It's Day ? of shelter-in-place and honestly I've been pretty busy with remote classes and other things to do around the house. No matter how much I clean, there's always more. And I've been baking a lot too which has been rewarding in its own way. I know for some people they're getting pretty antsy at home, but I think that this is fine. When I was brushing my teeth this morning I even thought that I could live on a space ship. Obviously that was just a fleeting thought and tremendously fantastical and mildly unrealistic due to my motion sickness, but it's kind of an amusing thought. Also, since I'm in two science fiction English Lit courses this quarter, I've had some time to think about the world that Violet Evergarden lives in a little bit more.
As we all know, I couldn't stop gushing about the first season. It was so beautiful and heart-wrenching and a roller coaster all around. The movie didn't disappoint; visually it was absolutely stunning. KyoAni did an amazing job with all of the transitions and dreamy time lapses, but you don't need me to tell you that, you already know it was breath-taking.
In terms of plot, it tells the story of Violet working as a Doll, but in this strange new capacity. She's been assigned to be the tutor of Isabella York, the daughter of one of the aristocracy for the 3 months before her debut. Originally Isabella is stand-offish and seems to not fit in with the other girls that go to her all-girls private academy. Don't worry, there's no cat-fighting or anything shallow like that going on. In fact all of the girls are really wholesome and lift one another up which we love. Violet ends up as her companion and confidante during these 3 months and they become close friends. It's left pretty open-ended, so you could argue that they were more like lovers than friends, but really I'll leave that up to your interpretation. Truly in my heart of hearts I'm hoping that Gilbert somehow miraculously returns and that Violet and Gilbert can live happily ever after, but I'm not sure if that'll ever happen. :(
At the end of the 3 months Isabella has become a "proper lady" for her debut. But, before Violet leaves, Isabella reveals her past as a commoner before, living with Taylor, a little girl she adopted as her own sister, who we've been getting glimpses of all along. And then we see precious baby Taylor getting the letter from Benedict.
Three years later we meet a little more grown up Taylor who's come to Violet's workplace to become a mail deliverer and deliver happiness to the public. It's very wholesome and a real bittersweet happily ever after in the way of Taylor and Isabella's "reunion" of sorts.
Oh, and Benedict appears a lot during the movie. I know I was talking to my friend E about the show and she really liked him haha.
The movie as a whole evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia for simpler times. I mean they write and deliver letters and the world seems to move a bit more slowly than nowadays. I know that this is just a romanticization and I should be glad for how much the world has advanced, but it seems really beautiful, the way that they live in the movie. The whole world is rebuilding and there's an air of revival with the war over and everyone building and progressing as Benedict notices during his mail route. And you can see obvious signs of progress with elevators, wide-spread electricity, the radio tower (that looks a lot like the Eiffel Tower?) and more cars, but it also seems rather different and exciting.
Overall, I think the movie is really beautiful. It's touching and there's an intimately human quality about it. All of the characters seems so comfy and familiar, especially if you watched the show. But, even if you haven't, I think that you can empathize a lot with each of the characters and appreciate the storytelling that makes it seem like you're walking in step with Taylor on her mail route or you're right there crying with Benedict as he delivers Taylor's letter. The movie lets you into an intimately human realm that you can empathize a lot with in a world that's somewhat familiar to ours that helps you to immerse yourself in the world KyoAni has brought to life.
Showing posts with label anime movie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anime movie. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Anime ATM 85 Flavors of Youth
Coincidentally, about 4 days before the release of this movie onto Netflix I had actually sent the trailer to V. And then after my trip to Hawaii I ended up watching this with my favorite Canadian.
{Spoilers, maybe}
One of the first things that really got me going about this movie was the food. Albeit the food was only really the focal point of the first of the three short films that made up the movie itself, but that one short really made me glad that my favorite Canadian and I had gotten food to eat beforehand. The food shots were Ghibli-tier. You know what I'm talking about, the Ponyo shot of them eating soup that his mom made and all of that.
Beyond the food though, was this sort of quietness about the whole film. It was a reoccurring thing that tied everything together and made it a cohesive trilogy of sorts. In the first short it was about a man that kind of just walked through life and who's life seemed more like a frame through which to view the world rather than the focal piece within the frame if you know what I mean? (I just worked an 8 hour shift so I'm not certain that what I'm saying makes any coherent sense, but I didn't want to lose my motivation to write this post at all so here I am.) There was a sense of melancholy as he was narrating his childhood and his first love all revolving around that bowl of noodles that followed him since his youth. It was also very mysterious in a way because the world around him kept moving in unpredictable ways and we never really got to know what happened to the people he watched.
In a way completely different from how the first short was, the second short was a whirlwind of circumstances that were more dynamic. It was a story of a girl who was thrust into the spotlight and through this became disenchanted with this life that many people idealize. I think that this short would especially resonate with anyone who is a workaholic or who is often blinded by all of the shortcomings in life rather than the blessings.
In the third short, one that S and I both agreed was the best of the three by the end of the movie, it was a romance. I mean who doesn't love a good romance story full of drama and emotions? Sorry, that was kind of the broad summary of every romance story ever hehe. It called back a lot of memories of nostalgia, a sort of archaic and classic feeling that you can't get nowadays what with Spotify and digitalized music. There is a very romanticized feeling about it with the use of recorders, and a reverence for things that haven't changed in the face of progress or technological advancement. It's about a boy and a girl and their unspoken love for one another. The things left unsaid leave room for many unfortunate misunderstandings, however the two of them are able to come together at the very end. This short in particular was a bit of a wake-up call. The main character was almost an echo of myself, not that I study quite that hard, but just the times when I would brush my parents off or ignore them in order to study for a test. It really provoked this self-reflection in me to wonder what exactly I was studying for which was to not burden my parents and to make them proud, and to wonder why I was allowing myself to treat them so roughly because I was stressed. The main character missed out on so much because he was caught up in fulfilling his dream that he hurt the people around him. I guess, before you start to work hard, it's best to think about why you're working hard and not to neglect the present in order to achieve what you want in the future. Good lord I am just a wheel of cheesy feelings aren't I?
Anyways, this sort of vignette style of movie is one that I was not expecting. I was expecting a lot of food and for eating to be the focal point of the movie, but instead I got such a nostalgic and contemplative feeling from the movie. It really made me reflect on myself and it made me quite emotional. It was a good movie to watch with a friend, to laugh together, to discuss together, and to just enjoy hanging out with someone I don't see too often anymore. I'd recommend that you watch the movie if you haven't done so already. Each of the shorts is strong enough to stand alone and I think it's really commendable to be able to tell three successful stories that could each reach out and touch a whole wide range of audiences and for them to be melded together into one beautiful masterpiece.
{No screenshots because Netflix heh}
{Spoilers, maybe}
One of the first things that really got me going about this movie was the food. Albeit the food was only really the focal point of the first of the three short films that made up the movie itself, but that one short really made me glad that my favorite Canadian and I had gotten food to eat beforehand. The food shots were Ghibli-tier. You know what I'm talking about, the Ponyo shot of them eating soup that his mom made and all of that.
Beyond the food though, was this sort of quietness about the whole film. It was a reoccurring thing that tied everything together and made it a cohesive trilogy of sorts. In the first short it was about a man that kind of just walked through life and who's life seemed more like a frame through which to view the world rather than the focal piece within the frame if you know what I mean? (I just worked an 8 hour shift so I'm not certain that what I'm saying makes any coherent sense, but I didn't want to lose my motivation to write this post at all so here I am.) There was a sense of melancholy as he was narrating his childhood and his first love all revolving around that bowl of noodles that followed him since his youth. It was also very mysterious in a way because the world around him kept moving in unpredictable ways and we never really got to know what happened to the people he watched.
In a way completely different from how the first short was, the second short was a whirlwind of circumstances that were more dynamic. It was a story of a girl who was thrust into the spotlight and through this became disenchanted with this life that many people idealize. I think that this short would especially resonate with anyone who is a workaholic or who is often blinded by all of the shortcomings in life rather than the blessings.
