Dogs can also be animated when they walk. No.21] "Song of the Sea" - A beautiful adventure story from Ireland

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Song of the Sea: Songs of the Sea," which has just opened in theaters, is an Irish-born animated feature film.

Looking at the character designs, one gets the impression of a simple, rounded, children's film. The story is also an adventure story of a boy protecting his sister, and there is nothing complicated about it. However, the overwhelmingly beautiful images and music will leave you with a deep aftertaste.

Here are some of the charms of this work, which should be seen by children, adults, and animation fans alike.

First place in first-day satisfaction ranking. A movie that will make you happy if you see it.

The Irish-born animated feature film "Song of the Sea" topped the Pia Film First Day Satisfaction Ranking (according to the Pia survey) on August 18 and 19, 2016.

I applauded heartily. I was convinced that it would be so.

I saw the film on the second day of its release at the Ebisu Garden Cinema, and many of the audience members probably wanted to bask in the afterglow of the film for a while after watching it. Many of them spent a long time reading the interviews with the director and review articles introducing the charm of the film that appeared in newspapers and magazines posted in the lobby. At the store, the English version of the 8,000 yen (tax not included) art book was temporarily out of stock.

Song of the Sea: Songs of the Sea is a feature-length animated film with plenty of Irish essence. Director Tom Moore, who produced the film, was born in Northern Ireland. After studying animation in Dublin, he established Cartoon Saloon, an animation studio and production company, with his friends.

Cartoon Saloon is known as one of the most famous animation studios in the world, along with Pixar and Studio Ghibli. This is the first time that a film directed by Tom Moore has been released in Japan.

Smooth movements, deep colors, and beautiful music that surrounds the entire film. Although it is a story of a young boy's adventure, you feel as if you are watching a soothing environmental film.

A world where mysterious things live side by side with humans.

The main characters are Ben and Saoirse, a small brother and sister who live by the sea in Ireland. Other inhabitants of Irish folklore and mythology include the selkie, a fairy who takes the form of a seal at sea and a human on land, an owl witch, a legendary giant, and fairies.

This story is about one small family. Ben and Saoirse live with their father in a house by the sea. Their mother disappeared six years ago, leaving Saoirse at sea. Father and son each still miss their missing wife and mother and are heartbroken. They are afraid that Saoirse, now six years old, will begin to exhibit magical powers inherited from her mother and father, and they try to protect her by keeping her as a family member.

On the other hand, this story is also about the mysterious beings that live side by side with humans. Selkie, a seal fairy who takes the form of a human woman on land. Maka, the owl witch who turns fairies to stone. The legendary giant who is now turned to stone.

The beautiful images of the film lead us through a world where these mysterious things exist right next to ordinary human life. It is an adventure story with a child as the main character, but the overall touch is very serene and beautiful. There is more time for sadness and tranquility than for excitement and action. This feeling is very fresh to eyes accustomed to Japanese children's animation.

Nostalgia and beauty similar to good old Japanese animation.

And at the same time, this animation is somewhat nostalgic. The round, lovingly designed characters with simple lines are very close to the good old Japanese animation.

For example, "Manga Nihon Mukashi Banashi" (1975) is an animated version of a tale that originated in the Japanese climate. For example, "The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun" (1968), an animated film by Toei Animation based on Ainu folklore, in which Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki participated, is well known.

Now that 3DCG animation has become familiar, animation seems to be evolving in the direction of more realistic, three-dimensional, and finely textured images. At the same time, however, the joy and beauty of moving two-dimensional, simple pictures are still sought after.

The stage and storyline change without an excessive sense of speed, and the viewer feels as if he or she is reading a beautiful picture book while turning the pages in sequence. The viewer enjoys every detail of the miniature picture-like screen in real time, while spreading the wings of his or her imagination and savoring the events depicted. The viewer can feel himself or herself standing in front of the distant and mysterious Irish Sea.

The simple, flat characters stand out against the finely designed and painted art background. The image of a small brother and sister walking together amidst the vastness of the sea and plains comes to life.

In a pamphlet interview, director Tom Moore describes himself as a fan of Japanese animation. He said that "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Princess Mononoke" were his biggest influences in Studio Ghibli's work.

He said that the depiction of the sea, which is designed like a pattern, was inspired by Hokusai Katsushika's paintings of waves. He likes the Westernization and simplification techniques of Hokusai's ukiyoe and says he was influenced by them.

Perhaps it is natural that Japanese audiences feel nostalgia for this work.

Japan's "Ten no Hagoromo" is Ireland's "Seals' Wife"?

On the other hand, this work is full of "Irish" originality.

The key is the "selkie," a seal fairy. On land, she takes the form of a human woman, but when she enters the sea wearing a white coat, she takes on the form of a seal and swims freely in the sea. The songs that Selkie croons have mysterious powers, and this attracts the attention of fairies and witches to Saoirse.

The story of an impersonal being married to a human who eventually reveals himself and leaves is a pattern familiar to Japanese folktales such as "Amanohagoromo" and "Kitsune Nyobo" (The Fox Wife). The animal is a seal, and the environment in which the seal is in the sea in front of our house is fantastic.

The mother is voiced by Irish diva Lisa Hannigan, who sings the main theme. The music is gentle and relaxing, and folk instruments are used.

Director Tom Moore tried to breathe new life into old tales and folk tales that were being lost from people's hearts and minds, as works that could be enjoyed by people today and have truths that are still relevant today. It can be said that the attempt was a success.

A Comfortable World of Deep and Tranquil Ocean and Beautiful Music

In the history of the birth of the earth, all life was born from the sea. There is a theory that the history of evolution of life is repeated in the mother's womb while immersed in amniotic fluid.

It is not surprising, then, that many people feel nostalgia for the sea.

In the deep blue sea, with the sound of bubbles bursting and the echoes of whales' voices in the distance, and with "Songs of the Sea" as background music, the viewer can also experience the feeling of floating in the sea.

The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 87th Academy Awards and has won numerous awards around the world, including the Grand Prix at the 2015 Tokyo Anime Awards Festival. However, it is still not well known to many people.

I hope that more people will learn about the charm of this work, which is like the healing power of the Irish sea and music.


(YAMAYUKI)

(C) Cartoon Saloon, Melusine Productions, The Big Farm, Superprod, Norlum