Ranked #1709

Mai Mai Shinko to Sennen no Mahou

Although it doesn't seem like it at first, the film is partially based on an autobiographical novel by Takagi Nobuko. The film takes place in the countryside somewhere in southern Honshuu island, during 1950s Japan and almost one millenium earlier during the Heian period, at first as through the eyes of Aoki Shinko - the novel's and the film's main character. It is the second of four films studio Madhouse released between summer of 2009 and spring of 2010, and it is the second animated feature directed by Katabuchi Sunao, after "Princess Arete" eight years earlier.

It is a window to a slice of everyday life decades ago, following a group of children as they find and befriend each other, tied together by the knot that is Shinko - a girl with a funny hair whorl, a fact which she believes allows her a magical sight so she can see things from the past or invisible friends. Going around with this group of children I was reminded of a few things I did as a kid as well, like building dams over local rivulets. That was so much fun that I'd forget about everything else and get my clothes wet and filled with mud head to toes, something you can definitely notice in the film as well making the scenes it portrays really authentic. It also reminded me of playing with glass marbles. Those things were hypnotically fascinating; the sound they made when you threw them into each other was like music. I used to love shaking them in my hands and listen to that noise. It's little details like that and more that make this film good. Another example, there's also this kid in the film who likes to play with animals and drags a turtle with him everywhere, and even if it's not "nice" to see, it adds to the realism of everything: I used to hate people like that (still do, somewhat). I was that kid running after lizards dreaming to be a "nature scientist" when I grew up. But of course, kids as they are, there were always a few assholes who had their fun by smashing the poor creatures' heads with rocks or sticks...

You see, yes "Maimai Shinko and the Millenium Magic" is a film that portrays things in a pretty natural way so it might light the spark of your childhood too (at least if you had a childhood that is even remotely similar to that) but it also has scenes that remind you to wake up: the real world is not a pleasant dream like that. It also portrays some parts of everyday life that most of us would like to keep in the shadows and not think about. And it does that in a way that only shows, but doesn't judge - everything is portrayed as a matter of fact, without trying to weave a morality tale, something which I liked a lot.

At first you might feel like being lost in a dream, with the way reality and imagination are seemingly inseparable for Shinko, or how the film jumps through different timelines separated by a millenium. But it isn't trying to be "My Neighbor Totoro" and I liked that - even though Totoro is one of my favourite animated features. I feel that the film should've been longer however. There are a lot of things in it that simply don't have time to set in and others that just seem crammed on the sides. The film could've told a really great story but at places it lacks the patina needed to bring it from "okay" to "very good". The characters are good, as you would've guessed from what I meandered about so far. They show the many different ways people are when growing up - from shy to outgoing, from the brats to the well behaved - as well as their contexts, with enough time spent showing their elders that you can get an idea about their different social status and so on and so forth.

Being a feature film, the animation quality is pretty good, and it blends three-dimensional CG with two-dimensional cells pretty well... although there are a few times during the film where the combination isn't exactly great and stands out. I didn't really like the animation style however, and the directing is lacking at times, like some of the scenes of transition into the past, which have a staged, artificial feel to them which even if intentional, could've been done better. The sound and voice acting were good as well, but the background music isn't that varied, with only one or two pieces that stand out.

it certainly could've been done better but this was a pretty good film and I enjoyed it. I hope my impressions of it didn't make you feel like it is some film you can enjoy only if you're older (as in: an old geezer)... because that's far from being the case - I'm not that old myself either. I say you should definitely try it out regardless of age. read more

I wonder why none of the fansub groups till now never even bothered to look up to this movie. Its been released in 2009 and has been out for a while now. But it is only this month (July 2011) that a proper fansub group released the english version.

A simple but wonderfully executed story of a countryside girl and her everyday fun adventure. Well people have said it has a typical ghibli atmosphere but its definitely not a copy. The taking of the movie has its own distinct way of keeping you engaged in watching further.

Story [10/10]: Shinko, the main protagonist, who imagines all kinds of people and places based on her grandfather's stories of 1000 years ago, meets Kiiko who has comes from Tokyo and who is attending the same schol as Shinko. Quickly due to her appearance and the coloured pencils Kiiko has all other kids in the class become curious. So does Shinko. She follows Kiiko to her home where she sees all kinds of foregin objects and is quiet fascinated. Their freindship develops. Shinko tells Kiiko about the how the countryside they are living in used to be a capital a thousand years ago (which her grandfather has told her about). Shinko also tells her that she believes there was a princess, about her age only, who lived in this country. She wants to meet her to play with her. This is were the alternate story begins. The princess in the story is lonely and wants someone to play with. From what I understood from the story the princesses feelings somehow reach Shinko. And maybe that is why Shinko to is able to imagine what kind of a girl the princess could have been and where and how she might have been living. From there follow the little games that Shinko, Kiiko and their school friends have. To sum it all the sotry ends with both Shinko and the princess in the alternate stories finding their best friend. The story has a very rich base plot, being set in a countryside and of a historical date. So lots of space for innovation with the characters. And it has been very well executed in the direction.

Art [8/10]: The landscapes are beautifully drawn. They aptly bring out the beauty of the countryside and the overall atmosphere. Though the charatcres could have been a bit better drawn. But overall they definitely have a good impact on the viewer.

Sound [9/10]: Background music is typical of a childrens movie in a good way ofcourse. Voice of Shinko could have been better if it had been a little more girlish and sounding of her actual age. The current voice sounds like that of a tomboyish girl (which Shinko is kind of) which issometimes a bit annoying.

Character [10/10]: Loved the way all the characters have been portrayed. The runny nose boy, other classmates, teacher, Shinko's grandfather, mother- watching everyone makes you believe that they are actually typical countryside people.

Enjoyment [10/10]: Enjoyed the movie thoroughly.

Overall [9/10] I deduce 1 mark only for a bit of disappointing voice for Shinko and the art of the characters themselves. Other than that its a perfect score on the story. Just go and watch *thumbs up* read more