In the third short, one that S and I both agreed was the best of the three by the end of the movie, it was a romance. I mean who doesn't love a good romance story full of drama and emotions? Sorry, that was kind of the broad summary of every romance story ever hehe. It called back a lot of memories of nostalgia, a sort of archaic and classic feeling that you can't get nowadays what with Spotify and digitalized music. There is a very romanticized feeling about it with the use of recorders, and a reverence for things that haven't changed in the face of progress or technological advancement. It's about a boy and a girl and their unspoken love for one another. The things left unsaid leave room for many unfortunate misunderstandings, however the two of them are able to come together at the very end. This short in particular was a bit of a wake-up call. The main character was almost an echo of myself, not that I study quite that hard, but just the times when I would brush my parents off or ignore them in order to study for a test. It really provoked this self-reflection in me to wonder what exactly I was studying for which was to not burden my parents and to make them proud, and to wonder why I was allowing myself to treat them so roughly because I was stressed. The main character missed out on so much because he was caught up in fulfilling his dream that he hurt the people around him. I guess, before you start to work hard, it's best to think about why you're working hard and not to neglect the present in order to achieve what you want in the future. Good lord I am just a wheel of cheesy feelings aren't I?
Anyways, this sort of vignette style of movie is one that I was not expecting. I was expecting a lot of food and for eating to be the focal point of the movie, but instead I got such a nostalgic and contemplative feeling from the movie. It really made me reflect on myself and it made me quite emotional. It was a good movie to watch with a friend, to laugh together, to discuss together, and to just enjoy hanging out with someone I don't see too often anymore. I'd recommend that you watch the movie if you haven't done so already. Each of the shorts is strong enough to stand alone and I think it's really commendable to be able to tell three successful stories that could each reach out and touch a whole wide range of audiences and for them to be melded together into one beautiful masterpiece.
{No screenshots because Netflix heh}
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Anime ATM 84 Fireworks {Uchiage Hanabi, Shita kara Miru ka? Yoko kara Miru ka?}
In July I had my first experience seeing an anime movie on the big screen. It was a memorable Tuesday night, in the car with my two high school friends in the seats in front of me, just making it to watch the movie in time with one of my friend's cousin who happens to go to the same uni as me. It's truly a small world.
{Spoilers}
And in the darkened ambiance of the movie theater I witnessed a movie that was probably thought of by someone on LSD. LOL well maybe not quite that, but that's the only way I can really explain it.
The reason I say it was created under the influence of drugs was because it was like a weird mashup of different time travel anime that my friends and I have watched (I say this because afterwards we had a long-winded talk about anime and the movie and how it was Steins Gate-esque (I can't say how true that is because I haven't watched that particular anime yet, but that's what all the guys were saying lol)), Spirited Away (because of that ghost train on the ocean), Free! (because swimming), Nagi no Asukara (because the girl's hair was a similar color and it was in a rural beachy environment), and Disney (because of the weird Cinderella sequence in the middle). You could probably liken it to tons more anime, but the point was it was so eerily familiar, but at the same time such a strange experience that no one really knew how to feel about it. We all just walked out kind of shook. You know what I really like though, that got me interested in the anime? The song they used for publicity. That song really does something for me. But everything other than that just seemed so bizarre.
It was basically just a bunch of misunderstandings and regrets between the two main characters and time travel to make everything more wack. At every point that the MC thought something could've gone better and resulted in a more pleasing outcome he just created an entirely new world in which that "what if" scenario became reality. However, along the way he realized that he couldn't keep running from the reality of the situation because it never felt like winning even if the fake realms held a more favorable outcome. So at the very end when the two of them are swimming in the water and looking at these wack fireworks in the sky, or maybe in the sea who even knows what was really going on, and she asks what kind of world they'll end up in next...you're left hanging. There's no real closure. What was I supposed to learn from that? That something can be visually beautiful and make absolutely no sense otherwise? Yep. That you can't run away from reality? Yep life's already taught me that one plenty of times. That morally there were a lot of questionable things in this anime but they were kind of brushed over because it was from the guy's perspective? Yep. I wonder how this would've turned out if it were told from the girl's POV. I honestly think it would've been more interesting and a more interesting twist. It's like in Haruhi Suzumiya how it would've been more interesting to see Haruhi's POV rather than Kyon's, but we weren't exactly given options to choose from now were we? Alas, what we were handed is what we've got and what I got did not leave me satisfied. It was pretty and that song gets me feeling some type of way whenever I blast it in my car, but I didn't feel like I truly enjoyed watching it.
Also this is so random but I had a life crisis when they started talking about if fireworks were circular or flat from the side. And then it messed with my mind more when he made those different worlds in which sometimes they were circular and sometimes they were flat. I wonder if that was symbolic for something. Like the side character guys who made a bet on whether they were flat or round. What was the point?
Overall, it's a fun watch I guess if you like things that end up ridiculously fantastical and have a grand mashup of a lot of things. I'm sure if you really wanted to there's a lot of things in this movie that you could analyze and unpack, but if that's what you're here for...lol idk where you got the impression that I could provide that kind of quality content for you.
{LOL there's obviously no screenshots since I saw this in theaters sorry}
{Spoilers}
And in the darkened ambiance of the movie theater I witnessed a movie that was probably thought of by someone on LSD. LOL well maybe not quite that, but that's the only way I can really explain it.
The reason I say it was created under the influence of drugs was because it was like a weird mashup of different time travel anime that my friends and I have watched (I say this because afterwards we had a long-winded talk about anime and the movie and how it was Steins Gate-esque (I can't say how true that is because I haven't watched that particular anime yet, but that's what all the guys were saying lol)), Spirited Away (because of that ghost train on the ocean), Free! (because swimming), Nagi no Asukara (because the girl's hair was a similar color and it was in a rural beachy environment), and Disney (because of the weird Cinderella sequence in the middle). You could probably liken it to tons more anime, but the point was it was so eerily familiar, but at the same time such a strange experience that no one really knew how to feel about it. We all just walked out kind of shook. You know what I really like though, that got me interested in the anime? The song they used for publicity. That song really does something for me. But everything other than that just seemed so bizarre.
It was basically just a bunch of misunderstandings and regrets between the two main characters and time travel to make everything more wack. At every point that the MC thought something could've gone better and resulted in a more pleasing outcome he just created an entirely new world in which that "what if" scenario became reality. However, along the way he realized that he couldn't keep running from the reality of the situation because it never felt like winning even if the fake realms held a more favorable outcome. So at the very end when the two of them are swimming in the water and looking at these wack fireworks in the sky, or maybe in the sea who even knows what was really going on, and she asks what kind of world they'll end up in next...you're left hanging. There's no real closure. What was I supposed to learn from that? That something can be visually beautiful and make absolutely no sense otherwise? Yep. That you can't run away from reality? Yep life's already taught me that one plenty of times. That morally there were a lot of questionable things in this anime but they were kind of brushed over because it was from the guy's perspective? Yep. I wonder how this would've turned out if it were told from the girl's POV. I honestly think it would've been more interesting and a more interesting twist. It's like in Haruhi Suzumiya how it would've been more interesting to see Haruhi's POV rather than Kyon's, but we weren't exactly given options to choose from now were we? Alas, what we were handed is what we've got and what I got did not leave me satisfied. It was pretty and that song gets me feeling some type of way whenever I blast it in my car, but I didn't feel like I truly enjoyed watching it.
Also this is so random but I had a life crisis when they started talking about if fireworks were circular or flat from the side. And then it messed with my mind more when he made those different worlds in which sometimes they were circular and sometimes they were flat. I wonder if that was symbolic for something. Like the side character guys who made a bet on whether they were flat or round. What was the point?
Overall, it's a fun watch I guess if you like things that end up ridiculously fantastical and have a grand mashup of a lot of things. I'm sure if you really wanted to there's a lot of things in this movie that you could analyze and unpack, but if that's what you're here for...lol idk where you got the impression that I could provide that kind of quality content for you.
{LOL there's obviously no screenshots since I saw this in theaters sorry}
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Anime ATM 59 K: Missing Kings
I've been a roll lately, checking off all the shows on my "to watch" list this summer, maybe because subconsciously I know that during the school year I'm going to have to hustle hard. Whatever it is I'm really enjoying watching all the shows I've been meaning to watch.
