Ranked #1765

Gauche the Cellist

Classical music really does have some good stuff with it.

Gauche the Cellist is a movie that tells the story of a guy named Goshu that just tries his best to be a better cellist player. His hopes are put down by the conductor that's managing the orchestra. Surely, this was a big downer for Goshu. Being bad already and out of tune at playing his instrument, he doesn't get any support from anyone at all. He then decides to practice harder back at his cabin so he can prove his master wrong. As he does, random animals appears out of nowhere. That's where the fun starts. The plot is really very straightforward, until those talking animals just showed up mysteriously.

The movie's animation, I'd have to admit, isn't all that great. Considering that it's made back in the '80s, I consider the bad quality of the animation. I wouldn't be too generous giving it a higher mark, but below a 'fair' score would also be too harsh, with the account that it is an old movie. There's nothing much really to talk about concerning the art. The setting takes place for a short time at the school building where the conductor and other students were, and most of the movie focuses on his cabin, where most of the story happens. The cabin is in the middle of a rice field, and maybe on the outskirts of a jungle just across a bridge. But it's really nice to see a view of that place, which reminds me of how a simple life should be lived as back then. Even dragonflies are focused by the animators flying around, along with other insects/birds that usually just get ignored.

The sound was good. Gauche the Cellist focuses on classical music obviously, since a cello is part of the title in the first place. If you appreciate this kind of music, then this will surely be a good movie to watch. I'd say the voice acting could have been done better though, since some parts of the movie I can't even hardly hear the voices at all (it just lowers all of a sudden sometimes). But again, an old movie, so I gave it some considerations. The playing of the cello by Goshu was also enjoyable for me, and when he actually got better at it, which was really a good listen.

The characters are mainly a person, then a bunch of animal creatures. Each of those animals seemed to teach Goshu about something that he has yet to discover for himself. It's like one of those stories with moral lessons where animals talk. Exactly just like that. Those animals really got the smarts to pull off helping out a guy in need. Even the conductor back at where Goshu performs have that angry-looking face that just makes one wants to punch him right on the face. He's that irritating that I laugh it out for being irritated at that guy. Really unique characters, with added flavor, making animals do the work.

As I said, if classical music doesn't bother you, then this movie is worth checking out. Despite the old animation, it's really a movie that I enjoyed. Nodame Cantabile was also a fun series that focuses in classical music, and this movie should just be added to anyone's collection if they're into that.

I really recommend Gauche the Cellist mostly to music enthusiasts, specifically to Nodame Cantabile fans that watched the show because of the music as part of their reason. I can see why this movie isn't all that popular, but I really recommend it to anyone that likes something new to watch, something different. read more

Gauche is not a prodigy. He is not gifted. He does not have things easy. He is just a cellist that tries his hardest.

Gauche the Cellist is folksy, quirky anime about a young man, his cello, and a little portion of his life. He lives dilapidated but habitable cottage out in the outskirts of town. The little orchestra he plays in usually takes cheap jobs at silent movie theatres. Gauche's life is incredibly simple, and nothing extraordinary happens, yet this film manages to capture the audience into this world of a man making music.

If anything, the story ends up being more touching as it shows us a young man who does not have the natural talent to become a great musician, but aspires and works hard to become better at playing an instrument he loves.

The anime is not generically slice of life, as the trips into the fantasy realm throws off realism. There are talking animals for one, and each little creature Gauche encounters teaches him a little something new about playing. Whether this is actually happening or is part of his imagination, Gauche undoubtedly learns from his mistakes and becomes better.

Despite being quite an old anime, Gauche the Cellist looks absolutely lovely. It depicts a quiet, rustic town and the beautiful, rural countryside itself. The charcoal-like shading effects of the background art are simply outstanding. The animation is also very fluid and although the character design has the trademark "Ghibli-ness" in them (that is, they are rather very simple), they serve their purpose. The way a character looks is always secondary in their productions as opposed to what the characters do and say, which is given more prevalence.

But there is not too much to be said in this anime. Given more priority than the dialogue is the music. Complementing the gentle art style are moving, gorgeous orchestral compositions, stunning cello solos, and vibrant, lively, powerful, intoxicating background music. Gauche the Cellist has a magnificent classical score, and it envelops the anime like a warm blanket.

Also warming is Gauche himself, the young cellist who works hard and feels a lot for what he does. However, he seems to lack the professionalism and passion that is required when making music. His dedication and will is strong, but his practising is futile until he realises he needs to love wholly, entirely, fully what he is doing. He comes to understand that music is something he must make, not simply reproduce.

The rest of the cast consists of little woodland creatures that seemed to have been Bambi rejects. The human supporting characters of any importance are Gauche's maestro (a short and short-tempered little man) and female violist who appears to be subtly interested in Gauche himself. These characters, while harmless and satisfactory in their purposes, are left rather flat.

Gauche the Cellist is just as any Ghibli production: pleasant, quirky and undoubtedly charming. While this may be no epic fantasy or moving slice of life anime, Gauche this anime works on the level of its simplicity. It just gives us Gauche in pursuit of his dreams. Which we learn, is not something he can ultimately grasp. Since there are no boundaries to Gauche's dream. To fulfil his goal is to pursue it.

There is no real limit to improving ourselves, is there? read more