One of the things that can be annoying about some anime is how some of them try to make audiences overlook lackluster writing with gorgeous visuals. This phenomenon is not exclusive to anime, but when it happens there, it becomes more noticeable. While there is no denying that Children Who Chase Lost Voices is visually breathtaking, it suffers from a script that feels like two halves of two completely different stories smashed together with little to no forethought. There is the potential of a neat and impactful story within this movie, but it can't seem to find its own way. It's the cinematic equivalent of baking two completely different cakes in the same oven. It looks like a great idea, but it's likely going to result in two underbaked piles of dough with nothing but tons of pretty sprinkles covering up their lack of texture.
Taking place in a small town in rural Japan, the story follows a young girl named Asuna. She spends her days in school, hanging out with her friends, and playing with her little animal friend, Mimi. Sometimes, she ventures off to a secret spot in the woods close to her home where she enjoys the sunset and listens to strange music she picks up on her crystal radio. One day, on her way home from school, she encounters a peculiar boy facing off against an even stranger creature. The boy wins but not without sustaining a severe injury. Soon after, Asuna finds the boy at her secret spot. The boy reveals to her that he is from another world hidden just beneath their feet. A legendary land that has been hidden away from the surface people. She soon discovers that her teacher, Ryuji, has been searching for this very place, as legend tells of a magical being who can bring back people from the dead. Almost immediately, Asuna and Ryuji find themselves traveling to this legendary land together. Where they encounter many fantastical and dangerous things on their journey.
The film describes itself as a fantastical coming-of-age story. Asuna is dealing with the loss of her father, while Ryuji is seeking to reunite with his wife. Both of these are fine enough stories on their own. However, the script seems to want to include at least three other narratives that don't come into play until much later into the film. The first half builds up the main plot and seems to be moving along sure of its direction. Then, as soon as the main characters enter the underworld, there's a sudden bombardment of additional plotlines and characters with little to no establishment. It was like watching an improv show where new ideas are coming out of nowhere, yet we're expected to accept everything coming our way, despite how rushed the whole proceedings feel. Except where this would be acceptable in an actual improv show, I find it hard to accept in this film.
Now, I admit, this is just my personal perception of the whole experience, and I don't doubt there are likely some cultural aspects to this story that I am not yet aware of. As much as I liked the ideas presented in the second half of the film, I couldn't help but feel as though it was all rushed with little development and only happened the way it did because...reasons.
Despite this apparent lack of narrative cohesion, the visuals for the film are undeniably breathtaking. Director Makoto Shinkai, whose later works I will eventually cover on this blog, is a genuine tour de force when it comes to visuals. Especially when it comes to his depiction of the sky. Lots of his scenes feature beautiful skies that are loaded with so many colors and minute details. Of course, many other parts of his animation style are equally impressive, but his images of the sky often stand out. This would become a staple of Makoto Shinkai, and as I said earlier, I will be covering a few more of his works in the future.
I cannot say that Children Who Chase Lost Voices is a satisfying narrative, but I can say that it is a visual spectacle that can be enjoyed on its own. At the very least, it is a decent introduction to the kind of works that would eventually come from this talented director. If you're at all curious about this one, you can find it on Amazon Prime to rent or on YouTube for free. If you need a pretty spectacle to look at and admire for a little over an hour, give this one a look.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you all for reading.
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