Fun fact is that I didn't actually watch this in the order you're supposed to because first you're supposed to watch K and then this movie and then K: Return of Kings. I just dived right into the second season because I didn't do enough research. Honestly though I wouldn't say that it's necessary to watch this movie in order to watch K: Return of Kings. They do a great introduction as always, so the only reason you'd need to watch it in order would be because you're a perfectionist or something. Otherwise watch at your own leisure whatever in whatever order. It's not like Fate/Stay Night where you have to watch it in a certain order or Star Wars where you can watch it chronologically or by production date or whatever.
{Spoilers}
I love the entire universe of K. I'm simply in love. Just visually the coloring that's added to so many of the scenes just adds this pop of wow that it wouldn't otherwise have. I'm all for a pop of color, but the melding of the colors that didn't scream something tacky like "Rainbow!" but instead something more harmonious because of the dark muted tones or light blending it together made it beautiful.
With the introduction of JUNGLE that's what I realized I missed because in season 2 it's like wow where'd this clan come from? All of the clans have their different dynamics. Like HOMRA is all about this gang-like mafia style (is that repetitive? Not sure). I mean their slogan "No blood. No bone. No ash." really says everything it needs to. They're intensely loyal and treat each other like family. Of course it's not as intimate as the Silver Clan which consists of 2 vassals and their King. That bond is tighter and seems more miscellaneous in a nice kitsch sort of way. And SCEPTER 2 is the actual coolest. Every time they unsheathe their swords for battle or when they're saluting someone it's just such an impact. It's a more business-like relationship between the members of the Blue Clan, but they all respect one another. Plus their section of the city is all blue which give such jivin' vibes. And then JUNGLE's dynamic is so different. It's not able building each other up per say, but more about building yourself up in a competitive setting. That's what makes it all the more unsettling.
This whole piece was very transitional. It was the search for Shiro for the Silver Clan and Shiro's decision to stop running away. It was the rise of the new Red King (Go Anna!) and the recollection of the Red Clan. It was the rising threat of the Green Clan and the introduction of its members. It was the rise in power and responsibility for the Blue King with the Gold King MIA aka dying.
I just have to add it in here that this movie is a definite advancement in Fushimi and Yata. Just had to say that because at the end when the Red and Blue Kings are talking and Yata's trying to say thanks to Fushimi for the intel his blush was so cute and if you try to deny it I will show you that clip on repeat.
Overall if you're a fan of K and everything about K you must've already watched this. If you're not so sure about the whole K fantasy world then just give it a chance. It's my favorite fantasy anime. It's the absolute best. There's so much loyalty, power, and just interrelations between characters that really make this a must-watch!!!!
Fun fact is that I didn't actually watch this in the order you're supposed to because first you're supposed to watch K and then this movie and then K: Return of Kings. I just dived right into the second season because I didn't do enough research. Honestly though I wouldn't say that it's necessary to watch this movie in order to watch K: Return of Kings. They do a great introduction as always, so the only reason you'd need to watch it in order would be because you're a perfectionist or something. Otherwise watch at your own leisure whatever in whatever order. It's not like Fate/Stay Night where you have to watch it in a certain order or Star Wars where you can watch it chronologically or by production date or whatever.
{Spoilers}
I love the entire universe of K. I'm simply in love. Just visually the coloring that's added to so many of the scenes just adds this pop of wow that it wouldn't otherwise have. I'm all for a pop of color, but the melding of the colors that didn't scream something tacky like "Rainbow!" but instead something more harmonious because of the dark muted tones or light blending it together made it beautiful.
With the introduction of JUNGLE that's what I realized I missed because in season 2 it's like wow where'd this clan come from? All of the clans have their different dynamics. Like HOMRA is all about this gang-like mafia style (is that repetitive? Not sure). I mean their slogan "No blood. No bone. No ash." really says everything it needs to. They're intensely loyal and treat each other like family. Of course it's not as intimate as the Silver Clan which consists of 2 vassals and their King. That bond is tighter and seems more miscellaneous in a nice kitsch sort of way. And SCEPTER 2 is the actual coolest. Every time they unsheathe their swords for battle or when they're saluting someone it's just such an impact. It's a more business-like relationship between the members of the Blue Clan, but they all respect one another. Plus their section of the city is all blue which give such jivin' vibes. And then JUNGLE's dynamic is so different. It's not able building each other up per say, but more about building yourself up in a competitive setting. That's what makes it all the more unsettling.
This whole piece was very transitional. It was the search for Shiro for the Silver Clan and Shiro's decision to stop running away. It was the rise of the new Red King (Go Anna!) and the recollection of the Red Clan. It was the rising threat of the Green Clan and the introduction of its members. It was the rise in power and responsibility for the Blue King with the Gold King MIA aka dying.
I just have to add it in here that this movie is a definite advancement in Fushimi and Yata. Just had to say that because at the end when the Red and Blue Kings are talking and Yata's trying to say thanks to Fushimi for the intel his blush was so cute and if you try to deny it I will show you that clip on repeat.
Overall if you're a fan of K and everything about K you must've already watched this. If you're not so sure about the whole K fantasy world then just give it a chance. It's my favorite fantasy anime. It's the absolute best. There's so much loyalty, power, and just interrelations between characters that really make this a must-watch!!!!
This made me sad because it was such a blast to the past and now Mikoto's gone forever
He's such an angsty boy smh but he's so pure too
Isn't this color just great? Yata's so cool. I love Yata.
Look at Kuroh with those sparkles though! Please validate his feelings
Ok 1. I love this translation and 2. People say Neko is just fanservice but she's actually really helpful so shush
CASUALLY fighting on the side of the building like how is this occurring?
yES
This made me happy thinking about these two swords side by side again even though it's not Mikoto's sword anymore, it's Anna's, but still. Mikoto x Reishi lives on
This was actually 4 seconds in, but it's so beautiful
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Anime ATM 58 K-On! Movie
You might or might not be wondering how I rang in my eighteenth year of life. I did so by watching this movie. It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen if I'm being honest, but it was a slow, easy, light-hearted way to start off my first moments as an adult: watching a show for middle aged men (well this is according to my friend anyways).
{What are spoilers with the whole K-On franchise anyways?}
So, this movie had no plot. It was actually just based around the fact that Yui, Ritsu, Mio, and Mugi were graduating soon and realized that they hadn't made a big impact as seniors in high school. Relatable. To remedy this they think they should give Azusa a gift to be determined when the inspiration strikes. And then they head off to London because the volleyball team was going on a graduation trip too to Hawaii. They don't speak great English for the most part, but apparently this isn't a problem because this lands them in a bunch of ridiculous scenarios like landing an accidental gig at a conveyor belt sushi store's grand opening. Or the fact that even in England they're eating Japanese food. Or they never had afternoon tea despite actually being Hokago Tea Time. But they made fun memories.
This really hit me in the feels because poor Azusa's gonna be alone next year and she's gonna either have to coerce Jun and Ui into the Light Music Club or she's gonna disband the club and just play with her senpais or she'll be the ultra senpai with a bunch of first year members. Who knows? But this movie wasn't so much about the future but more as a last hurrah for Hokago Tea Time. This was their last year and last time as high school girls altogether which made it bittersweet because me too. I was just there as a high school student ending that chapter of my life. Well, that's a lot of high school slice of life anime anyways right?
Overall, this movie has no real plot. There's not a whole lot to think about. It's full of fuwa fuwa times and good jams (see what I did there?). Watch it if you're a completionist with the K-On series or just if you want to see ridiculous shenanigans.
{What are spoilers with the whole K-On franchise anyways?}
So, this movie had no plot. It was actually just based around the fact that Yui, Ritsu, Mio, and Mugi were graduating soon and realized that they hadn't made a big impact as seniors in high school. Relatable. To remedy this they think they should give Azusa a gift to be determined when the inspiration strikes. And then they head off to London because the volleyball team was going on a graduation trip too to Hawaii. They don't speak great English for the most part, but apparently this isn't a problem because this lands them in a bunch of ridiculous scenarios like landing an accidental gig at a conveyor belt sushi store's grand opening. Or the fact that even in England they're eating Japanese food. Or they never had afternoon tea despite actually being Hokago Tea Time. But they made fun memories.
