Alice to Therese no Maboroshi Koujou

Ended up being way better than expected after seeing the mostly negative reception to this. I guess the movie just knew how to get to me emotionally while still trying to put some effort in its story. I understand that the plot can be hard to follow and how the logic makes sense in its setting, but this like a Your Name thing where it does prioritize evoking strong emotions over trying to succeed in its seemingly complex storyline. What really made this work for me is its how effective it managed to pull off that youthful angst that I keep craving for every time. It's cheesily romantic and dumb at times, but it's that unapologetic approach that makes it endearing for me. I also like how it touches on themes of grief and just feeling stuck and hopeless in life, which comes as no surprise given how much angst the movie has in spades. It tries to be hopeful in the end albeit I wish it wrapped things up in a more satisfying conclusion. The animation and character designs are pure eye candy as to be expected from MAPPA, even the haters will at least admit to its visual appeal that can even rival Makoto Shinkai's films. Overall, a pleasant surprise that while not perfect in all fronts, managed to stick the landing in telling a resonant tale of altered realities and the optimistic possibilities of a future that lies ahead beyond those cracks.

Critical: A beautifully animated film that has a pretty engaging world with a lot of interesting concepts... though going in a somewhat odd and unfocused direction, with narrative beats getting lost of its own making and a few moments where character motivations are uncalled for. It's a coming-of-age story about change and it's an honest, intimate take on the whole romance plus world-ending crisis scenario. Give it a shot if you want a heartwarming, albeit sometimes confusing, film. Personal: The first thing that came to mind to me is that like Sonny Boy, it uses the fantasy world (though it bears saying it's more of a time-freeze / stuck in the SAME reality) to really hone down on themes surrounding the coming-of-age and inevitable change. The issue I have with this film is 1.) some of the interactions and how they approach certain shots and scenes are just straight up odd, and 2.) some of the moments that are supposed to be impactful aren't executed the best... sometimes, it's hard to really determine what's the point of the scene (how we got there, and where's the closure). It's the same issue with using narration alone to explain some of the most IMPORTANT narrative beats in the movie. If you're not paying attention, you can easily get lost. I will admit, it's a much more grounded take on abstracting coming-of-age compared to Sonny Boy, where you really have to make the connections yourself. Maboroshi, however, is at least more clear in directing / connecting its themes to the viewer's mind. I feel kinda meh to this one, as I feel like there's a lot to take in and appreciate, but I don't necessarily have a strong reaction to what unfolded. I will say that I enjoyed this MUCH MORE than something like Your Name, where I personally felt the melodrama / romance over there was just overbearing, incompatible with the scenario and its characters (maybe I'm not a spiritual person idk). This one, I can understand how we got there and how relationships developed. Not really saying that it was excellently done, but as a viewer, I enjoyed it more.

A very simple and easily understandable story that will give you a tear. It has Movie-style animations with intricate moments, each character feels just right yet it comes a long way to take the throne of other amazing movies. The story is very subtle making sure the viewer understands it even with closed eyes. What to write to not spoil anything... This show is heavy on the story part so let's not talk about the details I would like anyone reading it to enjoy it by themselves: Animation: In short nice beautiful and classic. I am pretty sure this style will suit a lot of people. Music: The background music is nice when it matters and gives the environment its unique atmosphere. Story: To not spoil anything let's just say that it's very very good. If you liked Kimi no Na was you will definitely like this one. Characters: A very likeable set of supporting characters and every character has a personality in their village you don't see that often. I need to keep this review short because I wouldn't like to give any hints about the environment etc because every single thing in this anime matters and anyone should enjoy it by themselves. You will definitely want to watch this one.

