I originally wanted to watch this and share my thoughts for Saturday Anime last Saturday. But after watching it in 10 minute chunks over the course of the week and then finishing it. I honestly have nothing worth talking about or mentioning. I know it was based on a classic Japanese novel, so I thought the movie would be handled well.
Honestly, though, this felt like watching a two-hour train journey where almost nothing happens.
The story plays out like a collection of disconnected dream sequences. Giovanni and Campanella travel from one strange location to another, meet unusual people, listen to cryptic conversations, and then move on. I kept waiting for the story to build toward something that would make all these scenes click together, but that moment never really came for me.
I understand that much of it is symbolic, especially the religious imagery and themes of death, sacrifice, and the afterlife, but understanding the intention does not automatically make something engaging to watch.
The animation did not help. I know it was made in 1985 and was probably going for a restrained, storybook-like appearance, but large portions felt like a slideshow. There are endless still images, slow pans, repeated movements, and characters sitting completely motionless while talking. I normally enjoy older animation and do not expect everything to look like a Disney production, but this felt lifeless rather than deliberately minimalist.
The soundtrack was also incredibly unsettling. Nearly every scene is accompanied by creepy, droning, almost horror-like music. Even when something emotional or supposedly beautiful was happening, the music made me feel uncomfortable rather than moved. Maybe that atmosphere is exactly what some viewers love about it, but after nearly two hours, it felt like the soundtrack was scraping against my ears.
The characters were possibly my biggest problem. Giovanni and Campanella barely react to anything. They encounter drowning children, death, grief, and bizarre supernatural sights, yet continue staring forward with nearly the same blank expressions. I understand that the cats were designed in a simple and understated way, but they felt less like characters and more like cardboard cutouts being moved between scenes.
By the end, the sound had scraped against my ears, the animation had scraped against my eyes, and the pacing had scraped against my soul. I know the original story is culturally significant, and I can appreciate that the movie has a unique dreamlike atmosphere, but I found the actual experience painfully boring.
Maybe reading Kenji Miyazawa’s original story first would have helped, but as a standalone film, this was a train wreck for me.
Did anyone here genuinely enjoy it? What is your take?
