Tsumiki no Ie

I absolutely loved this. I was looking for something emotional and heartfelt to watch and I found it. It really sums up loneliness or feelings of isolation. And also feels of nostalgia. The art is beautiful it reminded me of a painting, a moving painting. The music was very pretty, my favorite part of the music was when the music started to sound like a lullaby for a baby. It was so cute. Overall I really enjoyed this for the strong emotions conveyed without having to say a word. 10 out of 10

This is a fun little animation that I stumbled upon and really enjoyed. It may seem a bit boring at first but you simply can't give up on it. For one thing, it's so short, you can suck it up, and for another thing it goes through a little backwards time line that can tug at your heart. It's sad but it's also sweet so watching this film is definitely worth the look-see.

This is such a simple yet deeply affecting short movie (just 12 minutes). A man being forced to build upwards to escape rising floodwaters shifts in the other direction as he dives down through the various levels of the ever-growing building, visiting different parts of his life that he was forced to leave behind. No dialogue, so you just soak it in. The closest thing I can relate this to is Up's first few minutes, but there's little sadness to this. The reminiscence feels warm and comfortable, and the artwork and music perfectly feed into that. By the end, the journey to find a pipe is a journey through a life well lived in reverse. It's somber at times, but that feeling of connection with the past absolutely hits home. So, yes, I loved this. One of two short films (this and Shashinkan) that I'd consider a must-watch.

Okay, fine. You got me. I admit I didn't fully understand this short, it has a deep meaning that I can't quite grasp because my mind just kept thinking “Why did everything suddenly fill up with water?”. I don't have much to say about it. The short lasts 12 minutes and tells you from beginning to end a story that you do understand, but in my case, I did not understand the meaning. It has no dialogue, however, it is not necessary to understand or empathize with the protagonist, you know what he is feeling when he remembers certain things, you can understand the sadness of the protagonist with certain changes in his life, but still... Why did everything fill with water? What does the water symbolize?

Look at it, what do you see first? Whenever something short comes along, it is usually of no use to create an elaborate story in such a short span of time, that isn't to say that they are doomed to be consistently flawed, for there is another aspect to the taken in. Presentation. In short movies as such, presentation is pretty much the only factor to worry about, since stories within each genre usually play out somewhat similarly, with the only difference being how they are physically made. Compare the titles, "La Maison en Petits Cubes", "Furiko"/"Pendulum", "Shelter". They are all of the same tree, yet look nothing alike. Does that mean I must solely base this review on the presentation of "La Maison en Petits Cubes", in some sense, I should, but there is a story to be told regardless, and to not touch on it makes for some inconsistency I wish not to stumble into. As for the narrative of this anime, it is only superficial, there isn't too much deep meaning, and if there were, it comes under simple messages you probably know of from general interactions in real life. The synopsis covers everything that happens, but what I will say is that I wouldn't go into this expecting too much, it is but a simple tale, of an old man and his memories. Audiovisuals, as expected, are amazing, almost looks as if it were a painting from the past. I really liked the animation of it too, nothing too smooth but it captivates the drawing-type style of this short. Sounds are great stuff too, instruments in harmony and everything you'd expect a short to be good at. I enjoyed this, not a great deal, it was simple, and I like simple things, but it is really a matter of how "hard it hits" according to individuals tastes. I quite like flashy stuff or modern plain and simple, this was too artsy and classical for me. I would imagine most would enjoy this though. Would recommend this, it is only 12 mins and whilst that is half an anime episode, this does fly by. Time-efficient, simple, looks nice, what more do you want? I will leave off with: the chocolate, it is indeed visually pleasing, but, you take a bite, and find that the visual does not correlate to the taste. We still leave with happiness though. Overall - 7.4 (7) (Click "Overall Rating" for score breakdown)

