Tentacle-Free Anime: "Oblivion Island" (2009)

- by Kazekun, 1 August 2017

A lot has happened lately. Entered a couple of short comics into an online comic competition seeking new talent, that didn't work out, but that's okay. Along with work, family stuff, and a couple of other personal projects I have going on it has been one incredibly long and busy summer. Today we unwind a little bit and discuss something that is as charming as a lush, green, calm summer day. And as colorful, too.
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Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (2009)

Episodes: 1 (Movie);
Director: Shinsuke Satou;
Studio: Production I.G., Polygon Pictures;
Rated: G

Summary: Your favorite teddy bear. That model kit that took so long to complete. The picture book you used to read over and over again. The shining stone you found that day in the park. Where do all your childhood's treasures go when you grow up? In this story, we meet fantastic creatures that gather all these little objects that fall into oblivion as they are forgotten by their owners when they step into adulthood. These creatures sneak into our world from a different dimension, and unseen by humans, they take all the ditched and forgotten "treasures" into their world. Here, they use their booty to build their own city, a fairy tale-like place called... Oblivion Island! [MyAnimeList.net]

There are a lot of other films that could relate to the analogy of summer more fluently than Oblivion Island, because they actually take place in the summer and are able to capture that feeling. However, this movie is something that I could see better being viewed in the summer when you've got nothing going on, it's chill and you just want to sit back and relax. Wrapping yourself up in a blanket and getting lost in another world... okay, so this way better relates to winter but you know what? It's my review, and I'm stickin' with the summer analogy.

Click to enlarge

Speaking on the movie itself, Oblivion Island takes place primarily in the winter time after Haruka loses someone very dear to her and makes a wish to get them back. We're introduced at the beginning to these creatures known as Inari that take items that you have misplaced and forgotten. After one steals her keys while praying to the local Inari Shrine, she follows it down a rabbit hole and enters into a wondrous land where almost all the animal spirits wear masks, practice magic, and literally build their structures out of these lost items they've collected through the years.

It's very Alice in Wonderland like, but I would argue Oblivion Island does that story much better as we follow Haruka, the Inari she followed into this world – Teo – and a long lost stuffed animal of hers, Cotton, as they discover and seek out a mirror that Haruka once owned, which was taken from her as well and is in this world. The mirror, as it happens, brings back memories for Haruka that reminds her of that person she lost. And she aims to get it back.

Haruka meets Teo

For the villains of this story however, the Baron who rules over this world, the mirror represents an incredibly powerful magical item and therefore he and his cronies seek it out in order to harness its abilities.

This film is charming as hell. With Haruka, Teo, and Cotton all being incredibly likable, three-dimensional and even relatable characters. That's right, a sentient stuffed lamb doll is incredibly relatable in this movie, and having come out in 2009 that means Oblivion Island technically did it before Guardians of the Galaxy with Rocket Raccoon. Not that I'm saying either one is better than the other, or that the comparison is important to how you should watch the movies. Simply that good stories can make any character feel important and tug at your heartstrings and, like GotG after it, this movie does exactly that.

Along with the rich characters, this film also finds many moments to stab you in the heart and make you wonder how in this day and age they were able to do that to characters in a kids movie. Which is another notch in this film's favor; Oblivion Island doesn't hold the viewers hand, nor does it care how old the person who's watching it is. It will get a reaction out of you, whether you're 5 or 50 and I love that to no end. When I was a kid, we were watching animated films by Spielberg, Bluth and many others that never cared how old you were, only that you enjoyed the story they were telling. That's the feeling I got watching this movie, and it's so refreshing even at 25.

One element I was hesitant about going into this movie – and dare I say I chose watching it over the film Tenchi Muyo in Love, which is based on a series I grew up loving – was the CG. This movie is all CGI, and I know Production I.G. Is incredible at visuals, but based on the poster alone I wasn't catching just how stunning this movie actually looks. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough at the time, but it simply wasn't something that originally impressed me.

What does one do in a world where everything is a toy

However, I was enthralled by just how colorful the movie was and how rich and gleaming the entire thing looked. Sure, you can definitely tell the film was meant to invoke a childlike aspect to the look and feel of the CGI, but that's obviously intentional. This isn't supposed to look incredibly realistic because it's not. But that's okay, because it really is still a visual feast for the eyes.

Oblivion Island is a film that, genuinely, the whole family can enjoy. No matter your age, the story is mature enough that adults can understand the nuances and children can enjoy the characters. The action never feels stale, and the visuals are a real treat.

If you haven't yet, check this movie out. It really is that good.

Final Score: 5 Forgotten Trinkets out of 5

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Have you seen the movie? Or are you totally oblivious to it? Let us know in the comments!

Tagged: Tentacle-Free Anime, movies & TV.

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