Tsumiki no Ie

I have never before given any anime a complete 10 of 10 in all categories. But what can I say here in my defense? You know about the art style, with all its beauty and nostalgia. And how the soundtrack is more like a music box that takes us to a secret, imaginary place just for us. And the story is its keepsake. A treasure you take out once in awhile to remember and breathe its warm scent in deeply and feel embraced in home. This short is as much a corteo as it is a memory. It is a reflection of the stories of a man and a house. Each story literally takes you deeper into the memory of the world of one man and through these we are able to get to know his family, his history and his reality. To the point where we see what it is to be human and build a house, a life, of small cubes. What made this film great to me was being a part of the life he shared and feeling as though I have also made (or begun a process of making) my own house of 'little boxes.'

Impactful simplicity at its finest. What's not to like about a short film so basic, yet powerful and poignant in point? This anime feature is a mere 12-minutes long, yet it packs the dramatic depth of many full-length feature films. Experience Tsumiki no Ie (La Maison en Petits Cubes or The House of Small Cubes) and take a brief break from the constant pressures of life. This anime will teach you not to take time for granted....and in the end, you just may find yourself appreciating those very pressures. Enter a world that is flooded and slowly filling higher and higher with water as the years go by. A very aged man, confined to his cubicle home in a small sea village, spends his days fishing, smoking his pipe, and having quaint dinners alone. After accidentally dropping his pipe into the grate on the floor of his house, the elder decides to acquire some scuba gear and go down after it....what he doesn't expect is to get swept away in buried memories of his past. The art of this anime is gorgeous and very stylized. It is strongly reminiscent of a grainy oil painting and has a certain "French" tinge to its texture. The short is totally unrecognizable as an anime and yet to date, it is one of the two pieces of Japanese animation to win an academy award (the other being Studio Ghibli's well-known 2001 film Spirited Away). Go figure! Sound-wise, the short thrives on ambiance and the sound of sea is prevalent. All is done to reinforce the reflective, melancholy atmosphere projected through the visual aesthetics of the world. If I had to compare the story beats to anything I've seen before, I'd say its strongly reminiscent to Pixar's Up (2009) in its message and even then it's not exact or duplicated (Up also debuted a year later, so The House of Small Cubes is unquestionably original in that respect). All things considered, a perfect 10 in score. There's no way to frown on this simple piece of animation. None. It gives an amazingly simple, yet serene look into the topics of memories, the past, nostalgic sadness, and the importance of moving forward. A true gem that won't even cost you that much time. ....so why are you still reading? you could have been three minutes into this precious film by now!

This thing deserves the Oscar it got. It is truly spectacular. 12 minutes. That is all this short needed to portray everything it wanted to portray, and in a way that most anime can look up to. The most amazing thing about it, is how it showcases its message in a way that a person of any age can understand. You may think that's easy, but it can be harder then putting together a lot of abstract symbolism. The art style and the music, that makes you immediately think of France, are on point. All the little details that you can spot, all the transitions and every movement looks smooth and consistent. Your eyes are easily drawn to the things that they're supposed to be drawn to. It sets up a setting, tells a single story inside it, and that's all. It was surprisingly more than enough. The emotions that flew through me while watching it exploded one after another. Every time a new hatch opened, new tears were dropping from my eyes. It is truly one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and I don't mean only anime related. If you have 12 minutes to spare, please, do yourself a favour, and watch it. Show it to your family, show it to your kids, show it to everybody. More and more people need to see this, because it will make their day. You will most likely be smiling in the end. Of course, this is purely my opinion, and I strongly reccomend you to develop your own.