What an infuriating waste of potential. Aesthetically, Maboroshi is, like most anime films, competent:better than average acting (at least with the Japanese audio), good music (when they bother to have it) and mostly good art, though there's nothing special compared to the many, many other anime films with similar production values (and at times the art doesn't seem to match well with the script-the main character is referred to multiple times as being particularly feminine for a boy, and the only indicator of this is his unremarkable mid-length hair.) So, there's nothing special there. Which leaves the story to carry the bulk of the film, and boy, is it frustrating. The basic concept for the story is great; a mysterious explosion traps a small Japanese town in a timeless state, with a cracked sky annually repaired by a strange being of smoke emanating from the broken steelworks. There's a few ways the story could have played out: a Stand By Me style adventure story with a group of young boys trying to escape this dreadful purgatory straight out of Bruce Springsteen's nightmares while the conservative adults are willing to while away eternity doing nothing, or maybe a horror approach could work, with the towns strange denizens, like the bizarre and off-putting Sagami family that runs the local shrine, eventually turning the town into a Fatal Frame/SIREN-esque Shinto horror show. Both ideas seemed to be toyed with by the film before being discarded, alongside countless other potential plot threads or characters. What is the film actually like? Well, for a start, it is abysmally paced, even for the very low standards of anime films. Usually, said films feel way too fast, cramming a series worth of information into feature length, which ends up leaving everything feeling underdeveloped and shallow. Maboroshi has the exact same problem due to the exact opposite approach-IT IS LONG. AND SLOW. At nearly two hours, the film drags, and drags, and drags and only picks up a modicum of steam at the halfway point, and by then the vague characterization and details light plot have likely worn away your patience. And its all in service to themes and characters that are, at best, yet another nostalgic, bittersweet reflection on youth and coming of age, which is essentially the description of every anime film made in the past 20 years or more and has long since outworn its welcome, while at worst, the film is a pretentious collection of melancholic scenes of longing and confusion and all that melodramatic crap barely connected by shallow, incoherent characters who act more in service to overwrought metaphors and imagery than anything approaching actual human motivations. Even if you think you'd manage to connect with the navel-gazing and underwritten plot, I feel the need to reiterate just how slow the film is. It is absolutely not worth your time. You can get the same kind of atmosphere, ephemeral feeling and existential themes from a 20 minute episode of Kino's Journey, and that also has guns and a talking motorcycle, so there is absolutely no reason to waste your precious time with a film that, fittingly, feels like it's frozen in time and never going anywhere.

One sentence review: This is probably the most well-sculptured turd of an anime I have seen. Extremely well-crafted, but also totally cringy. Expectations before watching: This popped up out of nowhere on streaming last month, and the premise looks very interesting at least. Also, MAPPA studio has gradually become one of my favorites over the years. The reality: The basic worldbuilding and fantastical elements are very far-fetched, and the main plot is essentially a super cringy story about a toddler getting jealous of her mom for being madly in love with her dad. Seriously? You don't need a super convoluted "Spirited Away" type setting to tell a story about family love and pain of growing up. Recommended to: people who have experiences similar to what was portrayed in the movie. (And by that, I acknowledge my own limitations. This movie did not resonate with me, but it might work for others) What worked for me: ++ Overall superb art direction, animation and special effects. The colors really brought the otherwise bleak setting to life. MAPPA has again excelled as a leading animation studio of our time. + Some characters and their arcs are handled with care. The main leads and their romance are not all that bad. + Initial mystery about the world was intriguing...for a while. What did not work for me: -- Overtly convoluted plot and fantastical mechanics become disservices to the story. If we take Spirited Away as a point of comparison, well, Spirited Away did not explain everything in its mythical setting either, but at least the audience for Spirited Away were not misled to spend too much time cracking the mystery of the spirit realm. Maboroshi, on the other hand, just throws one jargon over another at the audience. At around half point of the movie, my brain went numb and I stopped caring about all the significances and symbolisms beneath it all. -- Like I mentioned, the core of the plot revolving around family bound, love, pain of love, responsibility, growing up and regrets does not have to be so cringe-worthy, yet the way the movie handles Izumi is just too cringe-worthy for me. -- Other awkward elements, including eye-rolling sequences of multiple love triangles and religious snobbishness ultimately lead nowhere. These can be both fun and integral to the story, but sadly they are mostly just there. Maybe if I try a little harder, I can force a coherent interpretation out of them. But I don't think it's worth it. This movie gets a very low mark in the department of coherence for me. Conclusion: Well, maybe fans of this movie will try to defend it with arguments like "soft worldbuilding" "poetic vibe" or something in that line. I am fine with such perspectives. Like I always said, please take my review with a whole pack of salt, and there's no shame for you to love something that did not work for me.

Ever watched a movie with stunning visuals and a really confusing plot? That's what this movie is. The original movie title also adds to the mystery of it all. Some aspects of this movie made sense and I could follow them. Other parts left me curious what was happening and why, though the ending does supply some hints as to the why. I don't need movies to spoon feed me their story and what they're trying to say, but this one felt like someone threw a bunch of mud on the floor and waited for me to lick it up. I wouldn't say I liked it and I wouldn't say I hated it, because I feel like to truly understand it, I need a wiki synopsis of what happened and that doesn't exist yet. I decided to rate it a 6 instead of a 5 because the movie didn't frustrate me and it was somewhat forthcoming at the end, but unless you really enjoy MAPPA's animation, I think this one would be skippable.

