NiNoKuni

“Ni No Kuni” is a 2019 animated movie based on the JRPG video game franchise of the same name. The good thing about this is that you don’t really need to know anything about the franchise or have played the game prior to watching the film. Directed by Studio Ghibli animator Yoshiyuki Momose, the film is about high school student Yuu (Kento Yamazaki) and his friend Haru (Tucker Chandler). After their childhood friend, Kotona, voiced by Abby Trott, is injured by a strange man, the two are teleported to a different dimension different from Earth, Ni no Kuni, while trying to get Kotona to the hospital.

“Ni No Kuni” is an emotional film about friendship, love, and sacrifice. Once they are in this different dimension, Haru and Yuu see how really similar it is to Earth. Wanting to find Kotona in Ni no Kuni, the two friends save the princess and start their own mission after seeing how they can travel between Ni no Kuni and Earth.

Seeing that “Ni No Kuni” is directed by Momose, it is no surprise with how similar it is to Studio Ghibli’s films. Lizzy Garcia said in her review, “The movie has a magical quality to it but features characters that are incredibly relatable. From the stunning animation to the whimsical and at times romantic score, NiNoKuni is a treasure. However, the magic of NiNoKuni actually lies in the relationship between Yuu and Kotona.” Yuu has strong feelings for Kotona and has a crush on her. However, she is currently dating Haru. The three of them are friends but you can see the stress and Haru easily is jealous which you can see when Yuu saves Kotona’s life. When they’re in Ni no Kuni, Yuu speaks to the Princess Asya, who looks exactly like Kotona. There we can see just how strong feelings he has for his friend.

Garcia admitted, “But as impactful as the relationships are in NiNoKuni, what resonated with me the most was Yuu.” Yuu is handicapped due to being in a wheelchair. However, in Ni no Kuni he is able to walk and we never see anywhere when he speaks that he feels “complete” because he can walk. Garcia noted, “The scene where he realizes he can walk is emotional and humorous but never becomes the main point of his story arc. Still, the movie doesn’t shy away from the fact he is in a wheelchair either.” In the beginning, Yuu, Haru, and Kotona go to a bakery to see that he is not wheelchair accessible. Despite Kotona saying to go in a different direction, Yuu rejects and instead goes home. Garcia admitted, “As someone who has had to use a wheelchair due to my own health conditions, that moment was impactful and there have been many times in my life I have just gone home because a place was inaccessible.”

Even though Ni no Kuni is a beautiful realm and he has the ability to walk, Yuu never wants to return. He is happy with his life. There is a flashback scene where Yuu and Haru first meet, and Yuu explains why he needs a wheelchair. When saying the reason, he says to Haru that he doesn’t have to feel sorry for Yuu because he’s fine. How often do you find a handicap person that is content with being handicapped? With everything going on, Yuu never focuses on himself and instead, always is thinking of his friends, especially Kotona. Garcia noted, “Yuu’s compassion, even in the face of unfair circumstances, is often at odds with Haru’s brash nature. It is hard to ignore the fact that Haru, an able-bodied individual who has had a fairly easy life, cannot handle pressure like Yuu. In regards to my own experience, since becoming ill, I have been able to handle more of what the world has thrown at me. Yuu is the strongest of the three and while it is never directly stated, I have to believe that it is because of his life experiences.” Even still, Yuu never feels like a trope.

Despite the story of “Ni no Kuni” being very emotional, the movie does have its own share of flaws. In the second half of the film, the animation changes drastically by becoming more dependent on CGI. Garcia noted, “The stark art change sticks out and makes the scenes feel unpolished compared to other portions of the movie.” However, that is only a small part of the film and doesn’t take away from the story completely. On top of that, there are moments where the pacing of the film can be a little off. Scenes in Ni no Kuni continue without Yuu or Haru really caring even with everything that is going on in their own realm. Garcia said, “This is also due in part to the overly convoluted story. The third act of the film is filled with a lot of plot twists that don’t all seem to correlate to the events that have occurred.” Seeing that this is a video game adaptation, you could see why the pacing and story would be that way but in a movie, it doesn’t really work.

However, “Ni No Kuni” is a good adaptation that really gets the essence of the series. Fans of Studio Ghibli films or fantasy animes should stream this on Netflix because of the great, unusual, and emotional story.

I had never heard of the video game franchise and didn’t know that this was a video game adaptation until I researched the film. Still, I thought it was a nice film when I was watching this on Netflix. I don’t know what fans of the video game franchise will think, if they’ll like it or not, but if you haven’t heard of the franchise, like myself, and/or have never played any of the games, like I haven’t, then I think you would probably like this film. See it for yourself and judge based on your own thoughts.

