Kurayukaba

Business is slow for the Ootsuji Detective Agency. Soutarou and his juvenile sidekick Saki will take any job that comes along, even one that sounds like a lot more risk than it’s worth. It’s festival season in the city but away from the public eye, a wave of mysterious disappearances has occurred. A newspaperman hires Soutarou to investigate, suggesting that answers might lie somewhere in the Dark, the notorious, anarchic maze that is the city’s physical, social, and moral underground. Soutarou subcontracts the gig to Saki, but soon enough regrets it when the kid also goes missing. Now Soutarou is obligated to venture into the Dark himself, and confront its dubious subterranean denizens, including the malicious Laughing Masks gang and the renegade police squad piloting the fearsome Demon 463 armored train!

(Source: Fantasia, edited)

Soutarou Main

Kanda, Hakuzan Japanese

Inarizaka Supporting

Sakamoto, Raikou Japanese

Tomeomi Supporting

Matsu Supporting

Karino, Shou Japanese

Command Team Leader Supporting

Satou, Setsuji Japanese

Saki Supporting

Serizawa, Yuu Japanese

Tanne Supporting

Kurosawa, Tomoyo Japanese

Tsukahara, Shigeyoshi Director, Original Creator, Screenplay

Kimura, Eriko Sound Director

CHARAN-PO-RANTAN Theme Song Performance

Akatsuki, Chota Animation Director, Music

Reviews

May 13, 2024

Persona111

Recommended

I won't write home about how this is an underrated masterpiece and everyone should watch it and such, 'cause it isn't. This is almost intrinsecally niche, showcasing a hazy plot that doesn't even aim to be complete whatsoever. What I mean by this is, Kurayukaba is unapologeticaly unconventional, pathologically enigmatic and, even then, I completely felt for it, from beggining to end. And believe me, if you're a sucker for rich worlbuildings- specially for steampunk settings-, atmospheric and clever- even if sometimes confusing- storytelling or experimental art, then this is certainly worth your time.

If you feel tempted to watch this film, even if just a ... bit, then it's noteworthy to say that this belongs to a two-film project, the other one being Kuramekukagari, both 1-hour long. I haven't watched the latter, but it seems just as interesting as this one. Even then, what about Kurayukaba? What makes it good or special? Well, first and foremost: it's setting. This film feels limited both by budget and timelenght, and even then it does everything and then some to sell you in it's vast, dynamic and eerie world, prompted by amazing art direction, active efforts to deepen in small yet rich details of the scenary whenever it's possible and a general sense of atmosphere, an uncomfortable call to your curiosity and desire to discover more about what's hidden in the darkness of the rails. It has been long, and I mean, very long, since I felt so fascinated by a fictional setting, since I had that sensation that, if I could take control of the camera and look around, I'd find life and secrets in every corner.

On the other hand, the plot suffers a bit more due to the lack of time, but the film tackles that issue in the best way possible: not a single dialog seems wasted, things are left for the viewer to figure out and the story progresses at a pace that both let's you appreciate the world around you, but doesn't let you enough time to lose the sense of speed and dizzyness of the overall mistery. In the end, we don't arrive at a definitive answer, the world is too vast to unravel and we just witnessed a small stage where things happened before and after. It could be more well rounded up, but considering it's limitations, it felt like the best experience possible around the strambotic premisse of this narrative.

In conclusion, this gave me a very specific vibe, one I rarely feel, in fantasy stories such as Robert Holdstock's Lavondyss, or dark, misteryous tales such as Midori (the non-rapey parts I mean), a feeling that there's always something bigger than you, some enticing magic on the words and imagery that will swallow you up anytime or wake you up at the snap of a finger. And that's, I believe, one of the most powerful feelings a work of art can ever make you feel.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Apr 14, 2024

Tardivex

Mixed Feelings

The atmospheric setting of the narrative evokes a blend of metropolitan energy and industrial-era rusticity, with some small steampunk undertones for some vehicles. Set against the backdrop of the industrial revolution, the story unfolds in the labyrinthine tunnels of an underground railway system, teeming with vibrant communities and towns.

Centered around a detective grappling with a perplexing missing persons case, each crime scene is marked by enigmatic symbols, drawing him inexorably into the depths of the underground. Beginning his investigation by infiltrating the notorious Laughing Masks gang, the detective soon discovers that the true perpetrators lurk in the shadows, orchestrating events with sinister intent.

As the plot ... unfolds, the narrative takes a somewhat jarring turn in its final act. The detective's sudden recollection of crucial details regarding the culprits, attributed to a mysterious form of hypnotic suggestion, feels somewhat contrived. Nonetheless, the narrative presses onward as the protagonist accompanied by the enigmatic Tanne, delve deeper into the murky depths of the underground.

Throughout their journey, Tanne, a figure shrouded in mystery, accompanies the detective, hinting at a deeper backstory that remains tantalizingly elusive. However, despite these hints, the narrative fails to fully explore her character, leaving the audience yearning for a deeper understanding of her role in the unfolding events.

While the resolution of the case ultimately feels somewhat lacking in depth, it is evident that the narrative is constrained by the limitations of its runtime, leaving many intriguing threads unresolved. Despite this, the film's richly atmospheric setting and compelling premise ensure an engaging viewing experience, even if the resolution may leave some viewers wanting more.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Aug 14, 2024

joemaamah

Not Recommended

This is the second of two "movies" that combine into what seems to be a single project. They stand alone well enough, but both have rather wobbly legs. I wouldn't even call them movies, more like OVA or 2 episode pilots, smooshed together, looking for some financial backing, to put together a complete season. We'll examine this title by itself.

The art is OK in a pleasing steam-punky style. But the biggest knock on this is the animation. It's a complete mish-mash of poorly done 2D and 3D CG that is on the edge of amateurish. This is definitely shoestring budget work. Looks like it ... was done by a single overworked animator at a 2nd hand workstation with graphics cards that are 3 gens removed from current technology.

The characters and the writing both come off as incomplete. While there are some teases at what might turn into something worthwhile, there simply isn't enough time alloted to flesh things out enough to become satisfying.

The VAs were decent enough, and lent a little credence to this. But it seems the director constantly struggled, with one hand tied behind his back, to make this work. He's provided with too little resources, to harsh on him badly.

I wish we could have seen what better producers could have done with this. But we're stuck with what they laid out, which isn't much. If I had to grade this based on the product, I can't see fit to give it much more than a 65/100 flat D. They did try, but not hard enough.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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