This short Movie is truly a little masterpiece in its own right. In essence, it tells a Story of growing old and the memories we leave behind. And even though this simple idea is conveyed in a Story as short as 12 minutes it still managed to pull my heartstrings. I just loved everything about the presentation, the long shots, the Artstyle and coloring that looks like a moving painting, the very subtle facial animations just everything. This is accompanied by an ever so fitting musical score, which almost acts as an Narrator, because it captures the internal feelings/thoughts that our main-character has seeing/reliving his old memories. That being said, Kunio Katō deserved his Oscar and I can highly recommend Tsumiki no Ie

House of Small Cubes is a animated short film about the parabolic achievements and memories gained through one's lifetime all while maintaining relevance in an evolving society. All of this detail is experienced through purely visuals, not a single piece of dialogue was spoken which makes this amazing. Story: 9/10 Firstly, the rising sea levels can be interpreted as tides of a changing society, we see that as the old fellow journeys downwards the house levels coinspire with the sea levels and reveal a nostalgic memory of the old fellow's spouse and the surrounding society at specific times. This symbolic representation is a powerful message implemented in a mere 12 minute film allows it to develop more depth in its plot than most 12 episode series seeking to arouse a similar style. Furthermore, the notion that the objects the surround each level evoke a memory of the old fellow's past self and would have been lost forever if it the whereabouts were unknown, it juxtaposes the idea of materialism and societal development ~ As the society changes and you get older, you lose touch with specific objects you believed had relevance in your life (i.e the memory of him and his wife at the table drinking wine, he possess the wine glass as a sort of nostalgic memory and brings it back to the surface of the current society.) There are a lot more instances and examples referring to different thematic architecture through symbolism. Such a developed story... Art: 6/10 There are definitely large margins in comparison to the art & animation and the plot especially for 12 minutes. The details are fairly vague and rarely approach close up shots because of the lack of detail but the flow of animation and art is definitely bearable. Sound: 7/10 The choice to omit VA and any sort of dialogue and text in the film allowed the story to be openly interpreted by different audiences without language barriers. However, the shallow music and SFX supplement the slow paced story. Character: 7/10 The way character development was executed in this short is exclusive to shorter series/films because the entire premise revolves around a central figure and their internal experience. Also, the option to omit VA also meant there were limited options to develop the old fellow's personality so adding other characters would be problematic. The management of developing the old fellow's character was not deep but wasn't shallow either, like I mentioned earlier this short has more detail compiled into it than many 12 episode series. If I were to compare this to a modern day equivalent in terms of dense character development in a short, I'd say it is more on par with Ping Pong the Animation.

Thanks to a fellow MAL member -michira- who suggested as a hidden tearkjerker gem of an anime , I would've never realised that this ever existed! Now I didn't cry throughout watching the short anime but it was very sad to see an old man go through life on his own and having to build multiple houses so that he doesn't get drowned. Yup this short might as well prepare us for the future because climate change is seriously becoming more of a popular topic nowadays and we could have more storms coming our way before we know it. I don't want to give out much detail about the whole short because I pretty much would be spoiling the whole thing. However, definitely give it a watch folks, it's very good!

Life is just a game of keeping your head above the water. Whether this is what the creators had in mind when creating La Maison en Petits Cubes (つみきのいえ), I am not certain. What I am certain of is the themes of life going through a variety of stages, and at each stage you leave something behind. As you look back further, the more obvious about the changes you have went through. At each stage, something gained, or something lost, only a little different than the stage that came before but ultimately, each part leading to the next, when the water rises and moves you onward. Not a word is spoken, but each level of the old mans abandoned haunts holds the ghosts of a different life. The animation and music conveys the sense of melancholy that each of these past lives, as the memories still fresh like ghosts present themselves. We are not left with a word, not a clue about the feelings of the old man as he nears the bottom, as like many silent films we are left to reflect on our own feelings, and how we may look back on our lives as we are living in what, as the protagonist may feel, may be our last cube. Viewed 20/08/2018