Alright everyone, we have now come to the conclusion of “Anime Month.” I hope everyone enjoyed it as I did. Hopefully everyone has checked out these films and hopefully I gave everyone some good recommendations to watch.

Look out next month because I will be reviewing a franchise that I have wanted to look at for quite some time now.

Mary and the Witch's Flower

Hiromasa Yonebayashi, director of “The Secret World of Arriety” and “When Marnie Was There,” left Studio Ghibli to start his own animation studio called Studio Ponoc. “Mary and the Witch’s Flower,” released in 2018, is Studio Ponoc’s first film. Based on a 1971 children’s novel The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart, “Mary and the Witch’s Flower” is about an everyday red-haired girl named Mary, voiced by Ruby Barnhill. She lives with her Great-Aunt Charlotte, voiced by Lynda Baron, and really wants to help and be useful, but easily makes things worse when that is not her intention. Thinking that she’s helpless, Mary follows two cats into the forest and finds a shiny blue flower called a “fly-by-night” or The Witch’s Flower and instantly Mary finds more excitement than before.

Chris Sawin said in his review, “With a Winter 2017 release looming closer and an English voice cast that includes Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent, Mary and the Witch’s Flower is a gloriously impressive and gorgeously animated debut for Studio Ponoc. The film is going to remind you of a ton of films included in the Studio Ghibli back catalog and a few influences found outside the anime genre. Mary and the Witch’s Flower plunges itself down the rabbit hole much like Spirited Away or Alice in Wonderland while Endor College reminds you of Hogwarts and the spells involved within the witchcraft of the film would fit quite well in any Harry Potter film.”

Despite Yonebayashi’s directorial debut combining so many famous elements from similar animated films, “Mary and the Witch’s Flower” is also its own film. Sawin said, “The animation is absolutely stunning and seems to frolic happily in the fantasy genre residing somewhere between fanciful and whimsical.” You also have to love most of the characters. Mary always wanting to find a use for herself sees growing in a way that will have everyone think back to their own childhood. A great part of the film is that Mary isn’t some kid that needs to be rescued and is actually in every way the hero of the movie because she is the one who has to save a boy around her age named Peter, voiced by Louis Ashbourne Serkis. The two cats in this film, Tib and Gib, show more personality than everyone else in the film even though they are only animals that cannot have any dialogue. Sawin admitted, “A personal favorite is Flanagan who looks like a bearded fox with a Dick Dastardly curly mustache and seems to be dressed as a gnome.” Flanagan, voiced by Ewen Bremner, is basically Mary’s guide when she shows up at Endor College and has a certain talent for reminding everyone how awful they are at taking care of their broomsticks.

Sawin noted, “The unusual aspect of Mary and the Witch’s Flower is that it not only acknowledges science and magic coexisting with one another, but they’re actually integrated together to create spells and technology only the merging of the two could generate. Doctor Dee’s inventions are uniquely intricate and function differently than you’re probably expecting. Doctor Dee (Jim Broadbent) could easily pass for a brother or cousin of Dr. Finkelstein from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Madam Mumblechook (Kate Winslet) is the head of the school as her ideas and costume choices seem to be directly lifted from the mind of Dr. Seuss with vibrant colors and characteristically defining loops. Their hunt for the Witch’s Flower is inspired and even directly referenced as The Philosopher’s Stone, which has been featured in the Harry Potter franchise and was a key component to the Fullmetal Alchemist anime franchise.”

With great music to match its amazing atmosphere, “Mary and Witch’s Flower” drives itself in Studio Ghibli expertise of imagination, beautiful color, likeable characters, and eye-adoring animation for a film that is creatively fascinating to audiences of all ages.

I was thinking that this was going to be the next Studio Ghibli movie, but I was wrong. It can be confused for one, but you can’t blame someone for categorizing this film in the wrong company because the animation style is very similar to Studio Ghibli’s animation. Still, you should see this film because it is a great movie with a great story. Just don’t bash it because the voice actors are all British actors. They still do a good job voicing all of these likable characters. Definitely give this film a watch.

Check in next week for the finale of “Anime Month.”

Sonic the Hedgehog

Friday night, I checked out the new “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie, which came out in February. I was skeptical about watching it because, if you read my reviews on video game adaptations, you know how I think about them. However, I heard some very good things about it, so I decided to check it out.

After the much needed makeover after the complaints about the character’s horrendous first look, “Sonic the Hedgehog” has overcome the first design complaints and was released in theaters in a surprisingly enjoyable adventure.

Now looking more like the original version, Sonic, voiced by Ben Schwartz, finds himself avoiding villains in the live-action adaptation of the Sega video game franchise.

