This is the 39th anime I've watched in less than a month. There were really great works, but there were less good films among them. But this film is the weakest. It is little more than a number revue. It actually contains all the weaknesses that the mostly not particularly successful anime series have, which the films of the last few years actually seemed to have largely overcome.
But most TV series, even if they consist of boring, redundant episodes, usually have an interesting framework. This is completely missing here. It's also interesting that although there is a universal message delivered in this film, it is delivered in a very Japanese way. The production seems to have been aimed at a more international audience, because more than most other Japanese anime, which are still much easier for Western viewers. This means that the film also fails to combine the two.
Although the film tries in an almost penetrating way to create emotions and trigger emotions in the viewer, it fails in this regard. Contrived, incomprehensible feelings in a (poorly) well-composed plot without real depth simply does not create a good film. The fact that a film about running of all things fails so badly in animation due to the visual representation of running is fatal for the film. This even surpasses the boring, downright embarrassing dialogues.
But most TV series, even if they consist of boring, redundant episodes, usually have an interesting framework. This is completely missing here. It's also interesting that although there is a universal message delivered in this film, it is delivered in a very Japanese way. The production seems to have been aimed at a more international audience, because more than most other Japanese anime, which are still much easier for Western viewers. This means that the film also fails to combine the two.
Although the film tries in an almost penetrating way to create emotions and trigger emotions in the viewer, it fails in this regard. Contrived, incomprehensible feelings in a (poorly) well-composed plot without real depth simply does not create a good film. The fact that a film about running of all things fails so badly in animation due to the visual representation of running is fatal for the film. This even surpasses the boring, downright embarrassing dialogues.