the story of four year old Kun, whose parents just brought home a new baby sister named Mirai, who has completely disrupted his world. In a sudden change of roles, Kun’s mom is going back to work and his dad is staying home to take care of the children, introducing another element of chaos to the household. While he struggles to come to terms with this new reality, Kun is visited by family members of the past, present, and future who offer help and support as he goes about his days as a new big brother.

The magical sequences where Kun falls into the world of his relatives are undeniably the best part of the film. They have a very melancholy feel akin to works by Miyazaki or Shinkai, and the animation is absolutely beautiful.

I’ll be honest, it was a bit grating to see Kun go through his bratty ‘I don’t want a sibling’ phase, but if you’ve ever interacted with a young child in this situation (or been one yourself) Mirai is actually a very accurate depiction of the ways an older child can feel neglected when they’re no longer their parents’ center of attention. However, while it was definitely well done, it is still kind of rough having to watch a toddler have a tantrum for approximately 1/3 of a movie.

In these reviews, I always like to let people know if a movie can be watched with the whole family (because it’s super fun to introduce young kids to anime!) but I’m not 100% sure about this one yet. Most of this movie seemed like it would be appropriate for very young kids with the exception of one scene. Towards the end of the film there is a sequence that contains very weird, surrealist horror (meant to imitate a ‘nightmare’) that’s probably the only thing that would prevent me from recommending this movie to super young children.

Overall, if you’re a fan of Hosoda’s other work, I’d say this is worth a watch (it’s currently available on Netflix). For anyone else, it’s definitely still enjoyable but I would recommend watching Wolf Children or The Girl Who Leapt Through Time over Mirai.

Thanks for reading!

-threecheersforinking

Anime Movie Review: A Whisker Away/Nakineko

**spoiler-free review!**

A Whisker Away is the story of Miyo (or Muge, as her classmates call her), a middle schooler who gains the ability to change into a cat after meeting with a mysterious mask seller at a summer festival. At school, her crush Hinode doesn’t give her a second glance, but in her cat form she’s able to spend time with him, after he started feeding her and named her Taro. Throughout the film, Miyo struggles to find a place where she can fit in, whether that’s as a cat, or as a human.

I was kinda skeptical at first of the concept of this movie. I watched the trailer when it came out a few months ago and got intense creepy stalker vibes; I don’t think I need to explain why. And especially at the beginning of the film, yeah, Miyo is a bit creepy in how she talks to and fantasizes about Hinode. In fact, her best friend Yoriko directly tells her she’s being ‘stalkerish’. However, rather than her behavior being a serious concern or a bad example, the movie makes it clear that Miyo is simply in a state of childish infatuation.

While I wouldn’t condone some of her creepy/obsessive actions early in the film, it’s important to note that Miyo is ~13 years old, with clear attachment/abandonment issues. As the film progresses she develops healthier ways of expressing her affection for Hinode, and I think they do well at explaining her behavior without making excuses for it.

On a related note, the movie does a great job of introducing tough themes like divorce/step-parents, and the struggles and pressure that sort of situation can place on children. My parents are divorced, so personally I was able to empathize with Miyo during these high-tension situations.

Stylistically, the animation is excellent. Each of the character’s movements are so unique to their personality, and little touches like untucked shirts, messy hair, etc. help characterize the protagonist before she even says a word. Creative angles are used throughout the film to help you understand certain characters’ perspectives, literally. The music is really lovely as well, it creates a magical, mysterious aura to go along with the mystical elements of the plot.

I think what really touched me about this movie is that I have a feeling I would’ve been obsessed with it, if I watched it as a child. Something about the simple storytelling is reminiscent of a Disney movie, like the type of kids movie where you don’t have to think too much. As much as Studio Ghibli films are made for kids, many of them have a mature element to them, or an aspect that you won’t understand fully until you’re an adult. A Whisker Away is simple and straightforward, in a good way. If you know any younger kids, this is the perfect movie to watch with the whole family, and it’s a great introduction to anime!

(Btw: I watched it subbed on Netflix, and I’m not sure how many dubs are currently available, but they will be releasing more)

I would highly recommend watching A Whisker Away. It’s not super deep, but it explores complicated themes in an easy-to-understand way, as well as being excellent storytelling with an entertaining plot that will entice anyone of any age. Thanks for reading!

-threecheersforinking

Underrated Anime Movie: Wolf Children

Wolf Children or Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki was one of the first anime movies I ever watched, and after spending time in the anime community for a long while after watching, I was shocked at how little I heard people talking about this movie. Wolf Children is a Slice of Life that focuses on a young mother, Hana, who is struggling to raise two half wolf, half human children without the help of their father.

This movie brings attention to the difficulties that single parents face and how much work it takes to take care of children. Hana’s job as a single mother to two young children is difficult enough as it is, but the fact that these are children who are part wolf makes it even more difficult, as you can imagine. She is unsure of how to handle certain situations where their wolf side causes trouble, and she has no one to ask for advice about these unique challenges.