Sameen Amer said in her review, “When his extraordinary powers of supersonic speed make him a target of power hungry bad guys, Sonic is sent to Earth where he must stay hidden and never stop running.” If they find him, he can use one of his magical rings to open a portal to another planet where he will continue to live in isolation.

Amer said, “But the loneliness is starting to take a toll on the friendless hedgehog.” He has a strong liking for local sheriff, Tom (James Marsden), and his nice veterinarian wife, Maddie (Tika Sumpter), from a distance, but can’t risk create communication with humans.

His anger over his dilemma makes him to accidentally cause an electricity power that causes a blackout all over town. Evil scientific genius Doctor Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey, is assigned to find out what happened. He suddenly discovers Sonic’s existence and is keen on capturing this friendly hedgehog.

Amer said, “Sonic then ends up joining forces with an initially reluctant Tom to reclaim the rings that he has lost in the ruckus and escape the mad scientist who is on his trail.”

The road trip that follows may not be a masterpiece but it is still really enjoyable. The humor normally works. Particularly children are possibly going to enjoy Sonic’s antics, and there’s enough likability to keep adults attention as well (Amer said, “even if they may otherwise find the tale simplistic and predictable”).

The protagonist is lovable. His human sidekick (played by a very charming Marsden) is pleasant. The energetic Carrey is entertaining in the comedic style that has made him famous.

Jeff Fowler and his team have done a really great job reworking a movie that primarily looked like it was going to be a disaster. Amer ended her review by saying, “Ultimately, Sonic the Hedgehog may not break any new ground and clearly won’t redefine cinema, but this family-friendly adventure will ensure that viewers have a good time and exit the screening with a smile on their faces.”

Honestly, this is a video game adaptation that I actually think will be liked by fans of the video game or regular moviegoers. Even though the plot is a little predictable and the look of Robotnik doesn’t look like the original character, I still think this will be liked by people. This is a funny, emotional movie and the mid-credits scene (spoilers) shows Tails looking for Sonic. If they are going to make a sequel, I’m excited to see what they will do next. Check it out and see for yourself.

Thank you for joining in on tonight’s review. Wait until next Friday for the next entry in “Anime Month.”

Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie

Since the original Street Fighter II came out almost twenty years ago so many editions of the game were made after. Strangely enough it would take six years afterwards for the third Street Fighter game to be released. With a series with a huge fanbase like Street Fighter it would come as no surprise that it has gone into other forms of media over the years.

An anime series, American cartoon, live-action film, a manga, and a Japanese animated movie have all been released since the franchise began. Despite the live action movie being atrocious, Manga’s re-release of the 1994 anime film shows why it was superior in every way. Todd Douglass Jr. said in his review, “It probably has more to do with the way in which the material is presented because after all when you're depicting karate fighters who use energy bolts, hairy green monsters that produce electricity, and Bruce Lee clones you're better off telling it in an animated form.” On top of that, this film is the only way you’re going to see Chun-Li’s naked shower scene in an official Capcom project.

The movie starts with Ryu (Kip Stellrecht) and Sagat (Peter Spellos) fighting in a field somewhere in the middle of a lightning storm. The two are throwing punches while someone is observing the fight and analyzing their fighting data. The fight ends abruptly right after Ryu gives Sagat the famous large scar on his chest and throws a Haddoken at him. Years after the fight Ryu is walking all over Asia looking for fights and ways to help people out. Douglass describes, “It's kind of like a Caine from Kung Fu type of thing only without all of the Shaolin philosophy.”

An organization known as Shadowloo has risen and is constantly looking for Ryu to try and control his large strength in fights. In the meantime, however, Shadowloo, under the control of M. Bison, voiced by Tom Wyner, is looking all over for other fighters who have so much potential. His cyborg minions spy on so many fighters and get information on characters like Edmond Honda (Richard Epcar), Dhalsim (Michael Sorich), Ken (Eddie Frierson), and T. Hawk (Steve Blum). Because of the recent amount of activity by the syndicate government agents have been assigned to look into this.

Guile (Kirk Thornton) is the American soldier that is assigned to work with Chun-Li (Lia Sargent) from Chinese Interpol to find out what’s going on with Bison. They both have their own reasons for wanting to end Shadowloo, but their goal is the one thing they have in common. The two go deeper into the plot when it is seen that they are messing with Bison’s plans. Once that happens, Vega, voiced by Richard Cansino, shows up to fight Chun-Li after her shower in one of the best (and most emotional) fights in the film. Douglass said, “The action is over-the-top and brutal to the point that true Street Fighter aficionados will be salivating by the end.”

