AQUATIC LANGUAGE
...Huh.
Review by: Craig “Mocha Latte” Norris
Length: 9 minutes
Genre: Conversational, art film
Watched: All, subbed
We’ve had bad luck here at M.H. Torringjan’s and Black Seventeen’s Anime Reviews with art films in the past, so slating another one for the docket was a bit unnerving. At the same time, at nine minutes in length, what did I have to lose? Turns out I lost nine minutes, plus a little bit of my grip on perception.
Plot synopsis: While at a coffee shop, a young man who has just broken up with his girlfriend tells his troubles to the waitress. In the meantime, other people in the coffee shop carry on their own conversations, with one person paying particular attention to the painting of a fish on the wall. The waitress tells the young man to look at an easel in the corner of the shop, which he obliges her in doing. That’s when this movie lost me.
Artwork: The artwork is a mixture of below average CG and way below average cell work. This is obviously an independent undertaking, so the lackadaisical animation quality is to be expected. After all, the term “art film” is the largest paradox going, as the actual art is what is emphasized the least.
Music: There’s almost none, with the majority of the background noise created by other people’s conversations. In fact, I doubt there’s more than two minutes of total music present, and what does show up is quickly forgotten. The production value on this short film is totally bare-bones.
Characters: For a nine-minute film, the characters receive a surprising amount of development, mostly through conversation. We get to learn the outlook of the people in the coffee shop on a few different issues, including relationships, the value of truth, and robots. While we do get inside their heads a bit, none of the characters turn out to be particularly memorable (especially since none of them are ever given any names). They, much like this nine minute film in general, are quietly and quickly forgotten.
Plot: Not much of a plot, seeing as how it takes place in a coffee shop, hopping from conversation to conversation. The main issue appears to be the young man attempting to figure out his relationship problems with the waitress, which, to be perfectly honest, isn’t all that interesting anyway. There are a couple of attention-getting snippets of conversation to be had, but nothing of great importance. I suppose if you wanted to hear coffee talk without actually going out for a cup of coffee, this would hold some appeal.
CHICKS!: Like I said before, the artwork is substandard, and personalities are nothing to speak of. There are a total of four girls in the coffee shop at the time the film takes place, and you won’t see me knocking down any doors to get with any of them. They all have a plain, Lain-esque look to them, and don’t impress me on any level.
Overall: This short anime, written and directed by renowned independent anime filmmaker Yasuhiro Yoshiura, contains all the hallmarks of a film that is trying to send a message and break boundaries in a very subtle, cryptic way. Unfortunately, these are all messages and boundaries that I don’t give a hoot about in the first place. Still, for something that lasts only nine minutes to make you think for longer than that means that it must have some value. So, if you want a nice coffee break from mainstream anime, this might be worth a look.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Different
+ Makes you think a little
- Visually and audibly lacking
- Nothing very important happens
Rating: 4.5/10
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