雲のむこう、約束の場所
Mar. 19th, 2006 11:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
varjohaltiaKim introduced me to an anime called Voices of a Distant Star, (ほしのこえ) some years back. While it was short, and not exactly the most amazing anime production in existence, it was remarkable because, with the exception of voice actors, it was entirely produced by one man, Makoto Shinkai. It also did have a very interesting, if melancholic plot. "Good for him," I thought, and that's that.
Fast forward to today. Netflix recommended this movie I had never heard of, The Place Promised in Our Early Days. User ratings were very high as well, so I rented it, without any clue what to expect. And so, on a lazy Sunday morning, I popped it into the DVD player to watch it.
Wow. Just... Wow.
As you guessed, this is a real movie, with a budget and production house, from Makoto Shinkai. It was obvious that he was talented by his single-handed effort, but I never expected anything like this.
The background art -- or better yet world, because the delineation between backgrounds and animation is not at all obvious -- is totally mind blowing. It is as good, if not better, than a number of Miyazaki titles. It has got to be the most immersive animated experience I've ever had. The detail is exquisite, the visual eye utterly amazing, and the editing top notch.
The story is told with exceeding skill as well. The pacing works, and while it still has some cliches of Asian movies, it's very approachable to western audiences as well.
The movie is very symbolic, and deals with the much the same things as Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば); the dreams and ambitions of childhood, the golden, carefree memories of the small joys, of enjoying the world around you, of growing up.
This is a slow movie. There are no giant robots or big boobs. This is a movie about a local train running through the field to violin music, one that brings back memories of a life you haven't had, memories of your childhood.
It is also melancholic. Not tragic, but imbued with an air of loss. This a genre and topic that plays my heart strings like no other, so not everyone may be as moved as I am. But you should give it a chance.
When I mentioned earlier that The Place Promised in Our Early Days is very pretty, I meant it. This is a movie thathas to be seen on the big screen. This is a movie that would justify you buying a theater just so you can see it on the big screen. I hope some day I can. Until then, find a friend with a good HD big screen and bribe, threaten or cajole until they let you use it to watch this title.
Fast forward to today. Netflix recommended this movie I had never heard of, The Place Promised in Our Early Days. User ratings were very high as well, so I rented it, without any clue what to expect. And so, on a lazy Sunday morning, I popped it into the DVD player to watch it.
Wow. Just... Wow.
As you guessed, this is a real movie, with a budget and production house, from Makoto Shinkai. It was obvious that he was talented by his single-handed effort, but I never expected anything like this.
The background art -- or better yet world, because the delineation between backgrounds and animation is not at all obvious -- is totally mind blowing. It is as good, if not better, than a number of Miyazaki titles. It has got to be the most immersive animated experience I've ever had. The detail is exquisite, the visual eye utterly amazing, and the editing top notch.
The story is told with exceeding skill as well. The pacing works, and while it still has some cliches of Asian movies, it's very approachable to western audiences as well.
The movie is very symbolic, and deals with the much the same things as Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば); the dreams and ambitions of childhood, the golden, carefree memories of the small joys, of enjoying the world around you, of growing up.
This is a slow movie. There are no giant robots or big boobs. This is a movie about a local train running through the field to violin music, one that brings back memories of a life you haven't had, memories of your childhood.
It is also melancholic. Not tragic, but imbued with an air of loss. This a genre and topic that plays my heart strings like no other, so not everyone may be as moved as I am. But you should give it a chance.
When I mentioned earlier that The Place Promised in Our Early Days is very pretty, I meant it. This is a movie that