Truly an astonishing film. One can overlook what goes behind an old man's life. the story starts with the normal setting and then suddenly the uniqueness gets you. the film was overall twelve mins but I believe it captured it all. A silent movie sometimes have it's own charm and charisma. The film is appropriate for all ages. I personally like it because it summed it all up completely. the story was simple yet unique Don't want to spoil or anything but it sad how old people are forever alone. the film winning an Oscar was no surprise whatsoever finally as I know I am not good with reviews. I personally believe your thought is what really counts. Watch it and be a better judge

As all my reviews start; where do I possibly begin? Tsumiki no Ie or La Maison en Petits (House of Ice Cubes) is undoubtedly, a masterpiece. Using 12 minutes of your time, about one-fifth of an hour and approximately 726 seconds, it tells a story that needs no words (literally) and perhaps it might invoke something in you. Thought-Provoking at best, symbolic, beautiful and simple. It doesn't need dialogue to express the protagonist's emotions, it doesn't need great animation to tell the tale. With a soothing tune in the background to complement the story, it is more than enough. Like every person including the protagonist; our life begins and ends with simplicity. This story takes you on a dive to view the life of a seemingly lonesome old man who went to search for the pipe he dropped. But as he goes further down, we see the life he had with the levels of his house that he built up moment by moment and brick by brick, all in which was engulfed and overwhelmed by the tides of time. Like memories we have, they tend to be submerged and overlapped by new and at some point, we reminiscence. But most importantly, in the end, our lives don't have to be perfect. The house/journey can look perfectly bizarre but that's fine. You've lived, learnt and experienced things, from love to parenthood and your fair share of problems. You learn about death, but its what life is and all there is to remember. Some journeys end fast and stop at the first layer, but you can choose to continue, even if it takes a lot of time. From simplicity to extravagance and simplicity once more, its still worth living through the moments. But the question is: Do you regret it?

Tsumiki no Ie, or La Maison en Petits Cubes is a short film directed by Kunio Kato, and is one of the most unique, wonderful, and truly outstanding pieces of art and animation I have ever seen. The story of a man, who dives and explores his flooded home, reliving the important of his life. In only eleven minutes, we see the entire life of a man, and forge an emotional connection of a kind not seen in most...well, anything. On a pure plot level, it's very unique, but what keeps the viewer watching is the fact you really are feeling the same emotions as the main character - the feeling of distraught of his pipe falling, the overwealming feeling of having your life relived in your mind. The plot is beautiful, bitter-sweet, charming, and sad all at the same time, and again, this masterpiece is crafted with only eleven minutes of screen time. The art is truly beautiful while maintaining a simple quality to it - it is exactly what it needs to be. It is complimented by the strong animation, creating a sense of motion that is quit fluid, and very nice to look at. But what is the single most engaging part of it's production, is the music. As an anecdote, when I finished the short film, as the notes of the music died away and the credits rolled, I sat there and let the music sink in. It's that good. It goes a long way in making you truly feel for the old man, and tug on your heartstrings. I never thought an eleven minute short could be compared to some of the greatest works of anime - but Tsumiki no Ie proved me wrong, crafting an emotional, connecting story in the span of only eleven minutes, whilst at the same time immersing yourself completely, making the viewer not even realise that you just watched a man's entire life pass in eleven minutes. Tsumiki no Ie is, simply, one of the greatest works of art in the medium, and is simply something that everyone should watch, at least once.

Tsumiki no Ie is an exceptional piece of work.At first i wasnt sure if i sould watch this one,it seemed like it would be the kind of anime, i personally, dont usually enjoy an anime with sureall setting and a hard to understand plot but i was wrong. It turned out to be an easy to understand story, yet full of imagination and beautiful sceneries which leaves you a bittersweet taste at the end. It's not the usuall type of anime but i enjoyed it very much,so i would reccomend it. After all is only 12 minutes,you could give it a try.