Mari Okada's inherent knack for the melodramatic surprisingly assumes a lesser role than usual, and instead, she opts for a thought experiment of sorts, choosing to exhaust all of htrer previous ideas around pure coming-of-age thematics. maboroshi is immersed in itself, willingly sifting through fluctuating narrative focus, completely engrossed in the microcosm of identity, or rather, the search for it. I'm fond of Okada's scope in this film, and while it's not her strongest piece of individual character writing (that would be her directorial debut), this breathes new optimism into values humanity has always held in high regard. The excitement of growth and the broadening of one's horizons are predominant in the assertive nature of the screenplay. I would argue the film's greatest strength is firmly retaining its frenetic survivalist tendencies throughout its runtime, particularly because the leads rarely cave into the despair of circumstance. The cast is diverse; some are beyond eccentric, crafting a holistic angle on the tumultuous fantastical disaster that the quiet industrial town is faced with. maboroshi's structure is slightly unorthodox, and the plot slowly answers certain questions at unlikely times, maybe even slipping past an unattentive viewer. It's an interesting mechanic because practically nothing is left unrevealed, albeit the bits of context may boast differing levels of clarity, yet nonetheless, there is indeed an explanation for the mental turmoil stirred by supernatural phenomena. I found the themes of divine punishment to be a clever contrast to the film also posing realistic justifications, and both sides may be mere sophistry disguising the irreversible illusion of time. The viewer's inability to discern the legitimate relationship between the steel factory and the film's ultimate premise is part of the intended goal, as we're aware of the cause and effects but not quite the tangible connection. This approach to abstract leitmotifs is far from Okada's style; on the contrary, she's literal about interpersonal struggles. Whereas this film is much more reserved for the greater part of the first two acts, underpinning a portrait of collective solitude while simultaneously redefining the term. From what I understand, unlike her prior works that precariously explore similar areas of insecurity, maboroshi is significantly more personal. There is a sense of intimacy that she applies to the script, their blank stares, and the roaring intensity of suffocating in open space. Okada's 2018 autobiography, From Truant to Anime Screenwriter, describes herself as a truant, a common case of severe social isolation and depression. The novel's overarching message details her attachment to the past, giving form to her anxiety during a period of expected exuberance. One could argue that translating these raw emotions sways the narrative unevenly, and it's difficult to not agree with that observation because multiple instances of spontaneity disconnect the viewer with what I would argue are deliberately uncomfortable moments. It wouldn't be too far-fetched to hold the emotional immaturity against the rest of the resolution; however, the visual storytelling operates with honest splendor. The integration of relatively simple mindsets supersedes the cryptic setting. Mappa's production values aren't necessarily the most noteworthy element; more so, the staff has managed to build impressive technical qualities. The quality of character acting in crucial segments is high, exhibiting micromovements and subtlety to highlight minor glances and moods. Both movement and freeform character animation are often present, characterizing the idiosyncracies of realism. It's weaker in the layout department, and some of the CG environments aren't blended as well as I would have liked, not to mention that I find the locations underused as a whole. Generally speaking, the audiovisual storytelling capitalizes on color consistency rather than background detail, and it coordinates scenes around the mild urbanization of the town. The audio has solid use of non-diegetic sound with varying levels of effectiveness in the score, although the incorporation of 90s tracks was a great choice. I was pleasantly surprised by the powerful performance from Miyuki Nakajima in the theme, an excellent showcase of vocalization and relevant lyrics. Mari Okada dissipates the idea of self in maboroshi, vying for a purposeful reflection on living in and for the moment.

So Mari Okada created and directed this. It's not the worst she has done, and it certainly feels like one of her creations. The movie's weakness lies in the symbolism that is omnipresent in the characters and their actions. Okada seems determined to convey some criticism about modern society and human interactions, specifically, the struggle to move forward in a static society and the effort to feel alive in a world devoid of deep meaning. However, the plot is weak, the logic of the events is unclear, and while the characters sound like something Okada would write, they dont feel particularly interesting on their own. The ending was the best part of this movie. A tender reflection about the importance of people in our lives, even when they are not there anymore. The art is beautiful and it has a high quality production value.