Douglass continued, “As the story moves forward and drags more characters from the game into it the fact that this is a show themed off of a videogame becomes more apparent. Personalities pop in and out just for the sake of showing up to appease their fans and to be frank it happens with an element of cheapness. The movie does do well by focusing mostly on Ryu, Ken, Guile, and Chun-Li, but the fact remains that the plot never goes in depth or breaks any new ground. Disappointingly it boils down to "Here's a bad guy doing something bad. Now let's send in the heroes to stop him!"”

Douglass continued, “Graded as an anime motion picture Street Fighter II is by no means to be ranked on the echelon of Miyazaki's masterpieces. It's a straight forward action affair with a couple of characters worth getting familiar with and a story that is as simple as one, two, three.” For fans of the game franchise, this is a movie not to be missed and you’ll easily be satisfied by it.

As you would think, “Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie” is mainly for fans of Capcom’s game franchise. Douglass said, “The uninitiated will no really appreciate what's going on here, even though it isn't anything that cerebral. Come for the action, stay for the series, but don't get too upset when you realize that the plot isn't that involved. Having the uncut Japanese version is a nice thing to get our hands on, but since the disc is so barebones there's almost no point to it. I enjoyed the film for what it was but was disappointed with the quality of the DVD.”

I guess everyone can agree that this movie is definitely a good video game adaptation, if not, the best of the genre. I had borrowed this movie from my cousin and I saw it so many times as a kid, and I still love it to this day. When you see it, you will see that this movie is how you truly bring a video game adaptation to film. Anime seems to be the only way to bring a video game adaptation to screen because live-action doesn’t really do it justice. Check it out if you’re a fan of the franchise because you will love it.

Stay tuned next week on what I will review next in “Anime Month.”

Akira

For this month, I thought I would review other anime movies that I have seen. Let’s jump right in with the 1988 classic, “Akira.”

Rachel Wagner started her review by saying, “If I were to make a list of ‘Must See Movies for Any Animation Fan,’ I would definitely include Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira on that list. While it is narratively messy, it is such an experience in visceral sound, movement, creativity, and imagination that it can’t be missed.”

The story to “Akira” is beside the point but, just for the sake of those who don’t know, it is about two childhood friends who become gang rivals Shotaro Kaneda and Tetsuo Shima in the dystopian cyberpunk city of NeoTokyo in 2019. The world is in complete purgatory after a nuclear bomb landed at the end of World War III. Tetsuo becomes exposed to a material called AKIRA and gets abnormal telekinetic powers that he had trouble to control and the government and organized crime want to use for so many reasons. Most of the movie is basically a chase between Kaneda, Tetsuo, and everyone who is trying to hurt them.

Wagner noted, “I like to compare watching Akira with going on an amusement park ride. Perhaps the plot isn’t super interesting but there is an amazing image, sound, and/or sequence ready to dazzle you along every turn.” Watching the film, you see things you’ve never seen before and will never see again, like a giant teddy bear coming to a life or a person’s organs and body blowing up to fill up a room. It’s dark and violent however, since this is so creative, it is worth watching. Wagner compared, “It’s like Inception but way more trippy!”

Wagner continued, “I had the amazing experience last year of seeing Akira on the big screen, which is something I highly recommend if you get the opportunity. What stood out to me the most was the incredible way it uses music and sound.” The music by Shoji Yamashiro is one of the best and obviously a lot of the animation was built around the music’s “sonic architecture,” where most movies work the other way around. With its electronic beat, the music fades and flows along with the crazy imagery making a really intense experience.

Wagner noted, “If you take a look at this scene, notice the way every movement of the motorcycles is felt in a screech or vroom. The steel and grunts of the men are perfectly timed along with the tick-tock propulsion of the score. Meanwhile, the imagery of the city provides incredible backdrops with the light and colors of the motorcycles in the foreground. I love how the motorcycles leave behind a rainbow of color in their wake, and you can see the speed of the movement as they move along.”

“Akira” is one of the best animes where every scene has parts to look at and analyze. The music, imagery, sound design, and more are created in every scene but there is also a lot to think about thematically. To start off, it has a lot to say about the tension Japan experienced after the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. Wagner noted, “It also has layers of allegory, including the problems of groupthink, unbridled religion/capitalism/socialism, unlimited power, quickly-burgeoning technology, and substance abuse.”

However, you don’t have to think about all of that. You can just watch the film and enjoy the amazing animation, music, and energy. It’s a great experience and one of the best animes!

If you haven’t seen this film and you’re an anime fan, what are you doing reading this review? Go out and see this film because if you’re an anime fan, this is one to be seen by every fan of anime. It’s one of the best and shouldn’t be missed. See it now because it’s a must and I give it a high recommendation.

Look out next week to see what I will review next in “Anime Month.”