One short film, one old man, one home, one masterpiece. If I'm about to write a description about Tsumiki no Ie, that's what I'll say. Even if this has it's just 12 minutes long, even if the animation is bad for some people who prefer those modern anime art, and even there are no voice, narrator whatsoever and it's just pure background music, this short film is too good despite those things. Don't get me wrong though as I don't rate anime by those factors alone. Remembering the past is always a good thing even if some of them are sad and bad, it's still a good memory because they also made what the present you is. Now, Tsumiki no Ie's old man recalled the happy and sad memories of his early days and this is where the story of Tsumiki no Ie is about. For a 12-minute long movie, the story is too good for that length. Imagine, you don't have to watch a 24-minute long anime with 12 episode just to get a good watch. You only need 12 minute for that good anime to watch. The story also gives you those nostalgia that can make you say "Man, I miss those days." So yeah, this is good. Before, when I see these kind of art, I refuse to watch them. But I came to realize that you don't really have to have what most modern anime art to have good anime. Tsumiki no Ie's art is probably not everyone's cup of tea but this shouldn't be underestimated for its art is unique in its own way. After all, this won't have an Oscar award for nothing. From what I said before, lack of voice isn't that big of a problem. Its background music is enough for this masterpiece and the bgm compliments with the story pretty well. It helps to set up the mood of the anime and it did its job done. For the characters, well... The old man is the only character in this short film but even if he's the only one, he's lovable and the him of his past is heart-soothing. Well, what more can I say? I think all I did is say this is good, it's a masterpiece all that jazz. But you can't blame me. It really is a masterpiece of a short film. So for those who haven't watch this short film yet, I really recommend you to watch this. It'll only take 12 minutes of your life to finish this and I'm pretty sure you won't regret that you watch this.

In just those twelve minutes, it reminded me of an important life lesson. Recently, I have been having a rough time as I am getting ready to go to college, and am just been so stressed about so many different things. I haven't been as kind to others lately, and have just been spending time alone and isolated from my friends when I could be doing something else. I'm conscious of this behavior, but I just can't do anything about it. Basically this story reminded me of a much needed lesson; cherish every moment. You don't know what is going to happen next. Be kind, don't miss out on opportunities that you will regret missing. Don't push those that care for you away, and remember that life is short, and every moment is important. Don't waste time on useless stuff, and just live so that you never regret. I don't have much to say about this other than that this was beautiful.

La Maison en Petits Cubes was a heartwarming, tear-jerking masterpiece I happened to stumble upon. A man goes searching for a pipe he lost and ends up seeing a slide show of memories he has of the past rooms of his house. Doubt I'm the only one that did, but I cried a bit during this. It hit home in several ways and brings back an overwhelming nostalgia for me. Now, for the breakdown. Story: 9 The story of this movie is a simple but powerful one. A man goes on a journey back through his memories to realize the worth of his life. Art: 10 Ah, the art. Where should I start? I found the artistic style of this anime phenomenal. The colour schemes were divine. Even the general blue colours had so many different shades to them, very enjoyable. Sound: 9 I really liked the choice of music for this movie. Not much else to say. Character: 7 Obviously, there's not much room for character depth within 12 minutes, but the overall theme and message the movie conveys makes it well worth watching. Enjoyment: 10 I enjoyed this movie quite a bit, as I like general surreal stuff. Overall: 9 Overall, La Maison en Petits Cubes is a fantastic short, but powerful film that inspires a lot of introspection even upon finishing. I highly recommend it.

Story (10/10): One might think that a 12 minute short could not possibly have enough time to develop a heartwarming story and make its viewers truly feel the emotions intended by the producers. There is not a single word spoken in this entire short, yet it tells a story greater than any words in the world could do justice. Tsumiki no Ie is the epitome of "A picture tells a thousand words." The story itself is about a man in a world where the sea level constantly rises, and when he accidentally drops his favorite pipe in the water, he dives down into the ocean. He dived for the pipe and found something greater than that. Art (10/10): The art style in Tsumiki no Ie can only be described as having a comforting, homey feel. The choice of art style fits Tsumiki no Ie's story and message to a T. The art is a breath of fresh air I did not know I needed. Sound (10/10): Despite not having a single word in the entire short, in dialogue or the music, the soundtrack adds a unique aspect to an already beautiful short. The soundtrack, lack of dialogue, and the art style work together like a symphony to provide the perfect atmosphere to present Tsumiki no Ie's message. Character (10/10): The characters' emotions are quite real. When they were sad, I was sad, when they were happy, I was happy. Their motives, their memories, their way of life was realistic to the extreme. I could relate to each and character, despite only seeing them for 12 minutes. Enjoyment (10/10): I am beyond impressed by Tsumiki no Ie's use of storytelling techniques, art, sound, and characters. As MALGraph's Short Movie Achievement says "Good things come in small packages." I did not believe that statement before but now, after watching Tsumiki no Ie, I completely understand. Overall (10/10): I think that what most shows try to do in 12 episodes or more, Tsumiki no Ie did in 12 minutes, and not only that but achieved it in a way that a 12 episode show could not. Tsumiki no Ie has opened my eyes to the world of shorts and has changed my perspective on both the shorts genre as a whole, but also the concept of a wordless anime.