Maboroshi involves the residents of a small Japanese town being trapped in a mysterious stasis following an explosion at their local steel mill. Trapped in this stasis for years and becoming emotionally numb, the residents accept their circumstances as some sort of divine punishment for their actions that they must atone for before they can return to reality. However, the town’s younger residents come to find this existence an empty one with their inability to grow into adulthood. One of these residents, middle schooler Masamune Kikuiri, encounters a feral young girl within the steel mill that reignites his hope and purpose, coming to believe she may be the key to sorting things out with the stasis his town is trapped in. Maboroshi’s biggest strength comes from exploring how the town residents are affected by their present circumstances. The stagnancy coming from being trapped in the stasis field for years have made them feel internally dead and resigned to living in their same everyday circumstances without any significant change affecting them. This gets explored through focusing on how each of the different town residents are coping with their circumstances from our lead character Masamune to the cult leader-like influence that steel plant worker Mamoru Sagami has on the residents. The presence of feral girl Itsumi brings a significant change to the everyday happenings of the town, something that the residents have varying degrees of acceptance to dependent on their circumstances. This makes up both exploring the film’s main themes of making the best of your situation and change for the better instead of resigning to despair, as well as the developments that the characters undergo as they interact with Itsumi and learn more of the mysteries surrounding the stasis they are in. The focus on exploring these themes and developments offer it engaging drama and character exploration. On the other hand, my thoughts are a bit mixed on the circumstances involving the stasis that the characters are trapped in. The film isn’t too clear on the nature and causes surrounding it, offering some vague ideas on what these may be involve. It does have some rules to it consistently applied as it is affected by the developments of the town residents and the stasis field undergoing its own changes as the film progresses. Granted, this element of the story is meant to tie in with the film’s themes and is effectively incorporated into them for the most part. But there are still some hiccups with it if you choose to nitpick the finer details of Maboroshi. Visually, this is an impressive-looking film with the great amount of detail put into the interior and outside shots of houses and the local steel mill. The more supernatural elements of Maboroshi related to the stasis field make for the highlight of the film’s animation with their surreal nature and looking visually pleasing, most notable of which include the cracks of the stasis field continuing to manifest in the sky and wolf-shaped smoke formations moving about to remove characters no longer conforming to the stagnancy of their isolated lives if they experience any extreme emotions. In short, Maboroshi is an engaging supernatural drama film in experimenting with its idea exploring its characters trapped in a world of stasis and undergoing varying degrees of development when those circumstances change. This, combined with its nicely-animated visuals, makes it worth checking out, even with some of the hiccups involving the nature of the stasis field serving as the major source of conflict in the film.

Maboroshi is an eccentric but beautifully animated movie. Ultimately, the pacing of the film leaves little room for viewers to reflect on what they have seen in the moment, which only worsens the fact that the plot is a very tough nut to crack. Perhaps it is the intention of the filmmakers to force viewers to only be able to think in hindsight. For nearly the entirety of the runtime, it was difficult to relate to most of the characters. Their interactions seem like puzzle pieces that need to be put together. Only as the exposition continued that the motive behind each action became clear. Furthermore, there is no objective villain in this story: each character only acted to affirm their own perspective of the situation at hand. At the end of the day, the viewers follow the characters as they unveil the mystery of the new world that they stepped foot in. The characters (who know the context of the situation more than that of the viewer) may seem to act whimsically as they conduct trial and error in attempt to understand more of what is happening. It is likely that some will be turned away from the admittedly unorganized story, but I nevertheless recommend that everyone at least give it a try anyways. Watching the show was an adventure that proved thought provoking and fruitful for me in hindsight.

Maboroshi is an extremely odd movie. I very much felt the emotions it was trying to convey and I find the message it wants to communicate very beautiful and well executed. There are a few plot conveniences that didn't disturb my watch but can be noted nonetheless. I am still unsure of what the movie's ending is saying. It's extremely hard to understand what happens at time. Personally, I love it and it makes my brain work a lot. Is it for everyone? Absolutely not. I think the confusingness is at least partly intentional, and as an artistic choice, I can absolutely respect it. It's not easy to get into, tho. Recommend if you don't mind not understanding some of what you see. Awesome music, great art, confusing plot, cool characters.