This really hit me in the feels because poor Azusa's gonna be alone next year and she's gonna either have to coerce Jun and Ui into the Light Music Club or she's gonna disband the club and just play with her senpais or she'll be the ultra senpai with a bunch of first year members. Who knows? But this movie wasn't so much about the future but more as a last hurrah for Hokago Tea Time. This was their last year and last time as high school girls altogether which made it bittersweet because me too. I was just there as a high school student ending that chapter of my life. Well, that's a lot of high school slice of life anime anyways right?
Overall, this movie has no real plot. There's not a whole lot to think about. It's full of fuwa fuwa times and good jams (see what I did there?). Watch it if you're a completionist with the K-On series or just if you want to see ridiculous shenanigans.
Okay, who drew this picture? It's almost horrifying.
AKA the catalyst for this whole movie #relatable
When they were all singing the song it was super cute so I had to add it in even though there's no audio clip to go along with it
They really just give all the L's to Yui
When you leave your whole fate up to a turtle
Who is she imitating??
Gotta love that London aesthetic
D'awh
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Anime ATM 55 Children Who Chase Lost Voices
This was one of the things that I've tried over and over to watch, but before I could get into it I'd get busy or something would come up so I never got past the opening sequence of Asuna dashing away to her hillside escape. Until last night when I decided to commit. Wowie this was a wild ride to be on at 1 am let me just tell you that right now. And dude it was the strangest thing because when they did all the scenery pans I was like wow this looks like a Makoto Shinkai work. And lo and behold it is!!! I feel really proud even though I know his work is very distinct, but please just let me feel accomplished this once.
{Spoilers}
This movie reminded me of a Studio Ghibli movie in a way because of the distinct connection to nature that you see with movies like Princess Mononoke or another of Hayao Miyazaki's works. There's just something so beautiful about how the mythology behind the Underworld/Hades/Agartha is reimagined and reinterpreted. Something that really stood out to me was how there were things in Agartha that weren't necessarily beautiful aesthetically, but they had such a great and reverent impact upon the viewer like the Quetzacoatl.
Some may say that this movie is a coming-of-age story for Asuna or that it's a romance. But I think it's much more than that. There's a lot that you can glean from this story depending on who you are and how you're willing to interpret it. It could be conveying a message warning against messing with the balance of nature with the zombie-like shadow dwellers that wanted to hunt down Asuna for not being distinctly light or dark. It could be a message to people grieving that meddling with higher powers doesn't lead to desirable results. It could be a call to arms to preserve what is dear to us and keep it close as long as we can. It could be a thrilling narrative of a little girl who was forced to grow up and how she found herself deep below the world she lived in. It could be any one of those things which is why it's such a beautiful and versatile piece.
Something kind of interesting I thought of as Mr. Morisaki and Asuna journeyed farther to the gateway of life and death was the fact that although there were no stars they still had night and day, they still had wind, and they had what looked to be northern lights. Perhaps it's magic or just an artistic interpretation of a fantasy world, but it's not very scientifically sound. Just my two cents right there.
Throughout the entirety of the movie it was full of different kinds of pacing which added to the overall feel of adventure. There were points in which Mr. Morisaki and Asuna were just traveling and you could watch and enjoy the scenery while and underlying tension developed as more of Morisaki's past was revealed and there was also parts that were incredibly fast-paced like the confrontation between the Archangels and Shin. And we can't forget the times when night would fall and BAM there were the zombies again trying to wipe out Asuna for being a mix of light and dark. Which poses the question if Asuna's dad was actually from Agartha which is why he died so early because he wasn't supposed to live on the surface. This would explain why Asuna was hunted alongside Mana. But that's just a theory. It could also explain why Mimi, a feline creature from Agartha would've had such a strong bond with Asuna in the first place.
Something else that I have to point out is the tone of the whole piece. It was the same kind of feeling you get when you step into a place where a lot of history has taken place or a place of holy meaning, not necessarily a church but a place where you feel part of something much bigger. That feeling was accentuated by the fantastical elements that surrounded the piece like the Quetzacoatl that were beings that used to roam the Earth when humanity was still young. That's a novel idea that the animals that inhabited the Earth before us were really the rulers or it. We just think of them as bones and artifacts to study, but what if they weren't just dumb animals that roamed the Earth? I think visually the muted and cool colors that were used made it that much more somber. That was so random it's just me thinking out loud.
One thing that Agartha didn't have, even though it had clavises which are cool in and of themselves were stars. Did Shun die because he fulfilled his wish of seeing stars? It was obvious that Shin was tied to Agartha out of a debt he owed, but why wasn't Shun similarly tied down with responsibility? Maybe I'm still shook over the fact that Shun died and then when Asuna almost died she was having a fun little tea party with Shun and Mimi and then she was like see ya later when I actually die.
Excuse the poor quality of these screenshots, I watched it in 360p out of convenience.
{Spoilers}
This movie reminded me of a Studio Ghibli movie in a way because of the distinct connection to nature that you see with movies like Princess Mononoke or another of Hayao Miyazaki's works. There's just something so beautiful about how the mythology behind the Underworld/Hades/Agartha is reimagined and reinterpreted. Something that really stood out to me was how there were things in Agartha that weren't necessarily beautiful aesthetically, but they had such a great and reverent impact upon the viewer like the Quetzacoatl.
Some may say that this movie is a coming-of-age story for Asuna or that it's a romance. But I think it's much more than that. There's a lot that you can glean from this story depending on who you are and how you're willing to interpret it. It could be conveying a message warning against messing with the balance of nature with the zombie-like shadow dwellers that wanted to hunt down Asuna for not being distinctly light or dark. It could be a message to people grieving that meddling with higher powers doesn't lead to desirable results. It could be a call to arms to preserve what is dear to us and keep it close as long as we can. It could be a thrilling narrative of a little girl who was forced to grow up and how she found herself deep below the world she lived in. It could be any one of those things which is why it's such a beautiful and versatile piece.
Something kind of interesting I thought of as Mr. Morisaki and Asuna journeyed farther to the gateway of life and death was the fact that although there were no stars they still had night and day, they still had wind, and they had what looked to be northern lights. Perhaps it's magic or just an artistic interpretation of a fantasy world, but it's not very scientifically sound. Just my two cents right there.
Throughout the entirety of the movie it was full of different kinds of pacing which added to the overall feel of adventure. There were points in which Mr. Morisaki and Asuna were just traveling and you could watch and enjoy the scenery while and underlying tension developed as more of Morisaki's past was revealed and there was also parts that were incredibly fast-paced like the confrontation between the Archangels and Shin. And we can't forget the times when night would fall and BAM there were the zombies again trying to wipe out Asuna for being a mix of light and dark. Which poses the question if Asuna's dad was actually from Agartha which is why he died so early because he wasn't supposed to live on the surface. This would explain why Asuna was hunted alongside Mana. But that's just a theory. It could also explain why Mimi, a feline creature from Agartha would've had such a strong bond with Asuna in the first place.
Something else that I have to point out is the tone of the whole piece. It was the same kind of feeling you get when you step into a place where a lot of history has taken place or a place of holy meaning, not necessarily a church but a place where you feel part of something much bigger. That feeling was accentuated by the fantastical elements that surrounded the piece like the Quetzacoatl that were beings that used to roam the Earth when humanity was still young. That's a novel idea that the animals that inhabited the Earth before us were really the rulers or it. We just think of them as bones and artifacts to study, but what if they weren't just dumb animals that roamed the Earth? I think visually the muted and cool colors that were used made it that much more somber. That was so random it's just me thinking out loud.
One thing that Agartha didn't have, even though it had clavises which are cool in and of themselves were stars. Did Shun die because he fulfilled his wish of seeing stars? It was obvious that Shin was tied to Agartha out of a debt he owed, but why wasn't Shun similarly tied down with responsibility? Maybe I'm still shook over the fact that Shun died and then when Asuna almost died she was having a fun little tea party with Shun and Mimi and then she was like see ya later when I actually die.
Excuse the poor quality of these screenshots, I watched it in 360p out of convenience.