Key things to note: --It's a short. (xx mins < 30 mins.) --It lacks dialogue. Story: 10/10 --It's quite a unique take on telling a story of nostalgia. There is never a reason stated for why there is rising sea water, but that aside, it is a wonderful story that very much reminds me of the opening of Pixar's "UP," but rather a reverse telling of the tale. It does start of a little slow, but considering that the whole short is about 12 minutes long, it get's by pretty quickly and once it does you're left feeling warm and a little achy--because it kind of forces you to remember your own forgotten but fond memories. Art: 10/10 --I have seen very few animations quite like this before. This is definitely unique and for anyone who didn't know of this tale's origin, you might even think it was made by a western artist. It definitely incorporates true aspects of art that most of us wouldn't even care to know the details of. Anime is not all about wild hair, big heads, and big eyes, you know. Sound: 8/10 --It's quite wonderful. It's very fitting for the drawing and it sets the mood quite nicely. It's vague enough to make you wonder who the composer is, but general enough to make you feel like you've heard it before. It's very calm for the most part but the key thing to note is that it is most absolutely nostalgic. Character: 8/10 --It really does remind me of "UP," in many ways. An old man who lives his life, now, alone. At first I thought he was grumpy but as the tale continues, you learn of his life. I'm a sucker for old people, and it broke my heart that he had to work on his house at his old age. Nonetheless, it just reminds me that he's a hard worker. His tale of falling in love and creating a family is just heartbreaking. Enjoyment: 9/10 --If you loved the opening for "UP" (I cannot make anymore references to this) then you will LOVE this. It's eerily similar but it also stands on it own. The ending just about breaks my heart--but in a good way. It's just too lovely and almost sad. Don't judge a show by the length. This little short speaks volumes.

The animation is very pretty. I don't know if it would be considered "anime" in the traditional sense, but that's for more knowledgeable people than me to decide. The music is beautiful and used to great effect. There's no dialogue, but despite that you get a very good feel for the main character. The plot, and with it, the world it exists in, can probably either be taken literally or metaphorically or both. The main character lives alone in a house in a water-world of sorts. The sea is always rising, and as it does, he has to keep building additional levels above as the lower levels flood. He, and previously his family, started on the ground level, and moved up as this happened. As the latest sea-level rise happens he drops his pipe down an opening, so he dons some scuba gear to go get it. While down there he opens the next portal down, and starts revisiting memories from that level. That continues as you see all the way to his earliest childhood memories where he's spending time with his wife-to-be as young kids. Don't get caught up in the technicalities, like "how did the world get this way?" and "does his daughter have her own house, and does she visit him?". Keep the MST3K maxim in mind: "Just repeat to yourself, 'It's just a show, I should really just relax.' " The point is, he's lived a long life, and made a lot of memories. Each floor was a chapter of his life that he started, then the sea rose (the sea being a metaphor for time) as it inevitably does in this world, and a new floor was built on top of it and they moved up. Literally in physical space, but also in chronological age. And revisiting those floors meant revisiting those memories, many of them mundane, everyday stuff. But when you get older, a lot of times it's the mundane, everyday stuff that you miss about the people you can't be with anymore. Either because they've passed away, or because times have changed, and they've changed, or you've changed. The other thing is there are other houses but you really don't see other people in them. The houses also aren't all as tall as his. Some are very short, maybe one or two stories. The implication may be that other people in his town, or in his life, may have had their own stories similar to his, but they themselves have passed on. Everyone is building their house against the ever-rising tide of time. This was a great film. I don't know if it'll resonate with everyone. This is one that's probably worth coming back to every 10 years or so, as it'll probably hit different as you get older.