Maboroshi is an anime that tries to tell the story of loss, emotion and coming of age in a very fairytale-like way. It has a melancholic tone, as if someone had combined A Silent Voice with the gentle world of Bakemono no Ko, only... quieter. Not every anime film needs to shout to leave a mark - this one rather whispered. Animation & Art Style Wonder. Simply a marvel. Maboroshi resembles a painting created with watercolour and light. Everything is delicate, pastel, soft, and the alternate world looks like it's from a child's imagination - and that's exactly the point. It's a film that you just want to watch frame by frame, because there are so many visual gems. Even if the storyline loses something, the animation will hold you. Sound & Music Music? Subtle, beautifully synchronised with the mood. It doesn't exude emotion by force - it simply accompanies. Sometimes you don't even notice it's playing, and it works. Voice acting is gentle, calm. Fits the overall atmosphere - without being overly expressive, more along the lines of whispers and quiet sighs. Enjoyment & Overall Thoughts Maboroshi is an anime that needs to be felt, not understood. Perfect for an evening when you feel like sinking into something atmospheric, quiet and visually fabulous. But also, it's not a film for everyone. You won't get incisive dramas or super-intense experiences here - rather, a slightly hazy story of emotional coming of age that you'll either embrace with your heart or bounce off. A beautiful, melancholic tale that says more with images than words. Touching, though not entirely emotionally engaging. For sensitive souls and fans of visual poetry.

Like most of Mari Okada's works, Maboroshi is delicate, emotional, and filled with unreal elements. At the same time it's very "small" - overly focused on the love relationships of a few people, some being unnecessary. Both its strengths and weaknesses are evident. The visual was impeccable. The use of light was particularly pleasing; it gently guided the audiences' attention, while effortlessly conveying different emotions and situations. The story featured a small town relied solely on the steel industry, where time stood still following a steel mill explosion. The theme had so much explore. Over the past decades, many of such single-industry towns had to experience the pains amid industrial transformations (as symboled by explosion of the mill). Becoming isolated and gloomy, they were left behind by the times (literally, time stopped in Maboroshi). Old people carried on in silence, while young people were forced to make the choice: should they leave the hometowns for a different life ("disappear"), or suppress their own dreams to maintain their attachment to the land? Maboroshi depicted exactly such group of high schoolers at a forgotten town, facing the crossroads. To remain unchanged is not only an illusion, but also a fantasy; to change inevitably brings reluctance, fear, and sadness. No matter how painful it is, the youth must move towards the future, and open up more possibilities, just like what the characters did. This melancholy yet positive emotion is what resonated with me the most in Maboroshi, but it could be less obvious for some audience. Therefore, I feel Okada should spend much more effort than she currently did to help viewers understand and feel it. Unfortunately, the anime spent substantial amount of time depicting the chaotic (or even somewhat immoral?) love stories, greatly diverting everyone's attention and even creating confusion. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the romance in Maboroshi should be completely erased. Okada excels at illustrating romance, and again she did it skillfully Maboroshi. Her portray of love is tender, vague, yet often filled with wistfulness - we've seen many successful examples in her previous works (remember AnoHana?). She is also adept at creating imaginative and interesting worlds (think of Nagi-Asu, and Maboroshi too). However, she tends to be obsessed over complex interpersonal relationships (especially among a small group of people), and rely too much on romance to progress story and guide character growth. It greatly limit the scope of her creation, building a dense and narrow view on a supposedly broad story. Therefore, Okada's works often leave me with the impression "there is nothing but romance." But that's not true; she should be capable of writing good stories beyond romance (just like "Maquia"), which makes me feel that Maboroshi could be much better than it is today. To summarize, Maboroshi is still worth watching - for the art, for the world and feelings it conveys, and for the subtle emotions it describes. Nevertheless, it lands on a shallower place than I'd expect, which prevents me from recommending it wholeheartedly.