I thought this was the saddest part, but then I kept watching haha
He told Asuna not to cry but then he starts tearing up. Shin is so pure
This is where I lost it and was about to cry, but then I just thought about how he would wait for her and his wish for her to live a full life and then it was okay, but was it really? Will Asuna go back to Shin and hang out with him sometimes or is she just going to graduate school and then never think about this again? Was this just an Alice in Wonderland type thing where they just pretend like their whole life was not shifted because of moments like these? I need another movie. What happens next??
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Anime Blurb 42 Koe no Katachi
KyoAni has done it again. Honestly, KyoAni is such a big part of the anime industry that if you don't know what I'm talking about then after this post go read up about it. It's pretty interesting if I do say so myself. Anyways, since my friend actually watched something on time/while it's still relevant, I'm gonna intersperse some of his commentary in here. You know who you are idiot.
{Spoilers (because his input has spoilers (jk I'm using him as a scapegoat))}
So as far as the comparison between the manga and the anime movie adaptation, my friend and I both think that the manga far surpasses the anime. We say this mostly because there's a lot left to be desired in the realm of character development/motivation and why the characters are there in the first place. For example, though Ueno is there during Shouya's hospitalization it does not reveal her motivation for being there: her love for him since childhood. While this could be inferred from the fact that she would always follow Shouya and supported him as he bullied Shouko, it is less obvious than in the manga where there was more depth to her backstory. In a similar vein, Mashiba was rendered almost absolutely useless, actually scratch that, he was useless. He did absolutely nothing except serve as Kawai's maybe love interest. He was just another body and witness to the bullying. In the manga it goes into greater depth into his character and doesn't leave the reader going "So why does he matter?" unlike in the anime. Nagatsuka was still the best friend for sure, the one to make Shouya open up to people outside of his family, but his role was majorly downplayed. He wasn't given as much development as in the manga. None of them were really developed except the two main characters. In the manga the other characters were so much more significant and impactful that it really is a shame that they weren't allowed to shine in the movie. And it wasn't even just the characters. Like what happened to the movie subplot? There was no movie-ception here and while my friend and I agree that it didn't add a whole lot to the story it was still a pretty big chunk unifying the group. Without it it seems kind of forced that they all became friends of sorts. This is to be expected as a movie is only allocated a certain amount of time, but as someone who read the manga it left a lot to be desired. This is just another example about how the books are better than the movie.
On a more positive note, they did do a phenomenal job. Like at the beginning with Shouya and his two friends. That was so great. The soundtrack, the portrayal of youth, all of it was so beautiful. It was a great montage. And then the deterioration of Shouya as he counted down to when he planned to kill himself. It was a creative way to submerge the audience into Shouya's mindset. While this was a very fluid transition as the past and present interwove, throughout the rest of the movie it seemed kind of choppy. Obviously I'm speaking from the experience of someone who has read the manga too, but without that preface I feel like it'd be really hard to get into.
Obviously the main point of this movie was to portray a different story, an unfortunate one about the aftermath of bullying its impact on everyone. Its impact is more profound because of the extra mile Shouya has to go to communicate with Shouko. Without this barrier their conflict wouldn't have been as profound and it would've been easy to dismiss this movie as a dime-a-dozen. However, with this amazing portrayal of communication, patience, and interaction a deeper bond is forged and the audience is more invested than they otherwise would be. The premise of this story is so interesting and really causes the audience to think about which character they'd be in this situation: would you be the bully? The victim? The bystander? It not only causes you to think about social constructs when it comes to delicate issues such as being different from your peers but also lends itself to self-reflection. In addition I think that even though Shouya's terrible behavior as a child should never be allowed, thinking about his motivation behind it is interesting. I mean he was a kid so he was rash and impulsive so it's interesting to think about whether or not he really knew what he was doing. Was he doing it because Shouko was seen as weak or because she was different? He grew up in such a loving household with different individuals, like his sister's husband, that it's interesting to think about the premise of his dislike of things different to him.
Another intense topic, this movie is full of them if you couldn't already tell, is suicide. This is a connected topic with bullying as bullying often leads to extreme measures such as suicide, but the way it's dealt with in the movie/manga is quite interesting. For one when Shouya's mom confronts him about it she comes out bluntly, something totally outside of societal norms. This is such a different approach to parenting but one that should be duly noted all the same. And then with Shouko's attempted suicide. It was too rushed. It was kind of overly nuanced. I came up with a theory that her visit to the doctor told her that she was losing more and more of her hearing which is why she took out her hearing aid and when they went to the summer festival together she couldn't hear the fireworks as clearly as before. This led to her wanting to take her own life, but what I don't get is why she would think that killing herself would end Shouya's suffering. I mean there's no way that her death would've made all of his past friendships the way they were in the past. So there's no logical explanation, unless of course her almost irrational mindset is used to portray the desperation and illogical behavior of one so emotionally unstable as Shouko. It's food for thought.
I love Yuzuru. She's the best character. Okay sometimes her logic is a bit skewed because she thought that posting a picture of Shouya jumping off a bridge would do serious damage, but she's still the best. The premise of her taking pictures of dead animals to keep Shouko from trying to end up like those animals was so sweet. And the fact that she avidly tries to learn sign language for Shouko's sake is truly admirable. Her heart is as big as her grandmother's.
One last thing about character and plot is why did Shouko like Shouya? Like I understand the premise of Ueno liking Shouya as a charismatic childhood friend. But Shouko and Shouya? I don't see it. I mean he treated her so badly to the point where she switched schools and when they met again she must've thought he was doing it for himself, to give himself closure. But instead she ended up liking him romantically? It was too soon, too much, and most definitely way too fast. You have to admit though that her trying to say she liked him and him interpreting as her talking about the moon was really cute.
Overall, I'd say this is an amazing movie that everyone should watch. Maybe not compared to the manga, but it's still a great movie to give you some food for thought. It's a very thought-provoking watch and sure to make you cry at least a little.
{Spoilers (because his input has spoilers (jk I'm using him as a scapegoat))}
So as far as the comparison between the manga and the anime movie adaptation, my friend and I both think that the manga far surpasses the anime. We say this mostly because there's a lot left to be desired in the realm of character development/motivation and why the characters are there in the first place. For example, though Ueno is there during Shouya's hospitalization it does not reveal her motivation for being there: her love for him since childhood. While this could be inferred from the fact that she would always follow Shouya and supported him as he bullied Shouko, it is less obvious than in the manga where there was more depth to her backstory. In a similar vein, Mashiba was rendered almost absolutely useless, actually scratch that, he was useless. He did absolutely nothing except serve as Kawai's maybe love interest. He was just another body and witness to the bullying. In the manga it goes into greater depth into his character and doesn't leave the reader going "So why does he matter?" unlike in the anime. Nagatsuka was still the best friend for sure, the one to make Shouya open up to people outside of his family, but his role was majorly downplayed. He wasn't given as much development as in the manga. None of them were really developed except the two main characters. In the manga the other characters were so much more significant and impactful that it really is a shame that they weren't allowed to shine in the movie. And it wasn't even just the characters. Like what happened to the movie subplot? There was no movie-ception here and while my friend and I agree that it didn't add a whole lot to the story it was still a pretty big chunk unifying the group. Without it it seems kind of forced that they all became friends of sorts. This is to be expected as a movie is only allocated a certain amount of time, but as someone who read the manga it left a lot to be desired. This is just another example about how the books are better than the movie.
On a more positive note, they did do a phenomenal job. Like at the beginning with Shouya and his two friends. That was so great. The soundtrack, the portrayal of youth, all of it was so beautiful. It was a great montage. And then the deterioration of Shouya as he counted down to when he planned to kill himself. It was a creative way to submerge the audience into Shouya's mindset. While this was a very fluid transition as the past and present interwove, throughout the rest of the movie it seemed kind of choppy. Obviously I'm speaking from the experience of someone who has read the manga too, but without that preface I feel like it'd be really hard to get into.