One of the most poignant scenes in the film is when Yuki, Hana’s oldest, eats a silica gel packet while in her half-wolf form and is very sick. Hana stands in a phone booth between a children’s hospital and a veterinary hospital, panicking while debating which one she should bring her sick child to.

There are so many beautiful moments in Wolf Children, and the symbolism and emotional nuances are fantastic. Weather plays a strong symbolic role in this film, and in some aspects not very subtly. The oldest child is named Yuki, which means snow, and the younger one is named Ame, which means rain.

While the children appear to be the main focus on the surface, especially as they age and develop their own unique personalities, Hana and her own personal journey are the true story. It’s a pleasure to get to see her development, especially when a lot of anime tend to have one-dimensional parent characters.

I would definitely recommend giving Wolf Children a shot! It’s so heartfelt and emotional, and if you have a loving parental figure in your life who struggled to get you to where you are today, you will be left with extreme gratitude. There is also a manga adaptation of the film which is also a great read if you’re interested in the story.

Thanks for reading,

-threecheersforinking

Movie Review: My Neighbors the Yamadas

My Neighbors the Yamadas is a 1999 Studio Ghibli movie directed by Isao Takahata, the director of Grave of the Fireflies. This movie is supposed to be about an average Japanese family navigating the struggles and frustrations of everyday life. As someone who generally enjoys the Slice of Life genre, I expected to be thoroughly entertained, but unfortunately I just found My Neighbors the Yamadas painfully boring.

I try not to rate anime on any sort of numerical scale when writing my reviews, but this one would definitely be scored pretty dang low. It took me two tries to watch this movie, and the second time it took me about three days to actually finish it. I was surprised, because I generally like Isao Takahata’s work.

Firstly, the animation style is a bit odd; the film is allegedly supposed to be reminiscent of a comic strip, both in the character design and the episodic scenes that made up the entire film. But I really just did not enjoy looking at it. It reminded me of early 2000s Western cartoons; simple shapes for heads, and very little detail. This is obviously a stylistic choice and doesn’t necessarily make a film ‘bad’, but in my opinion the story just wasn’t strong enough to carry such a unique art style. I will say, however, that some of the more detailed animated scenes were extremely well done and beautiful to look at. I just had difficulty with the character design.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya is another Studio Ghibli movie told in a simpler, more sketchy animation style, but for some reason I found that one more appealing to watch; this may have just been because the story was stronger. Kaguya was also directed by Isao Takahata.

Secondly, I kind of felt like the family were all huge assholes? I understand that the point was to show an average family bickering and being flawed, but at times it was difficult to root for them and I just found myself being annoyed by their antics. They were all just downright rude to each other and sometimes others, and while I know that families bicker and fight it was unpleasant to watch, especially considering there was no actual plot and their bickering was the only thing that was happening.

The film did have some nice commentary on unconditional familial love and the difficulty of marriage, and there were certainly wholesome and funny moments that had me laughing and smiling. My favorite part of the whole movie was when the grandma tried to convince a scary thug revving a motorcycle outside their home to become a local hero by using his loud voice and commandeering personality for good. It definitely wasn’t all bad, but those funny scenes were few and far between and definitely not worth the other 80% of the film where I was essentially forcing myself to continue watching.

If anyone is looking for a more appealing family-based Slice of Life, I’d highly recommend Only Yesterday (1991), another Studio Ghibli film that isn’t very well known. It felt a lot more relatable and genuine, and has a slightly more palatable art style. Oddly enough, it was also directed by Takahata.

Despite my complaints, I would still say give it a shot if you’re interested. My Neighbors the Yamadas definitely isn’t objectively bad, it just didn’t really align with my personal tastes. I can honestly see why a lot of people would like it. It’s just not for me!

Thanks for reading, 

-threecheersforinking

WIL: A Silent Voice

*Why I Love*

This is a new series of reviews called ‘Why I Love’. I want to get into more detail with these than I usually do with Why You Should Watch, and because I get pretty spoilery they aren’t necessarily trying to convince anyone to watch it, I just want to get my thoughts out! Feel free to share yours as well!

*spoilers ahead*

A Silent Voice (/The Shape of Voice/Koe no Katachi) is an anime movie about a Deaf girl, Shoko Nishimiya, and the boy who used to bully her, Shoya Ishida.

WYSW: Your Name

*why you should watch*

Now, I know Your Name got a ton of hype when it came out (and imo it deserved every minute of that hype) but there is definitely still a chance that some anime lovers out there have not seen it. I am here to make the case that you MUST.

So I just rewatched Your Name for the third time the other night, and cried just like I did the first time I saw it (and the second time...). Your Name, or Kimi No Na Wa, was released in 2016 and took the anime world by storm. It was so popular that it even took the non-anime world by storm; I was surprised at how many non-weebs I heard talking about this film. Which is great!