I think that it's beautiful that something so short and simple can explain a life journey expanding for many years. This movie is a wonderful visual metaphor of each stage of life that perfectly depicts the isolation of living alone. The animation is hand drawn giving it a beautiful vintage feel that makes the piece seem way older than it is. I love the idea that water represents life moving forward, or upwards in this instance, and that as he moves under it he rediscovers the rooms full of all his memories from the past, and that each hatch opens to reveal another memory looked within his mind. The idea that he has to build a house to continue living nicely represents the pain of moving on. Something that I found especially sad was that as you look across the water some of the houses had disappeared under it. This to me implied that the people who once lived within them had passed away, similar to how some of the older generations have watched people pass away before them. The Protagonist alone in his house looking across the water to all the houses underneath was a perfect way of showing how lonely life can get, similarly like being trapped alone in a small house on the sea. This is a beautiful watch that won't take too much time to view, that is loaded with hidden meanings and metaphors that will make you marvel at whoever came up with the concept of it.

Tsumiki no Ie is a short story whose main character is an old man who, with a simple yet effective plot device, dives into his memories. Despite its durtion (12 min), the movie has a large emotional value, and it's easy to feel the old man's situation. Story: 8 The story itself is quite simple, due to the lenght of the movie. What immediately catches the viewer's attention is the weird setting, which has an important role in the plot. The whole story in fact has a nostalgic value. Art: 9 At first glance the drawing might appear simple and crude, but actually it's possible to find a lot of detail in the scenery. The use of colours is sublime. Sound: 9 The music is melancholic and nostalgic, and it fits the lonely setting of the house. Character: 9 The old man's thoughts and feelins are shown on his gestures and expressions; his slow moves emphasize the characterization. Enjoyment: 10 The viewer will enjoy the movie for its entire duration. Total: 9 This number istelf can't express my opinion on this movie, so I hope you'll find this review useful!

this anime worth to win an oscar and it did anyway. why? the storyline potray in this anime doesnt need word and speeh to bring life to it, for me, its already alive . it has the beauty on its own,captivating,heartwarming,and reminded us the fact of life. indeed,life must move on,memories stay there,forever will be our precious treasure where only we can reach. :')

8/10 ~ Its a great metaphor This was a great 12 minutes, a touching tale at the end of someone life looking back at where they come from. You can probably extrapolate more from this short film but it really just is a look back at life, each brick is just a moment of his life and hes just about at the end. The lack of dialog, paired with somber music and a very realistic artsyle was a joy to watch. Now, I dont understand how this is considered anime, but AtLA, Rohirrim, and Arcane are not? bit weird if you ask me. I would recommend this to probably just adults, anyone good with self reflection on their lives. I really dont think Kids, Teens and Young adults will enjoy this one, but dont let me stop you from watching!

(Spoilers, sort of, sorry.) This is a simple and short film about an old man rediscovering the life he has lived. It makes me appreciate, from an old man's perspective, the things we do in life. Being a young person, I have my whole life ahead of me, and this makes me want to do good in life and create memories that I can likewise, recollect and enjoy remembering. This can be interpreted as quite grim, but in another light, nostalgia can be a nice, non-regrettable feeling that makes one happy about the life they've lived. The accompanying music is elegant, but like the rest of the short film, simple. It makes me wonder what memories I've created thus far that I can humbly remember and enjoy doing so. Take things slow, and do them right. This is more of a blob for myself than a review haha.