Obviously the main point of this movie was to portray a different story, an unfortunate one about the aftermath of bullying its impact on everyone. Its impact is more profound because of the extra mile Shouya has to go to communicate with Shouko. Without this barrier their conflict wouldn't have been as profound and it would've been easy to dismiss this movie as a dime-a-dozen. However, with this amazing portrayal of communication, patience, and interaction a deeper bond is forged and the audience is more invested than they otherwise would be. The premise of this story is so interesting and really causes the audience to think about which character they'd be in this situation: would you be the bully? The victim? The bystander? It not only causes you to think about social constructs when it comes to delicate issues such as being different from your peers but also lends itself to self-reflection. In addition I think that even though Shouya's terrible behavior as a child should never be allowed, thinking about his motivation behind it is interesting. I mean he was a kid so he was rash and impulsive so it's interesting to think about whether or not he really knew what he was doing. Was he doing it because Shouko was seen as weak or because she was different? He grew up in such a loving household with different individuals, like his sister's husband, that it's interesting to think about the premise of his dislike of things different to him.
Another intense topic, this movie is full of them if you couldn't already tell, is suicide. This is a connected topic with bullying as bullying often leads to extreme measures such as suicide, but the way it's dealt with in the movie/manga is quite interesting. For one when Shouya's mom confronts him about it she comes out bluntly, something totally outside of societal norms. This is such a different approach to parenting but one that should be duly noted all the same. And then with Shouko's attempted suicide. It was too rushed. It was kind of overly nuanced. I came up with a theory that her visit to the doctor told her that she was losing more and more of her hearing which is why she took out her hearing aid and when they went to the summer festival together she couldn't hear the fireworks as clearly as before. This led to her wanting to take her own life, but what I don't get is why she would think that killing herself would end Shouya's suffering. I mean there's no way that her death would've made all of his past friendships the way they were in the past. So there's no logical explanation, unless of course her almost irrational mindset is used to portray the desperation and illogical behavior of one so emotionally unstable as Shouko. It's food for thought.
I love Yuzuru. She's the best character. Okay sometimes her logic is a bit skewed because she thought that posting a picture of Shouya jumping off a bridge would do serious damage, but she's still the best. The premise of her taking pictures of dead animals to keep Shouko from trying to end up like those animals was so sweet. And the fact that she avidly tries to learn sign language for Shouko's sake is truly admirable. Her heart is as big as her grandmother's.
One last thing about character and plot is why did Shouko like Shouya? Like I understand the premise of Ueno liking Shouya as a charismatic childhood friend. But Shouko and Shouya? I don't see it. I mean he treated her so badly to the point where she switched schools and when they met again she must've thought he was doing it for himself, to give himself closure. But instead she ended up liking him romantically? It was too soon, too much, and most definitely way too fast. You have to admit though that her trying to say she liked him and him interpreting as her talking about the moon was really cute.
Overall, I'd say this is an amazing movie that everyone should watch. Maybe not compared to the manga, but it's still a great movie to give you some food for thought. It's a very thought-provoking watch and sure to make you cry at least a little.
See? You can already tell it's a great movie from this beautiful montage.
Visually this is stunning and emotionally it wrecked me.
He's actually so cute as a teenager. So innocent
She's such a great mom. There is no way not to love her.
Ah Ueno, breaking up the heartfelt moments
This is sure to be an iconic scene to live forever in history
The ending really got me. It was the alleviation of all the stress. Even the color palette reflects the lightness in Shouya's heart. For the first time since his childhood he can finally be happy. He doesn't have to be paranoid about when it's going to be taken away or the finite quality of it. He can just live his life and enjoy every second of it.
Monday, December 12, 2016
Anime Ventilation 27 Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita
MY HEART! I meant to go to sleep because I have work tommorrow, but before I did I decided to watch a JubyPhonic MV (you should watch it because it's so good https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVQ3xAxBLgk) before I slept. And boy, oh boy, am I glad I did! The song she covered was from Honeyworks which was I assume the basis for this story?
{Spoilers}
This may be just another typical shoujo anime movie, but can you ever have too many shoujo anime movies? Nope. Not until the day your heart stops beating and every last drop of romance is sucked out of you.
To be completely honest the animation isn't the greatest. The stage directions are a bit off at some points. But what it lacks in some of the more minor (in my opinion) features it makes up for in a good plot.
It follows 3 main couples (or soon to be couples :3) and their roads to falling in love. Honestly I find it hard to keep track of all of them because the movie is only an hour and there are 7 different main(ish) characters although it looks like it's mostly focused around 2 characters and their dynamic. There's nothing particularly unique about their relationships at the surface, but beyond that it's beautiful. It truly captures the innocence and impulsiveness of youth. It preserves the feeling of fleeting time that all high school kids face (heh *stares off into the distance* that's actually me right now).
Overall I'd say this is a great anime for if you've got an hour to spend watching anime and you want a whole lot of doki-doki's.
(Also cute anime boys amirite?)
{Spoilers}
This may be just another typical shoujo anime movie, but can you ever have too many shoujo anime movies? Nope. Not until the day your heart stops beating and every last drop of romance is sucked out of you.
To be completely honest the animation isn't the greatest. The stage directions are a bit off at some points. But what it lacks in some of the more minor (in my opinion) features it makes up for in a good plot.
It follows 3 main couples (or soon to be couples :3) and their roads to falling in love. Honestly I find it hard to keep track of all of them because the movie is only an hour and there are 7 different main(ish) characters although it looks like it's mostly focused around 2 characters and their dynamic. There's nothing particularly unique about their relationships at the surface, but beyond that it's beautiful. It truly captures the innocence and impulsiveness of youth. It preserves the feeling of fleeting time that all high school kids face (heh *stares off into the distance* that's actually me right now).
Overall I'd say this is a great anime for if you've got an hour to spend watching anime and you want a whole lot of doki-doki's.
(Also cute anime boys amirite?)
Aren't they just adorable?
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Anime Ventilation 26 Anthem of the Heart
JAJANG! (Lol what are my sound effects even?) Here we have another anime movie! *crowd cheers* Who knows how I even found this movie? I feel like a lot of people haven't watched this which is a tragedy since it's super fun and cute, albeit a bit disappointing sometimes. But that's ok!
{Spoilers}
So originally I thought this would be a fantasy movie. From the opening it could be. An egg narrator wearing a hat. A girl obsessed with a castle which, plot twist, turns out to be a love hotel. Oh. Yeah. But then her dad has to come out with another woman out of the love hotel. Oh. And things just don't get better from there. It's just one downhill spiral from there. Since Jun's a chatterbox of a kid she has the inability to read the nuances of adulthood much less know what to say in those times. Which is why she tells her mom about how she saw her dad commit adultery. This leads to the divorce between her parents that she blames upon herself. Although she really shouldn't be blaming herself. It was her jerk dad's fault.
There is an element of magical realism (it's an actual thing) to this because of the talking egg. This magical quality really enhances the movie and elevates it to a whole other level which couldn't have been achieved with just a depressing plot line.
The plot continues with Jun, Sakagami, Nito, and Daiki being involuntarily put onto the Community Outreach Committee. Although all of them are adverse to the idea at first, Jun sees this as an opportunity for her to find her voice again after staying mute for so many years because she blamed herself for causing her parents' split. Their plan to do a musical slowly built a supportive community for Jun, a coping mechanism for Sakagami, a way to reconnect with Sakagami for Nito, and a way for Daiki to form a new bond with his team. All four of them grow in the most beautiful way as friends and individuals. When the musical all comes together, illustrating Jun's inner thoughts and struggles it seems as though all the pieces are falling into place and things will be okay. Not quite. Instead, with Nito and Sakagami realizing that their feelings had never ebbed since junior high, Jun feels as though her prince is gone and that she's not valued. So her solution? To hide away in the castle and not perform in the musical. Sakagami chases after her which would be romantic in any other context except for the one where he's in love with Nito which is the reality of the situation. Inside the ruins of the closed down hotel Jun and Sakagami are able to clear the air and Jun is able to finally realize that her parents' split wasn't her fault and that her words weren't toxic at all. Also Jun's confession only to directly hear that he loved Nito. Ouch. >~< But after that the musical was a success and the whole class was unified through this effort. It ended on a very sweet, hopeful note with Sakagami and Nito getting together and Daiki becoming Jun's prince, which to me is ironic since at the beginning of the movie the egg said he was her prince and Daiki was the egg in the musical. Foreshadowing much?