Tl;Dr: "Maboroshi" is a stunning anime bursting at the seams with intriguing storytelling, great cinematic moments, and raw emotion. But it’s also a show with some notable caveats. The first is that there are character moments in here that push the needle too far in terms of shock value and novelty. For the most part, I thought the characters in this show are portrayed well within the show’s odd, mature setting. However, there are at least a couple of character moments that come across as needlessly gross, while others at times feel unjustified or underdeveloped. These abrupt points of whiplash in the story are part of a larger issue surrounding the show: that being a shortage of organic character development. Notably, the second act struggles to convincingly connect the other thirds of the film together. Key story beats that feel like they come out of nowhere, as the screenplay sacrifices coherency in exchange for cryptic symbolism. On that note, despite my praise so far in this review, there’s a decent chance that some audiences may come away from "Maboroshi" dissatisfied. The movie’s medley of supernatural elements and shocking twists might leave you not knowing what to think of it all. *** This is a spoiler-free excerpt of my full "Maboroshi" review, originally published as a video essay on YouTube. For a full analysis on "Maboroshi"'s heavy symbolism and themes, do check out my profile to learn more. *** A terrible explosion at a steel factory has just shattered the night sky into a million pieces. Everything was about to change. And then, nothing would change ever again. After that night, time began to behave differently, trapping the survivors of the explosion in a strange stasis. These inhabitants of the seaside town of Mifuse are still allowed to go about their day, although the day never changes. With no escape or contact with the outside world, a never-ending winter now mysteriously hangs over Mifuse. "Maboroshi" introduces us to a town that cannot move on from the fallout, a people perpetually trapped in time and remembrance — an existential crisis after the explosion. The radio plays the same live broadcast of the programme heard on that fateful night. A pregnant woman roams around the town with an empty stroller, as she carries a child that cannot be born. The kids at Middle School cannot age, as they lie trapped in a nightmarish Neverland, never to see adulthood. While the town of Mifuse is forever frozen in winter, the passage of time is still deeply felt throughout the town’s inhabitants. So many days have gone by, and yet, none at all. Rather than spend its runtime dealing with the chaos that emerges in the wake of disaster, "Maboroshi" finds its horror in a long-term aftermath, trapping its characters in an existence with no meaning. That hopelessness weighs heavy on Masamune Kikuiri; a boy with talent, ambitions and dreams unfulfilled. So long as the snow continues to fall from a cracked sky, he will remain Forever Fourteen. Reminiscent of the movies Makoto Shinkai has made over the past decade, "Maboroshi" invokes the supernatural and alludes to real-life tragedy. In order to understand what makes the "Maboroshi" so haunting, we first should compare this imagery to its origin. The damaged steel factory looms large over Mifuse, a fictional seaside town that takes after its real counterpart, Fukushima, which was the site of a tragic disaster that took place on March 11, 2011. The aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant explosion has left monumental damage in its wake. It will take several years for the soil and sea to be fully cleansed from its uninhabitable radiation; meanwhile, the healing process for the Japanese people may take even more time. But after confronting what’s likely the worst experiences of their lives, it’s my hope that the survivors of March 11 have since picked themselves up and moved towards the future. In contrast, no such future exists in the frozen temporal hellscape of Mifuse. "Maboroshi" ‘s director and screenwriter Mari Okada takes this backdrop and amplifies a feeling of despair through the use of supernatural elements, ensuring that the townspeople are literally unable to move on with their lives. "Maboroshi" holds the human spirit hostage at its lowest point, and asks: “What am I living for?” This question will go on to define the rest of the film, as our characters come across crushing revelations. In "Maboroshi", Okada subtly crafts a thought experiment founded on nihilism, with the people of Mifuse having their lives stripped of almost all meaning. The film makes the great decision of exploring these existential conditions through the eyes of Masamune Kikuiri and his fellow teenage schoolmates. The youth are the perfect vessels for dealing with "Maboroshi" ‘s themes. Adolescence is the time in our life spans in which we are at our most uncertain and aimless — the time where we’re most likely to ask that question: “What am I living for?” With reality continuously making less and less sense, these teens have resorted to cheap thrills: teasing, violence, acts of attrition, and tests of courage — anything to feel something again. There’s a certain numbness that can be observed throughout "Maboroshi" ; be it through the crass, careless way in which our characters interact, or through the film’s gorgeous cinematography and OST. Taken in as a whole, the film’s atmosphere is edgy in a manner that feels odd, yet both intentional and essential in fully following through on Okada’s bold vision. This thought experiment created is full of mystery, and its unorthodox storytelling will keep you guessing all the way till the credits roll. What exactly are the supernatural occurrences that have befallen Mifuse? When will it all end? Can the adults be trusted in guiding the people through this strange new world order? And just who is the secret child that these leaders have stashed away in Blast Furnace #5? The journey to solving these mysteries is rich in harsh character drama, culminating in an emotional third act capable of pulling your heart in all directions. My favorite aspect of "Maboroshi" is its bold willingness to uncompromisingly explore its unusual ideas, achieving narrative and storytelling outcomes that are only possible in its engaging world. *** Once again, do check out my profile to find my full analysis on "Maboroshi". Feel free to check out my other reviews for seasons past and present, peace~

