Those of you who have lives and don’t pay attention to all but the most famous of anime directors may not know who Sunao Katabuchi is. Well, I’m sure most anime fans have at least heard of the name: Black Lagoon. Yep, the man responsible for bringing all the kickass in both seasons and the Roberta arc was him, so you’d think he’d have a genuinely successful career in the industry with his talent. Well, he sorta does, but it’s mostly underground.
Despite the popularity of his foray into action, he’s mainly a Ghibli-esque storyteller with the majority of his resume being family friendly stuff that
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contain very familiar plot points to those who’ve watched Castle in the Sky or Future Boy Conan. And by the majority of his resume, I mean his three other anime (one series and two movies) that no one even knows exists, because he’s not actually associated with Ghibli bar assistant work on Kiki’s Delivery Service, and it’s not like their are many other options in terms of anime studios with Disney-levels of success willing to throw the amount of money and resources needed to properly get his name out there. Even though he’s now under contract by Mappa to make a movie adaptation of the historical manga, In This Corner of the World, the combination of a not-very-popular manga and Mappa not being able to appeal to the mainstream crowd in terms of blu-ray sales makes it hard to secure funds for the project and I’m not even all that sure it’ll come out in 2016 like MAL says it will. I really hope it does though, because it looks like a solid historical drama.
Anyways, this review is centered on Mai Mai Miracle, his lesser known 2009 film with Madhouse that can basically be summarized as his own version of Ghibli’s more slice-of-life-y affairs like My Neighbor Totoro and Only Yesterday. And by his own version, I mean a slice-of-life anime centered on the countryside with an increased focus on realism and, ironically, an increased amount of diabetes.
The story is centered on Shinko, an elementary-school girl with a cowlick on her head that she calls “Mai Mai” – hence the title of the film – who likes to daydream about what her town was like in the past, reminiscent of the dream sequence from Whisper of the Heart if it was channeling Air: The Motion Picture. One day, a Tokyo girl named Kiiko moves into the countryside and immediately stands out due to wearing what’s basically the equivalent of royal clothing in the middle of Somalia, resulting in the fish-out-of-water nervousness you’d expect from such a situation. But that doesn’t stop Shinko from befriending her, and from then on, we follow the two as they hang out with the other kids, deal with personal problems, and even share the same daydream – although trust me when I say it doesn’t really lead to anything of significance.
It’s pretty damn easy to see why Mai Mai Miracle never drew a big audience considering that it itself draws most of its appeal from showcasing countryside life as well as the tribulations of youth passed through a giant “it’s for kids” filter. Hell, apart from Madhouse’s production values, I’m not really big into the movie myself. The story leans a wee too hard on nostalgia and the calmer parts of youth in general to the point that it’s like an Eternal Sonata-level JRPG: it can be fun to actually experience the thing, but watching someone else do it is about as interesting as watching grass grow. And it doesn’t help that not all the plot points come together very well to begin with. Aside from being friends, the plot point regarding a girl’s dead fish could not be any less related to the plot point involving one of the boys’ role models dying.
At its heart, Mai Mai Miracle is about reality clashing with youth, but because it’s a kids’ movie, it can’t go all the way with it. There’s a particular scene in the finale where Shinko and one of her male friends go to a red-light district for reasons I won’t spoil other than it involves the death of a minor character. And whilst it’s aesthetically rough on the surface from the prostitutes to the yakuza, said scene ends with the crooks they encounter sympathizing with the kids and allowing them to go free. Not that I’d want anything worse to occur from said confrontation because I don’t like seeing people that young getting put through the ringer and another one of the movie’s main points is that reality isn’t all bad anyways, but it’s a very good example of how Mai Mai Miracle doesn’t have the bite I prefer when it comes to these types of stories. Even American Graffiti had more of an edge in regards to its take on reality versus youth – and whilst it was good for its time, American Graffiti is kind of plain by today’s standards.
But of course, if you’re watching this for the visuals, you’re in for a treat. I wasn’t kidding when I said Madhouse’s production values interest me, because Mai Mai Miracle really does a good job at nailing the calm atmosphere it’s going for with its imaginative dream sequences and lush cinematography, even if said atmosphere isn’t too my taste. This is a beautiful-looking movie with an appropriately soothing soundtrack that complements it pretty damn well. They even throw in a kiddy version of The Carpenters’ “Sing a Song” into the mix, which got a smile out of me. I may come off as a sap for saying this, but I really like that song. It’s cute in all the right ways.
For those of you who like slice-of-life/light-hearted anime, Mai Mai Miracle should definitely be right up your alley, as I can’t seem to find many faults in the product for lovers of the genre. But then again, I wouldn’t know how to separate your Arias from your Dog Days, so what do I know? Nevertheless, whilst some of the plot points could have been handled better, it has a genuinely heartwarming and relevant story that’s good for its target audience, it’s well-made, and the characters are likable enough as well – acting close to real kids during the time period this movie takes place in. Doesn’t appeal to me personally, but then again, I’m the asshole who thinks Azumanga Daioh became boring eight episodes in. At best!
