nobahn's Anime

[...]
I am going to recommend a little-known woman called Hiroko Matsukata, who was the lead character from the also little-known series Hataraki Man. She's a stronger female lead than most of the badarses I suspect people will talk about. That's because despite her being just a normal person with realistic flaws (who can throw rather pathetic tantrums), she can still stand strong and forge her path in a male-dominated workplace. [...]
Hiroko's femininity is utterly crucial for who she is and what she does. The entire plot of the show would have been different had Hiroko been a man, which is not something you can say about most female leads outside of romance shows. She's undeniably feminine despite her often masculine outlook on life and her occasional difficulty in bonding with other women. Yet she is so strong she still outshines all the men; she is successful not because of her masculine demeanour but because she is a strong person and a strong woman. She knows what it is like to be underestimated and treated as inferior just because of her gender but she's having none of that. She'll openly challenge anyone who looks down on her or her female colleagues. And besides giving her fortitude, her gender also motivates her and is a crucial part of her ambition.

• So this film hasn't been streamed/released for English sub/dub; but I'm tired of waiting. The below reflects my current thinking regarding the film.
• I don't know why, but apparently this film is never going to get an English license; I would dearly love to know the details behind that decision.

I. Film Introduction/Prologue (1st 6 minutes)
First, there is a flash of colorful, unfocused light. Then we are shown brief shots; all emphasizing sound.
0:00:13| We are shown an adult (31 year-old Shinnosuke) opening up a shelf to take out an electric guitar case (Gibson). We are not shown what's in it. Meanwhile, Aoi is shown unzipping her bass guitar.
0:00:24| She plugs in her earbuds into her guitar.
0:00:26| We are shown Aoi; partially obscured in the distance. That distance acts as a barrier to the viewer.
0:00:33| Now we see Aoi closer; but she is out of focus ─ the focused bridge railing now acts as a barrier between us and Aoi.
0:00:41| Now Aoi is in focus; but in placing on her ear buds, she is now blocked out of her surrounding (audio) environment.
0:00:53| Aoi now practices on her bass guitar; unaware of anything outside of her immediate surroundings. She is now alone with her music and her memories.
0:01:03| Now we are re-shown the shot from 0:26; she is now even more cut off from her environment because she only hears her guitar.
0:01:10| An Autumn leaf floats down a stream.
0:01:11| Shinnosuke places the Gibson guitar case on the floor.
0:01:18| Aoi begins her monologue: "I'm always searching for it.
0:01:30| "Always seeking it out." (Her bass is now shown to be an Epiphone.)
0:01:33| We don't realize it, but the scene has now shifted back in time by thirteen years and a seventeen year-old Shinnosuke (henceforth referred to as Shinno) is picking out a rice ball made by his then-girlfriend Akane Aioi. To his dismay, he finds out that its kelp. Akane made them kelp because that is Aoi's favorite. This is the film's first indication of the depth of Akane's love for Aoi.
0:02:13| Six year-old Aoi first demonstrates an afinity for bass guitar.
0:02:46| Akane encourages Aoi with her determination.
0:03:22| We see from the venue poster dated 2006, January that the group Pride Bride "One Member Band!" has:

• Vocalist: Banba
• Guitarist: Shinno
• Bassist: Abbo
• Drumer: Michinko

I've gone into detail of the 1st 06:41 because it (however obliquely) makes references to all of the issues that are the major plot elements of the film.

II. Character Profiles

• Where's the mother? Is that why Tsugu Masamichi is wise beyond his years? Is it because he he had to grow into the role of his now-absent mother? Where does his father (Michinko Masamichi) fit into all of this? Michinko Masamichi seemingly plays his drum set for enjoyment in a soundproofed room. Michinko may very well be doing that because he wants to keep a connection to the music that he so passionately loves. It also may very well be that he used his job to allocate resources for the music festival ─ another connection to the music that he so passionately loves.
• Abo was bassist; Banba was the vocalist.
• Chika Ohtaki is a girl who is also a high school senior and friendly with Aoi Aioi.

Akane and Aoi Aioi

• Aoi lives in the present; but her thinking is very much informed by her love for Akane and her (Aoi's) past experiences. She thinks that Akane has sacrificed too much for her and feels constrained/imprisoned by her current living arrangements. Akane takes Aoi's adolescent angst in stride. Like Tsugu Masamichi, Akane had to grow up quickly into her new resposibility (as Aoi's guardian) because none of the extended family would help her with the burden. But Aoi saw Akane crying after Shinnosuke sang his love song to her (Akane) and then left her to go practice in the music hall; and Aoi is now in love with the 17-year-old Shinno. Reflecting on all of this, Aoi doesn't know what to do. But, upon reading Akane's hidden journal, Aoi realizes that Akane has never considered her a burden because she (Akane) loves Aoi and would gladly make whatever sacrifices are necessary for Aoi's happiness. At the 1:37:00 mark (outside of the tunnel) Akane demonstrates the full extent of her love for Aoi.
• Thus, Akane has always been strong and is a genuine candidate for the Strong Female (Co-)Leads recommendation thread.
• One thing that is positively charming about Aoi is that while a part of her thinks of Akane as her older sister another part of her mind also thinks of her (Akane) as a parent. This is quite amusingly shown (0:29:50) when Akane implies that she has had sexual relations with others and an extremely flustered Aoi immediately ends the conversation.
• 0:55:00| Aoi Aioi's internal monologue is admirable!
• 0:57:00| Akane Aioi's internal monologue is so cool!