All in all it was a very sweet but slightly dark movie. If you're looking for a little bit of fantasy, drama, and turmoil this is a great movie to watch. ( ´ ▽ ` )οΎ‰
{Spoilers}
So originally I thought this would be a fantasy movie. From the opening it could be. An egg narrator wearing a hat. A girl obsessed with a castle which, plot twist, turns out to be a love hotel. Oh. Yeah. But then her dad has to come out with another woman out of the love hotel. Oh. And things just don't get better from there. It's just one downhill spiral from there. Since Jun's a chatterbox of a kid she has the inability to read the nuances of adulthood much less know what to say in those times. Which is why she tells her mom about how she saw her dad commit adultery. This leads to the divorce between her parents that she blames upon herself. Although she really shouldn't be blaming herself. It was her jerk dad's fault.
There is an element of magical realism (it's an actual thing) to this because of the talking egg. This magical quality really enhances the movie and elevates it to a whole other level which couldn't have been achieved with just a depressing plot line.
The plot continues with Jun, Sakagami, Nito, and Daiki being involuntarily put onto the Community Outreach Committee. Although all of them are adverse to the idea at first, Jun sees this as an opportunity for her to find her voice again after staying mute for so many years because she blamed herself for causing her parents' split. Their plan to do a musical slowly built a supportive community for Jun, a coping mechanism for Sakagami, a way to reconnect with Sakagami for Nito, and a way for Daiki to form a new bond with his team. All four of them grow in the most beautiful way as friends and individuals. When the musical all comes together, illustrating Jun's inner thoughts and struggles it seems as though all the pieces are falling into place and things will be okay. Not quite. Instead, with Nito and Sakagami realizing that their feelings had never ebbed since junior high, Jun feels as though her prince is gone and that she's not valued. So her solution? To hide away in the castle and not perform in the musical. Sakagami chases after her which would be romantic in any other context except for the one where he's in love with Nito which is the reality of the situation. Inside the ruins of the closed down hotel Jun and Sakagami are able to clear the air and Jun is able to finally realize that her parents' split wasn't her fault and that her words weren't toxic at all. Also Jun's confession only to directly hear that he loved Nito. Ouch. >~< But after that the musical was a success and the whole class was unified through this effort. It ended on a very sweet, hopeful note with Sakagami and Nito getting together and Daiki becoming Jun's prince, which to me is ironic since at the beginning of the movie the egg said he was her prince and Daiki was the egg in the musical. Foreshadowing much?
All in all it was a very sweet but slightly dark movie. If you're looking for a little bit of fantasy, drama, and turmoil this is a great movie to watch. ( ´ ▽ ` )οΎ‰
I cry. Such an innocent child.
Look at this camaraderie!
My heart sank.
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Anime Ventilation 25 Garden of Words
Let's pretend that I didn't delete the note where I wrote everything I wanted to say on there...major life regrets. Sleep deprivation.
{Spoilers}
Calling all pluviophiles! (Or people in a drought like California heh)
Ah, this anime was really pretty. I've seen it floating around the Internet, images of raindrops, images of the two main characters standing on the stairway. All of it was visually stunning. Although in terms of art it's incredible, I have a few problems with the plot. Not that the plot itself is bad it's just a bit...controversial. The only reason I think this is because Takao thinks that his mom is a lush that doesn't work hard and drinks all the time. And when he meets Yukino in the park she's drinking beer in the morning and her only other food is chocolate. I don't know about you, but it seems like she's an adult drinking beer in the park...seems kind of like his mom dontcha think? Don't get me wrong, I see that they're different. She actually pays attention to him and didn't ridicule his dreams. In fact, she's the only one he ever told about his dream to design shoes. Their whole relationship is one full of longing and based solely upon one another's companionship. They build their whole relationship upon the fact that they're both there in the moment. They don't have to talk about much, but in a way that's the beauty of it. They just accept one another and find a kindred soul in a stranger. Things obviously can't stay like that. The whole movie couldn't be about their rainy day encounters because although that would be calming...it would also be too mundane for most people. The real plot twist comes when it's revealed that she's a teacher at his high school that was caught in a misunderstanding. This led to him regretting their whole companionship and made him lose trust in her. However, out of that came the cutest scene. It was the two of them at her house in such a sweet, domestic scene. You could palpably feel the calm comfort in that room. Until he just had to confess there! Which both shattered the mood, but created a very interesting series of events. It led to that beautiful picturesque scene on the stairwell...but it also led us to a very bittersweet ending. It ends off with both of them moving on. There was no real explanation why, but it could be inferred that it was because of his inexperience with life. When he left the shoes where the two of them used to meet every rainy day, with the sun peeking out from behind the clouds it was like a final farewell. It was goodbye to rainy days and running away from responsibilities. In a way, although it ended in a bittersweet way, it was more sweet than bitter because the two of them ultimately positively impacted each other's life. And that in and of itself is a beautiful thing.
All in all I think this is a great movie to watch if you've got a spare 45 minutes or so. It's a relatively short movie and I would watch more for the atmosphere and the visual aspect than anything. But it does have an aspect to it where you can start connecting dots yourself to kind of reach conclusions before they're unveiled. So it's a little bit mysterious; hey, if you like mystery maybe watch this one to unveil the secrets before they're explicitly stated!
{Spoilers}
Calling all pluviophiles! (Or people in a drought like California heh)
Ah, this anime was really pretty. I've seen it floating around the Internet, images of raindrops, images of the two main characters standing on the stairway. All of it was visually stunning. Although in terms of art it's incredible, I have a few problems with the plot. Not that the plot itself is bad it's just a bit...controversial. The only reason I think this is because Takao thinks that his mom is a lush that doesn't work hard and drinks all the time. And when he meets Yukino in the park she's drinking beer in the morning and her only other food is chocolate. I don't know about you, but it seems like she's an adult drinking beer in the park...seems kind of like his mom dontcha think? Don't get me wrong, I see that they're different. She actually pays attention to him and didn't ridicule his dreams. In fact, she's the only one he ever told about his dream to design shoes. Their whole relationship is one full of longing and based solely upon one another's companionship. They build their whole relationship upon the fact that they're both there in the moment. They don't have to talk about much, but in a way that's the beauty of it. They just accept one another and find a kindred soul in a stranger. Things obviously can't stay like that. The whole movie couldn't be about their rainy day encounters because although that would be calming...it would also be too mundane for most people. The real plot twist comes when it's revealed that she's a teacher at his high school that was caught in a misunderstanding. This led to him regretting their whole companionship and made him lose trust in her. However, out of that came the cutest scene. It was the two of them at her house in such a sweet, domestic scene. You could palpably feel the calm comfort in that room. Until he just had to confess there! Which both shattered the mood, but created a very interesting series of events. It led to that beautiful picturesque scene on the stairwell...but it also led us to a very bittersweet ending. It ends off with both of them moving on. There was no real explanation why, but it could be inferred that it was because of his inexperience with life. When he left the shoes where the two of them used to meet every rainy day, with the sun peeking out from behind the clouds it was like a final farewell. It was goodbye to rainy days and running away from responsibilities. In a way, although it ended in a bittersweet way, it was more sweet than bitter because the two of them ultimately positively impacted each other's life. And that in and of itself is a beautiful thing.
All in all I think this is a great movie to watch if you've got a spare 45 minutes or so. It's a relatively short movie and I would watch more for the atmosphere and the visual aspect than anything. But it does have an aspect to it where you can start connecting dots yourself to kind of reach conclusions before they're unveiled. So it's a little bit mysterious; hey, if you like mystery maybe watch this one to unveil the secrets before they're explicitly stated!
I think this is the most iconic image of the movie
I might be a little too obsessed with the rain and sunshine (motifs perhaps?)
Aren't these just stunning?
Absolutely beautiful. Just breath-taking.
Sigh, I have conflicting feelings about this.