Can you imagine seeing time as something solid in front of you? Your past permeating the walls of your home and manifesting itself to you as if there were no more barriers between life and death? This great animation of Kunio Katou can print this on us with permanent ink. It's unbelievable the ability of 12 minutes to pass such a powerful message on our lives. The story of an old man who dips through his old houses submerged by the ocean and recalls prescious moments of his life, making us reflect on how the past is not lost. He resides, with our loved ones who are gone, forever within us. The art transmitted the hopeless morbidity of the protagonist and the music accompanied the rhythm of animation, from the simplest moment to the deepest one. Without doubt, a memorable and exciting masterpiece.

I'm sure you've heard it all before — with no dialogue, a stupidly short running time and only the weight of its audiovisuals to impart its themes onto viewers, this brief animation weaves a more powerful, well-paced, engaging and complex narrative than that of some unimpressive full-length titles. This is a strength that cannot go unmentioned whenever any good short is released. For whatever reason, viewers and reviewers alike seem to be under the misguided impression that a limited budget, a limited runtime and limited ambition significantly increases the difficulty of a project, but this simply isn't true. Contrary to popular opinion, placing limitations on the scope of a project allows development to proceed far more smoothly because the output is easier to control. Tsumiki is so well-paced and engaging because it can't afford to have empty time; every frame has to mean something because of the limited runtime. Tsumiki is as complex as it is because everything needs to fit the timeframe, but to keep things from getting messy, it can't have more than one or two central themes, which makes it very easy to expand on its core theme(s) both subtly and overtly. What makes Tsumiki no Ie powerful, however, is a product of the creator's skill in manipulating a theme that has the potential to speak to everyone. Tsumiki's composition — particularly in regard to its unique artwork — possesses a certain nebulous quality that provokes a very wistful sense of nostalgia which morphs into disparate though similar feelings as the narrative continues. If there is one thing that Tsumiki excels in, it's atmosphere. The scratchiness in the artwork gives way to a sort of 'vintage' quality, and the soundtrack (but particularly the sound work) synergises perfectly with every frame — the sound of crashing waves, a door creaking open, or perhaps even the clink of a glass— amplifying the emotion in every scene even further. Tsumiki is highly engaging, excelling in making the perfectly mundane and uneventful beautiful and significant. It is a slow and graceful though somewhat desolate portrait of the end for one old man. Truly, Tsumiki is phenomenal at crafting the perfect atmosphere for the perfect moment. It's so good at this, in fact, that you are liable to forget just how formulaic it is in comparison to every other short that showcases a few nice, sappy moments from the past right after each other to keep building and building more emotion, ultimately culminating in one powerful moment. Even so, Tsumiki is undoubtedly the best of what must have become a genre of its own by this point, though that doesn't mean that it's perfect. Tsumiki has no need of dialogue because its themes are universal; because everyone can understand, resonate with and relate to what it has to say. The older you get, the more it will resonate with you, but anybody will feel a twinge of emotion if they're in tune with it — and this is exactly my issue with it. In spite of the praises I have for its complexity, it seems to have thrown away a stronger sense of identity and a more entangled narrative for the sake of appealing to everybody. While the protagonist does have some identity, so much of it is made vague enough for any viewer to slip right into. Deliberately nameless and deliberately dialogueless, the only time he expresses much of his individuality is during some of his flashbacks and right at the climax. Even his flashbacks are average and typical enough for any viewer to picture themselves in his position. To me, at least, this narrative isn't nearly personal enough for me to consider the protagonist interesting, endearing or empathetic. Rather than connecting to the characters, I find myself drifting toward the universal themes and disregarding the existence of these characters almost completely. The main reason for this seems to be a complete lack of conflict in the story. The old saying is, "conflict breeds character," and this is something that works against Tsumiki. Not only would the climax have had more impact and the overall narrative more depth, the characters had the potential to be multi-faceted — not to mention it would have made the ordeal feel far more authentic. Unfortunately, Tsumiki falls rather short in characterisation even though it does handle said characters' development competently. What I find particularly endearing about this short is how it weaves subtlety and artful symbolism into its narrative, reinforcing its themes. It is necessary to remember that we are viewing everything from the perspective of the old man, with all of his own biases intact. "The House of Small Cubes" is a simple symbol with a variety of interpretations and implications, and it wasn't something I caught until the third watch. The beauty of this is that I can come back to the short in a different mindset every time and see something new each time, which speaks to just how much thought was put into its deceptively simple composition. Tsumiki no Ie is one of the first shorts that everyone thinks of when they hear the words 'hidden gem', and with good reason. That said, I am of the opinion that Tsumiki no Ie could have had far more distinctive characters with more conflict thrown in. However, it is exemplary at what it does accomplish. Tsumiki may be lacking in originality, but it certainly isn't lacking in impact or resonance, and it provides a unique and more nuanced perspective of the same story we've seen plenty of times before. At a mere 12 minutes, I can confidently and enthusiastically recommend Tsumiki no Ie to everyone. If you have yet to watch it, Tsumiki no Ie should be the first thing on your list. "The House of Small Cubes" will stay with me for a long time, and I will continue to re-watch it every now and again in hopes of gaining some fresh perspective.