I only just got to the end of this short film, so this review will be full of my direct feelings about this 12-minute piece of animation. The House of Small Cubes, or Tsumiki no Ie as it's known in Japan is nothing short of perfection. I'm still recovering from the emotional impact it had on me as these very words are typed. This..STUNNING piece of pure art has left me gasping of air after trying to hold in my emotions. The sheer bawling state I would've been in otherwise would most likely have alarmed my family. I had been reduced to tears in the first few seconds. That should give you an idea just how amazing of an experience the rest of it all was. This may sound cliche, but it's absolutely true. Despite no words ever being spoken in the entirety of the 12 minute run, Tsumiki no Ie speaks more words than any other series could ever dream of having. I find it utterly phenomenal how this is achieved. The art..it's gorgeous to look at. It's as if a painting had come to life, I cannot even begin to describe it's beauty. I'm unworthy of such a task. The story, as simple as it may be, is breathtaking. You know where to read more about that though. In this story, as you might've read, the main character is a somewhat lonely old man.l. I'm nowhere near this man's age, yet he feels strangely relatable. I felt as if I had known this man all my life, and to see him just..doing his own thing..made me feel things I can't quite describe. Honestly, this entire movie brought me feelings I can't describe. I've tried my best. In short, if you haven't yet seen Tsumiki no Ie, then please give it a go. You won't be regretting anything in the end.

Sorry that I am late to the punch but I cant go back in time to right this review for a 9 year old film, holy balls was this movie amazing, managing to draw me into its post apocalyptic world right from the first minute. Even though there is no vocals and I watched it without the narration I was able to get every hint, and know all the things this man has been through. The world itself actually was intriguing, pretty much like a french version of Waterworld. I would recommend this anime fully to anyone who is into short films. The sound and art both fit in really well with the world the director was trying to make, it is eery at points and depressing at others but in the end I felt happy seeing this mans fufilled life the first thing I will defend my 10/10 score.

"Tsumiki no Ie" or "House of Small Cubes" is a short, 12 minute story told with no dialogue what so ever. Through simple grunts, sound effects, and beautiful music, you will fall in love with the little man and his pipe. The art style is "non-traditional" but that shouldn't turn you away. If you've seen Western shows like "Making Fiends", you may actually get a small sense of nostalgia from the simple style. Sound was this anime's top priority, as the music, and the water sound effects kept me glued top this. You travel with the little man through his past as he goes further down his house and you learn more and more about him. If you have twelve minutes to spare, and are looking for something to make you feel good, this is diffidently the anime for you. If you can't spare the time or energy, then please put this on the back burner and come back to it when you have the time for this adorable little skit.

I know there was a review written on this movie not to long ago but if you didnt take the time to add it to your que or watch it you made a mistake. This movie was amazing. It was emotional the story was more than original and it was tearful. This movie is something that everyone should watch and its not that long so if you are one of those people who doesnt have a lot of time you can probably and should fit this in to your schedule. The art isnt the best but it gives it a nice look and pairs up with the story well. I loved the music I just finished the movie a couple of minutes ago so the song is still in my head. Oh and by the way if you do plan to watch it then be ready to cry.

Tsumiki no Ie at its core is a story about memory and experience. The exploration of the flooded house is nostalgic, elevated through cleverly positioned flashback sequences. The house itself becomes a metaphor for living in the moment, which is symbolically flooded, swallowing the man's past, left with memory. Ultimately humanity is left with the passage of time. The bricklaying motif as one of creating memory to which the opening scene reveals an elderly man laying bricks, now alone and yet continuing to live in the moment. It is less a commentary about climate change and rising sea levels then it is a device to demonstrate how enduring memories are to us humans. The music is also effective, following a slow, poignant piano and violin combination that sustains itself throughout the 12 minutes run time. The watercolour art effectively facilitates the exploration of memory as one that is vintage, rusted and nostalgic. Overall this series provides a compelling execution and depiction of the human condition and is well worth your 12 minutes.

This short movie offers 12 minutes of beautiful art. The art feels like drawn like old anime series did ,which is something I really love.It had some heartwarming yet simple music that made me feel really connected to the story A message that I got from this movie is that life is seperated to floοrs ,each one has different types of memories happy and sad ones .In the end though each floor offers mainly the ones of beauty and happiness. I don't know why, but I really love this message ,even if one disagrees with my thoughts ,the movie is still worth ,cause as mentioned, it's short and really heart-warming That's all I have to say Take care