Sources: http://i.imgur.com/ruxxIAp.gif, https://media0.giphy.com/media/49GpAgeHyrV72/200_s.gif, https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/1d/26/a1/1d26a13e19a8c91b9fdb8af269008979.gif, https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/66/6c/15/666c1553007a18c91c0b0d095bd776a3.gif, https://media.giphy.com/media/117tuXPBYe2Cuk/giphy.gif, https://66.media.tumblr.com/73e7741ab8b545dcdf216c51c48d8dc2/tumblr_mp11cclsmR1qbvovho1_500.gif
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Anime Ventilation 21 Kimi no Na Wa
OH MY GOODNESS WHERE HAS THIS MOVIE BEEN ALL MY LIFE WHEN I WAS AGONIZING OVER THE ENDING OF FIVE CENTIMETERS PER SECOND?! Oh right, in production.
{Spoilers}
Oh my goodness this was so amazing I can't even begin to really explain why. It's so visually breath-taking. Even in 720 p I could still tell what a beautiful thing I was watching. All of it was so beautiful; the comet, the scenery, them! The duality that's shown when it's the two of them on the mountain standing right next to each other, the only barrier between them being time, was absolutely breathtaking. Also at the beginning all of the time lapses? Those were great. Not only that, but the music was so great. It was mellow and kind of whimsical and the lyrics themselves were playful and contemplative. These two were already jaw-dropping amazing and well worth rewatching just to relive the artistically beautiful visual and audio aspect of the movie.
BUT WAIT THAT'S NOT ALL! Not just was it visually stunning which is already off the charts amazing, but the story line is amazing. It's kind of a mix of two of my top favorite anime movies The Girl Who Leaped Through Time and Five Centimeters per Second. It has the time aspect from The Girl Who Leaped Through Time in that Mitsuha lives in a timeline 3 years shifted backwards from Taki's time. This causes discrepancies and ultimately the conflict arises from this problem of time. It's truly beautiful in that the plot line is allowed to develop naturally. The two characters when they realize what's happening and that they're switching lives with each other randomly react in a relatively realistic way. The two of them try to make do as the other and disrupt the other's life as little as possible, or in Mitsuha's case she tried to improve Taki's life by setting him up on a date with his crush. But through this problem the two of them have to overcome, they begin to form a strong bond of camaraderie against this problematic situation. In this way it seems only natural for Taki to develop feelings for this girl that he's getting to know on a closer level than anyone else he knows.
The real heart-breaker though is that because of their time difference and the comet during the Autumn Festival, they never meet. At this point my soul kind of died and I thought to myself 'well there goes yet another sunken ship' until I realized that this was just the first climax in this cleverly dual climatic plot. Oh ho ho folks the show's not over yet. After this first traumatic experience when Taki realizes that he can't switch with Mitsuha anymore, he goes on a quest to her hometown only to find that it's been wrecked by the comet, leaving everyone he had encountered through her dead. This traumatic experience leads him up into the crater of a mountain where he is able to time travel back 3 years before the disaster to help Mitsuha survive this time. The two of them are able to meet once during twilight and when Taki wrote 'I love you' on Mitsuha's hand and when she saw it later, my heart melted. It really is the little things that make movies like these go from amazing to fantastic! This time when they're able to alter the timeline it seems like everything is going to go well and everyone will end up happily ever after...haha I don't think so. Life isn't so simple. Fictional life? Even less simple. The new problem is the two of them can't remember the other's name nor their time switching bodies. This is a problem because the two of them feel an absence in their life, but can't exactly explain what it is. In fact when Taki sees Tessie and Sayaka as an engaged couple he feels a vague sense of deja vu but nothing more. This frustration is infuriating. I've watched this and invested all my feelings into this and all you're giving me is deja vu and missed opportunities to find your girl?! It brings back trauma from watching Five Centimeters per Second. Speaking of that, at the end when they both run off the train to see the other and almost walk opposite ways of the stairs without even meeting eyes it brought me back to the real trauma of Five Centimeters per Second's ending. That was traumatic. This ending however wasn't so traumatic. In fact it was sweet and left a hopeful note for their future together.
All in all this is a definite must watch if you enjoy anime movies or even just anime. This has great music, fantastic art, and a story line that just got me so emotionally invested in the characters. This was seriously fantastic and if you haven't watched it yet you're seriously missing out on a magical time. Worth the hype? Most definitely.
Ready for the picture spam that comes with amazing anime with amazing visuals?
Sources: http://i.imgur.com/5eDEiYi.jpg, https://66.media.tumblr.com/0767b03cf9ff0ad85adba525205ab0d5/tumblr_o9mrvnCldT1tcr2fko1_540.gif, https://images.alphacoders.com/737/thumb-350-737491.png, https://49.media.tumblr.com/efc67448bb053ac31bf856623433c2b6/tumblr_nz5991rWv61r7jzano1_540.gif
{Spoilers}
Oh my goodness this was so amazing I can't even begin to really explain why. It's so visually breath-taking. Even in 720 p I could still tell what a beautiful thing I was watching. All of it was so beautiful; the comet, the scenery, them! The duality that's shown when it's the two of them on the mountain standing right next to each other, the only barrier between them being time, was absolutely breathtaking. Also at the beginning all of the time lapses? Those were great. Not only that, but the music was so great. It was mellow and kind of whimsical and the lyrics themselves were playful and contemplative. These two were already jaw-dropping amazing and well worth rewatching just to relive the artistically beautiful visual and audio aspect of the movie.
BUT WAIT THAT'S NOT ALL! Not just was it visually stunning which is already off the charts amazing, but the story line is amazing. It's kind of a mix of two of my top favorite anime movies The Girl Who Leaped Through Time and Five Centimeters per Second. It has the time aspect from The Girl Who Leaped Through Time in that Mitsuha lives in a timeline 3 years shifted backwards from Taki's time. This causes discrepancies and ultimately the conflict arises from this problem of time. It's truly beautiful in that the plot line is allowed to develop naturally. The two characters when they realize what's happening and that they're switching lives with each other randomly react in a relatively realistic way. The two of them try to make do as the other and disrupt the other's life as little as possible, or in Mitsuha's case she tried to improve Taki's life by setting him up on a date with his crush. But through this problem the two of them have to overcome, they begin to form a strong bond of camaraderie against this problematic situation. In this way it seems only natural for Taki to develop feelings for this girl that he's getting to know on a closer level than anyone else he knows.
The real heart-breaker though is that because of their time difference and the comet during the Autumn Festival, they never meet. At this point my soul kind of died and I thought to myself 'well there goes yet another sunken ship' until I realized that this was just the first climax in this cleverly dual climatic plot. Oh ho ho folks the show's not over yet. After this first traumatic experience when Taki realizes that he can't switch with Mitsuha anymore, he goes on a quest to her hometown only to find that it's been wrecked by the comet, leaving everyone he had encountered through her dead. This traumatic experience leads him up into the crater of a mountain where he is able to time travel back 3 years before the disaster to help Mitsuha survive this time. The two of them are able to meet once during twilight and when Taki wrote 'I love you' on Mitsuha's hand and when she saw it later, my heart melted. It really is the little things that make movies like these go from amazing to fantastic! This time when they're able to alter the timeline it seems like everything is going to go well and everyone will end up happily ever after...haha I don't think so. Life isn't so simple. Fictional life? Even less simple. The new problem is the two of them can't remember the other's name nor their time switching bodies. This is a problem because the two of them feel an absence in their life, but can't exactly explain what it is. In fact when Taki sees Tessie and Sayaka as an engaged couple he feels a vague sense of deja vu but nothing more. This frustration is infuriating. I've watched this and invested all my feelings into this and all you're giving me is deja vu and missed opportunities to find your girl?! It brings back trauma from watching Five Centimeters per Second. Speaking of that, at the end when they both run off the train to see the other and almost walk opposite ways of the stairs without even meeting eyes it brought me back to the real trauma of Five Centimeters per Second's ending. That was traumatic. This ending however wasn't so traumatic. In fact it was sweet and left a hopeful note for their future together.
All in all this is a definite must watch if you enjoy anime movies or even just anime. This has great music, fantastic art, and a story line that just got me so emotionally invested in the characters. This was seriously fantastic and if you haven't watched it yet you're seriously missing out on a magical time. Worth the hype? Most definitely.
Ready for the picture spam that comes with amazing anime with amazing visuals?
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