Directed by:
Hiroyasu IshidaScreenplay:
Makoto UedaCinematography:
Kei MachidaComposer:
阿部海太郎Cast:
Yū Aoi, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Naoto Takenaka, Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Han, Misaki Watada, Rarisa Tago Takeda, 伊原農, Shinichirô UchidaVOD (1)
Plots(1)
Aoyama is a serious 10-year-old boy who records all of his day-to-day experiences in his notebook. One day in May, penguins inexplicably appear in his home town, despite being located a long way from the sea. When Aoyama sees Big Sis a young woman who works at a dentist's office drop a soft drink can which inexplicably turns into a penguin, he decides to investigate and resolve the mystery behind these strange events. Together with his classmates, Aoyama happens upon a strange phenomenon which is surely the key to these goings-on. Will their investigation bear fruit, and just how is Big Sis linked to these occurrences? (Anime Ltd)
(more)Reviews (2)
This fantasy narrative is definitely charming in its own way and has some interesting ideas that would probably seem like bullshit from a purely scientific standpoint. However, with eyes half shut and Aoyama's knowledge, one can eventually come to terms with everything. After all, the kid is incredibly smart for his age and can solve any mystery, including why the dentist's breasts are so different from his mother's - actually, no, I had to figure that one out myself... On the other hand, I was also very arrogant as a child because of my intelligence. I was also supposed to be getting bigger and better every day because I was always discovering new things about the world, hence I can identify with the main male protagonist, which helps. Admittedly the other characters (mainly the other kids) were not that interesting, they were mostly quite formulaic and their romantic motivations for each other were also very clichéd. However, as I wrote, it was still an enjoyable movie because it was charming and that is quite important to me, to the point where 7/10 is well deserved in my book.
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“There are 3,748 days until I grow up to be an adult.” It’s like 1980s Amblin in the style of Studio Ghibli. In other words, superb childhood summer adventure with a pinch of magical realism, surrealism and science fiction. But that doesn't play a primary role, it serves purely to let the kids learn something about themselves, first loves, friendships, as well as about the world. It stands on vivid characters, the atmosphere of a sultry summer and stunning audiovisuals. Most of all, however, it manages to evoke the unspoiled and still enthusiastic innocent child's view of the world so convincingly that even an adult can succumb to it – something few films can do, even if every other one tries it. Perhaps it's a tad longer than it should be, but the full rating was clear from the opening disarmingly disarming title sequence anyway.
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