This movie is a wild ride from start to finish with plenty of twists, and in an effort to be as non-spoilery as possible I will not be talking much about the plot. There is one thing that is revealed pretty much immediately though that I think is alright to mention:

The two protagonists, Mitsuha (a girl from the countryside) and Taki (a boy from Tokyo) find themselves switching bodies at random, activated by when they sleep.

This is a Makoto Shinkai movie, and if you’ve been following this blog at all you’ll know that I am the biggest nut for Shinkai; the artistry in his films is unmatched. But I believe this movie had such a strong reception because the story was just as fantastic as the visuals.

In an age where (American) media appears to be extremely repetitive and reusing the same stories over and over again for profit, watching such an original, surprising plot is a breath of fresh air.

(Of course, no story is truly original, and every story takes influences from ones that came before it. However, there is a clear difference between a movie like Your Name and like, the fifth iteration of a live action Disney movie or something.)

Before this gets too long, I also want to mention that the characters are absolutely fantastic. Both protagonists are really fleshed out and likable, and both of them in their respective communities have the best friends EVER. I always lose it at how loyal and loving these character’s friends are.

Anyway, in this house we stan Makoto Shinkai. Watch Your Name!!!

-threecheersforinking

Underrated Anime Movies 3/?

Number 3/?: Anthem of the Heart (Kokoro ga Sakebitagatterunda)

(this review is SPOILER FREE!!!)

Now, before anyone yells at me I was unsure if I should call this anime “underrated” because I actually don’t know how well known/well liked it is in the anime community, I just know that within my own anime circle no one else has seen it, so I’m gonna call it underrated ok???

But anyway, this movie is so so great. It has one of the best personifications of anxiety/depression/mental illness I’ve ever seen, and is a really unique storyline that uses fairy-tale elements executed in a modern setting.

The story is as follows: the protagonist Jun Naruse was a big chatterbox as a child, until she told a big secret that destroyed her family as she knew it. Ever since then, she is unable to speak for very long without feeling intense pain. However, she soon discovers there is one exception to this rule, which is a bit of a spoiler so you’ll have to watch to find out :)

Anthem of the Heart was made by Studio A-1 Pictures, which is also responsible for some of my favorite anime of all time such as Your Lie in April, The Promised Neverland, Erased, and Anohana (among others) so it’s almost a no brainer that this movie would be something I specifically would like.

If you like music, that’s another reason to watch Anthem of the Heart. All of the main characters are singers/musicians/performers, and the main plot centers around putting on a class show. One of the characters actually rewrites lyrics to famous instrumental pieces, and these re-written songs are featured in the movie and sound hella cool.

Also, if you need more convincing, Isla McTear did a review of this movie on the Mother’s Basement channel and the video is titled “The Best Film you’ve Never Seen” (this video doesn’t spoil but it reveals more about the plot than what I’ve written, if you want to go into it completely blind maybe hold off from watching):

https://youtu.be/t1XW4m7JBZA?t=27

So what are you waiting for?? Add Anthem of the Heart to your watch list ASAP!!

Thanks for reading,

-threecheersforinking

Weathering with You: Review

(this review is SPOILER FREE!!!)

I was lucky enough to see Weathering With You the other day, and just wanted to quickly document my thoughts on it! (/thoughts on Makoto Shinkai’s work as a whole)

So right off the bat, if you liked Your Name, I’m fairly certain you’d enjoy this movie too. It’s definitely different and its own thing, but in my opinion it still has the same beauty and magic that Makoto Shinkai does best.

I’ve become a big Makoto Shinkai fan recently, watching some of his other films like 5 Centimeters Per Second and Garden of Words, but the fact that most people haven’t heard of those films while Your Name was a worldwide phenomenon is pretty telling of Shinkai’s growth and also skill as a director.

(gif from 5 Centimeters per Second)

Makoto Shinkai’s work has always been undeniably beautiful. I mean, look at it. If you enjoy animation or enjoy drawing or just enjoy looking at pretty stuff, I’d recommend pretty much anything he’s ever done.

If you actually care about plot and compelling narratives however, I think I’d only be recommending Your Name and Weathering with You. His other films, in my opinion, seem to prioritize style over substance and while they are beautiful, I didn’t get much out of the story.

(gif from Garden of Words)

However if we’re putting Shinkai’s work was on a scale, Weathering with You is definitely nearer to the Your Name side than any of the others. It takes inspiration from Japanese folklore, has really compelling, cool, and likable characters, and a unique semi-fantastical plot line.

This review quickly turned into a Makoto Shinkai commentary so I’m just gonna wrap it up here. Weathering with You is a beautiful spectacle, and I’d highly recommend seeing it in theaters if you’re lucky enough, but if not, waiting until you can see it online.

Thanks for reading!

-threecheersforinking