To many media consumers, dialogue and sound can be considered one of the most important things. Whether it be a tv show or a movie dialogue usually plays an important role in the presentation and content of a work. However commonplace in the early days of cinema, silent films were actually incredibly common and were widely enjoyed by the general population. Innovators of this form of cinematography are people such as Charlie Chaplin. While this art form is not commonplace in modern cinema, the short film La Maison en petits cubes pulls this off in fantastic fashion. The story of Tsumiki no Ie is told strictly through aspects such as music imagery and symbolism rather than the ideas of the short film being expressed through dialogue. With the absence of dialogue being prevalent, I can't really judge for voice acting however the musical score implemented into this short film is very impressive. You can tell that the musical score was under heavy influence from European music in particular French. This film is only twelve minutes long but we are showed as much as the fantastic musical score as popular in these twelve minutes and it really drives and articulates the story of this film. The story itself is actually very simple. It basically follows an old man as he recalls various events of his life while he is scuba diving in search of his lost pipe. The fact that he is remembering the events of his life makes sense because he is scuba diving through the remains of his flooded house. This concept is the framework for a great story however the story is articulated mostly through imagery and music. This actually makes it seem like the lack of dialogue is a strength to the film rather than a hinder ended which is quite impressive. There is one meaningful character in this film. He is not given a specific name but he is known as elderly man. This character does not just seem like a plot device for the story to use to express an event. It's quite impressive that he is developed more in 12 minutes than many anime characters are in 24 episodes. This character can be used as an example to represent human loneliness due to how he lives alone. I honestly really liked the art in this film. It has a very scratchy rustic feeling to it and it feels very genuine. I also feel that during some scenes the art has a goldish tint to it. The art itself feels like a very nice painting from a far off land. So in conclusion I enjoyed this short film greatly. I thought it was a great achievement in the art of short films and its use of imagery and symbolism in conjunction with music really enhanced the cinematography. If you have 12 minutes of spare time and you want something short, beautiful, and oh so inspiring, definitely check this out.