Simply put it's one of the best animated films, mappa out did themselves. I'm Impressed. Although the story is a lil bit hard to understand but it's good when you get it. There are a lot of plot hole though. Like if they are in a shut off bubble then where are they getting all their food and other supplies from? The sudden change in characters behaviors is another thing. The most annoying thing is that the MCs father and his uncle are little undistinguishable. In one scene I had to search up their name to see if it was the MCs father or the uncle. The sudden change in sceneries and story is a tad bit annoying too. The movie's strong hold is on the original story and the animations. Without spoiling anything that's all I can say in this review. I would definitely watch it another time and definitely suggest this movie to other people.

If a town is frozen in time to preserve a fragile reality, what happens when the human spirit refuses to stay locked inside a perpetual winter? Mari Okada’s Maboroshi stands as an ambitious anime feature that attempts to walk the fine line between poignant coming-of-age drama and surreal psychological allegory. Visually, MAPPA delivers an absolute feast for the eyes, utilizing hyper-detailed background art, breathtaking lighting, and fluid character animations that make the trapped, soot-covered town of Mifusumi feel intensely atmospheric and hauntingly cinematic. Narratively, however, the movie struggles under the weight of its own conceptual ambition. While the core premise of a town forbidden from changing is deeply intriguing, the execution suffers from a frustrating lack of narrative clarity. The worldbuilding relies far too heavily on vague internal logic and heavy-handed metaphors, leaving major plot devices feeling confusingly ambiguous rather than compellingly mysterious. Character-wise, the angst-ridden protagonist Masamune and the enigmatic Itsumi carry moments of raw emotional vulnerability, though their motivations are often swallowed by melodramatic dialogue and convoluted character choices. Musically, the score provides a beautifully melancholic backdrop, yet it frequently tries to force emotional moments that the narrative hasn't fully earned. The film's most glaring flaw lies in its structural coherence. The pacing stumbles badly in the midsection, juggling too many abstract ideas without giving its core rules room to solidify. Because the writing prioritizes bizarre symbolic twists over grounded storytelling, the emotional climax loses its punch. It feels more puzzled than moved. Ultimately, Maboroshi is a visually stunning shell wrapping a narrative that feels too erratic and disjointed to fully land. Anyway, this is just my personal take on the film. If your interpretation or feelings about it are completely different from mine, that's perfectly fine. Art is subjective, and I think that's part of what makes it so interesting. Different people can walk away from the same work with completely different thoughts, feelings, and interpretations. We don't have to see a piece of art the same way to appreciate the conversation around it. But, we can simply respect each other's perspectives and enjoy the fact that a single piece of art can mean different things to different people. Wishing everyone a peaceful day ahead, and thank you for taking the time to read.

I felt stupid watching this anime. almost throughout the whole anime, I couldn't understand anything of what was happening. The plot, pacing, everything was so confusing, to the point I thought I was stupid to even understand anything. Watching this movie felt like having my IQ level sucked out despite having such a good art style and ATLEAST A BIT of romance. I can't grasp enough from the amount of times I had to pause every minute of the movie in order to understand the slightest plot, and just taking more time to watch the movie than it should've been. I wouldn't say this is a bad or good review, but at the same time I can't even write a proper one because I'm just... confused. I can see this being somewhat similar to Your Name, it truly does. There were things that I couldn't understand in that movie too, but dang, I've never felt this stupid watching this one. Overall, I don't think I would rate this movie at a high score because of the amount of time I had to take JUST to understand the slightest plot, but other than that, (again) I just felt stupid watching this lmaoaoao. Only good note that I can say is how I would usually drop an anime when it's bad, but I was intrigued by this one, considering I was bored at 10 pm (finished the movie at 1 am...). Maybe it would be a different story if I was looking for a good anime to watch, but besides that, I'm glad everyone in the reviews feels the same way I do (ᵕ—ᴗ—)

Ok all in all it was pretty good, MAPPA always goes above and beyond with animation ofc. The story is hard to follow but I loved it because I’m a sucker for wack adventures especially having to do with time, time travel, time loop, time lock, etc. imo I think this would have been AMAZING as a 12-13 episode anime rather than try to fit all this into a movie. The Not Recommended reviews are speaking truth with the crazy plot here. I just kept thinking of Erased and how well that was developed and thought this could have been similar. Still good though.