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: Mai Mai Shinko and the Millennium-Old Magic
Japanese: マイマイ新子と千年の魔法
More titlesInformation
Type:
Movie
Episodes:
1
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Aug 15, 2009
Licensors:
NYAV Post
Studios:
Madhouse
Source:
Novel
Duration:
1 hr. 35 min.
Rating:
PG - Children
Statistics
Ranked:
#31452
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#5274
Members:
16,258
Favorites:
21
Available AtResources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 9 / 9
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Your Feelings Categories May 11, 2015
Those of you who have lives and don’t pay attention to all but the most famous of anime directors may not know who Sunao Katabuchi is. Well, I’m sure most anime fans have at least heard of the name: Black Lagoon. Yep, the man responsible for bringing all the kickass in both seasons and the Roberta arc was him, so you’d think he’d have a genuinely successful career in the industry with his talent. Well, he sorta does, but it’s mostly underground.
Despite the popularity of his foray into action, he’s mainly a Ghibli-esque storyteller with the majority of his resume being family friendly stuff that ... Jul 30, 2011
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 ... Aug 11, 2011
Mai Mai Shinko and the Thousand Year Magic explores the wonder of childhood through the imaginative minds of Shinko and Kiiko as they create friendships and marvel at the world around them. Set in 1950s-era rural Japan, a small group of elementary school students must rely on their imaginations and the local farmscape to pass the time.
There isn't any one central conflict to string the story along, but the characters learn to make friends, express themselves, and admire their prolific ancestors who once made the land a mighty cultural center. An imagined story of an ancient princess runs parallel to the lives of the characters ... Sep 17, 2011
Mai Mai Miracle is a wonderful movie that primarily focuses on a friendship and its development between two girls. As well as the friendship, little adventures and resolution to conflicts for the two girls and the people around them ensue.
The art and sounds for the movie are remarkable. I was thoroughly impressed by the attention to detail that included things like the sound of wind and tall grasses. Based on the countryside of Japan in the 1950s as well as the Heian period included beautiful landscaping. Characters were definitely my favorite part of the movie. With simple yet lovely character designs, the two main girls, Shinko ... Aug 26, 2015
There is an excerpt from The Picture of Dorian Gray by the renowned author, Oscar Wilde, that I am incredibly fond of. The quote reads:
"No, you don't feel it now. Some day, when you are old and wrinkled and ugly, when thought has seared your forehead with its lines, and passion branded your lips with its hideous fires, you will feel it, you will feel it terribly. Now, wherever you go, you charm the world. Will it always be so?... You have a wonderfully beautiful face, Mr. Gray. Don't frown. You have. And beauty is a form of genius-- is higher, indeed, than genius, as ... Mar 25, 2014
Mai Mai is one of those great lesser known animated films from japan. As the work of Sunao Katabuchi, former assistant director of Miyazaki on Kikki’s Delivery Service, the influence shows.
The story centers around Shinko, an elementary school girl on a rural town who likes to daydream about what her town was 1000 years ago, while imaginarily establishing a friendship with a girl from the royalty of classical japan, both of them longing for friendship. One day a shy new student, Kiiko, is transferred from Tokyo to Shinko’s class, soon becoming friends and eventually sharing Shinko’s dream. The film nails perfectly all the points of a ... Aug 6, 2014
I really loved this movie. I love the characters, the story, it was all so beautiful and its just one of those movies that makes you think about your childhood, and opens your imagination. I really liked the main characters interest in the past, not only because I also have interest in learning about history, but because I think that its important to remember the past and know our past. Its just a really beautiful story and I really enjoyed it. I can't believe I hadn't looked into the movie sooner.
Sep 7, 2014
I wouldn't recommend Mai Mai Miracle to people who hate movies that are strong on nostalgia. I don't think I even like movies about a third grader very much. The characters' short heights were annoying. The voice acting is perfect for the most part, there were some parts where Shinko's voice sounded too old for her age. and so is the animation.
Shinko is way too annoying and she is the one that gives you the most nostalgia. It kind of reminds me of Totoro, though, I wish the sister (I forgot her name) was with her big sister more. The little sister and Kiiko ... Dec 31, 2023
This movie is nothing groundbreaking, but its an aesthetic and sweet, slice of life piece of media with childhood and countryside life among its main themes.
It depicts a wholesome and realistic friendship between two little girls while mildly exploring their girlhood throughout the film. Both characters have very distinct, likable personalities and are relatable. We get to see how their relationship develops and how they gradually open up to each other in the process. Our charismatic main character shows Kiko the meaning of friendship and helps her cope with the loneliness & insecurity she suffered both in school and at home due to her ... |