Review: Hotarubi no Mori e

I wanted to jot down some quick thoughts and maybe type this properly later. This is a 44 minute movie released in 2011. It won a few awards and is based on a manga publication by the same author of "Natsume no Yuujinchou". They have both been very successful in Japan and the animation was great.

The style of the artwork is obviously sacrificed a little when it becomes animated. (so pictures). But it got an emotional response out of me - sadness. In 44 minutes. So well done. I liked how I got the very Japanese-ness of it as well. The mangaka purportedly was worried international audiences would not understand.

But that does not detract at all. The concept of nostalgia is strong (and it sells!!) and adds to the allure of a very bittersweet story, which is also the mangaka's favourite area and similar Natsume.

Nostalgia in Japanese culture and the idealization of youth and romance, both closely associated.

Folklore and ghosts. Japanese animation has always discussed this in some way or another: Studio Ghibi, Mushishi and various other shorter series (though probably in the horror genre)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%8Dkai