From the moment I started watching, I was captivated by the amazing artstyle, animation, and overall vibe that the anime exuded. The message that this anime conveys is truly beautiful, and I believe it is a work of genius that is worthy of attention from anyone who appreciates good storytelling. The fact that the anime manages to convey so much in just 12 minutes is truly astounding. Katou Kunio has done an exceptional job of delving deep into the theme of loneliness and how memories can serve as a lifeline to those who are struggling to find purpose in their lives. The symbols and metaphors used in the anime are incredibly powerful and thought-provoking, highlighting the effects of time on our lives and the struggle to find meaning and purpose. The subtlety and calmness of the background music are a perfect match for the overall tone of the anime, creating an immersive experience that pulled me in from the very beginning. The feeling of loneliness and the connection with the main character are incredibly relatable, making me question my own life and what I would do if I found myself in a similar situation. The memories of childhood, love, affection, and family that the main character reminisces about are heartwarming and add depth to the story, making it more relatable and impactful. The whole concept of Tsumiki no Ie is truly astonishing, and I believe it is a work that everyone should watch and appreciate. In conclusion, Tsumiki no Ie is an anime that I highly recommend. It is short, but it packs a powerful punch that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who watches it. The message that this anime conveys is really beautiful, and the genius work of Katou Kunio has made this anime a timeless classic that deserves all the attention it can get.

So I was looking for something short enough to watch while I finish my dinner. And I stumbled upon this anime called Maison en Petit Cubes. I thought it's 12 minutes, let's give it a try. Now, I was left completelyyyy blown away after it ended. I love how much it says in just 12 minutes. Maison en Petit Cubes didn't need a huge script, high-budget animation yet showed so much. I think it's a great anime and worth watching but if you're looking for good animated animes, perhaps look for other animes. But I recommend to watch this anime!

I rarely agree with the oscars, but with this short film awarded as the best animated short film of 2008, I completely agree. What a wonderful work, I think it's the best short film I've seen in my life, and the best animation piece with the permission of 'Spirited Away' and 'Grave of the Fireflies'. It seems to me that the twelve minutes that it lasts are among the best in the history of cinema. A true jewel that talks about memories, about what we long for, about melancholy... With a beautiful tone, very beautiful, that calms and relaxes you while you see it, while you think about everything you miss. Very special, really, a delight...

As a person who is an absolute SUCKER for these kinds of somber films, as in, i almost always roll on the floor and cry in to a bucket over how oppressive the atmosphere usually is in these types of movies. But, even so, i think this one hits SUCH an astounding resonance with me and my humanity, so much so that 3 minutes in i already just could NOT handle how well the movie was hitting me, ie what some would call "crying like a b***h. The art style and vibe are effective immediately and the oppressive nature of the atmosphere just come down on you like 10 tons of solid cement and just get heavier as the movie proceeds. The overwhelming feeling of somber loneliness is a thing that tore me emotionally apart, as it is simply impossible not to feel even slightly symphatethic towards the old man, although that may have something with my irl condition of wanting to cry everytime i see an old man struggle to walk and using a walking stick, struggling to sit down on a bus, and many other ocurances that personally so to say "trigger" my emotional side and makes me just contemplate, just as this short movie does, what the memories of these people are. But, enough about my own connection to the movie. If i were to be asked, i think the animation and subtlety is this pieces greatest strength. Being able to convey emotion and messages through simple visual cues, facial expressions and pitch perfect pace and direction to back it all up, is somewhat of a lost art in any cinematic piece of media. Not to mention the somber music playing over it, setting the tone fucking PERFECTLY. Its metaphors and journey of both the effects of time and the continued will to live of a man whose life is seemingly meaningless, as he is lonely, and living under constant need to build new floors to keep living, and seemingly eats the same meals each day, spending his time reminiscing on his past. It truly hits a note within the human psyche wherein you wonder "what would i do if i ended up this way?". And truly, what would you? Might i remind you of that it does all of this, in 12 minutes 12 FREAKING MINUTES T W E L V E. To conclude, if anyone has any time to spare, this movie is a wonderfully sober and thought provoking little experiment that is both beautifully animated and well directed. It is one of the most genuine tear jerking things that, unlike anoha or clannad, isn't what i like to call "emotional pornography" that beats you over the head with forced and sometimes just plain cheesy amount of depressive nonsense. If you want something that is going to make you feel human inside or make you think about the topic of age, meaning of life, nihilism and so on, check out this movie. But i warn you, it is legitimately depressing, so if you suffer from chronic depression, don't watch it.