• The film takes place starting in 2019, October 28th and references backstory elements from (late-ish) 2005 to (early-ish) 2006.
• 0:06:04| Shinnosuke's smartphone shows the date: October twenty-eighth (6:15). Just as he's opening up the guitar case we are shown someone somewhere else pulling an electric guitar out from behind some boxes. A different POV from the floor shows that person to be eighteen year-old Shinno. We later find out that Shinnosuke does not have the Gibson guitar because he left it in the old shrine; what he has in the Gibson guitar case are, instead, photographs from high school.
• 0:07:05| That unnamed guidance counselor is incompetent &/or doesn't give a damn about his job.
• 0:11:45| Aoi, talking with Tsugu, recalls a guitar lesson with Shinno.
• Both Tsugu Masamichi and Akane Aioi had to mature quickly while as children because of a loss of parents.
• The song "Ghandara" loosely describes the three co-leads.
  Gandhara by GODIEGO (English version) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eer9fjaM05Q

  Gandhara cover by Kosuke Kamishin | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj6MACUzPJw
  Lyricist: mitsio yamagami
  Lyricist: youko narahashi
  Composer: yukihide takekawa
  "If you go there,
  It's said that all your dreams will come true;
  Everyone wants to go there;
  But it's a far away world.
  That country's name is Gandhara;
  It's a utopia that's out there somewhere.
  How could I even get there?"

  By the way, Gandhara is a real place. Wikipedia entry.
  Also, Aoi's hoody is an indirect reference to Gandhara.*

• The song "Her Blue Sky" is a love song by Shinnosuke.
  On a number of occasions Aoi makes references to a blue sky.
  In the high school yearbook Akane makes a reference to the blue sky.

  YouTube user street making_video | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP_tZVAh-3I
  "Her Blue Sky" by Aimyon
  YouTube user Melody Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6PZyYtbYXw

  AMV

  Cover by Cyter D Skyver

  "I've never liked those things at all,
  Watching horror movies and your caramel-flavored kiss.
  I couldn't like them at all,
  But look at me now.
  Now all I'm looking for is your face,
  As my heart is screaming out your name.
  Falling in an empty hole caving in my heart,
  It's just too dark and I can't see a thing.
  Even though there's barely any reason,
  My body is starting to run by itself.
  As the sunset paints the sky in red,
  Rain floods from the cloud and showers me.
  It's floating out,
  It's floating up.
  Shadows of my weakest self stand before me.
  The reason I can't seem to hide my blue-stained memory is,
  My desire to live the old days I've spent with you again.
  I've never liked it at all,
  The way you used to call me,
  Just like a hero in a comic.
  I couldn't like it at all,
  But look at me now.
  Even now, hearing a similar word makes my body move,
  It's such an ironic memory.
  No matter how many times I rush around,
  It's just too dark and I can't see a thing.
  So is it still hiding somewhere in my mind?
  Come on, release those memories.
  As I raise my hands up in the sky,
  I surely felt they were going to reach,
  It starts to spin.
  People with demon's faces are starting to attack.
  Nightmares where you can't see what you want to see,
  I'll turn them into clouds,
  And eat them all for you; 'cause it makes me sad, too.
  Why are, why are,
  You, you,
  Always the first one to be gone?
  Why did, why did,
  To me, me, me, me, me,
  Without telling me "goodbye",
  Disappear into the sky?
  As the sunset paints the sky in red,
  Rain floods from the cloud and showers me.
  It's floating out,
  It's floating up.
  Shadows of my weakest self stand before me.
  The reason I can't seem to hide my blue-stained memory is,
  My desire to live those old days I've spent with you again.
  I want to know how blue the sky is, just like you did.
  So I'm chasing, I'll continue to chase and reach it."

• "Aoi - Aimyon" ("Her Blue Sky" Ending Theme) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3UniuzEC7o
  The lyrics obliquely reference the major thematic points.

  Surely the future we imagined,
  It's round like a stone I found when I was young,
  There are no weird scars,
  I thought that it was a kanji like peace.

  The crucial ordinary man left the island pursuing his dream.
  I wrote out a dream on my chest and jumped out to that ocean.
  The air is muddy when weeping strangely.
  Then say it, say it again,
  Throwing stones into the sky.

  It is likely to be crushed by huge power,
  For loneliness -- for its poison,
  Evoke a unique world,
  Evoke magic.

  Farewell, the shadow of a boy,
  I'll see you again,
  I'll keep a place where I can say,
  The blueness of this sky in the palette of eyes,
  Let me dive and wrap up,
  Even tears on your side.

  Surely the future we created,
  A story like a picture book where glass shoes and witches fly around,
  I believed for no reason.
  Hey, baby! What a laugh.
  I became an adult after laughing

  It seems to be crushed without knowing,
  Happiness and flowers that bud in the field,
  Please bloom until the end,
  Shine all.

  Farewell, Pia's dream of a boy,
  See you again, still right now,
  Can you afford it?

  Make this blue sky an oasis of mind.
  Swim and dive,
  Come back again.
  So now,
  Farewell, the shadow of a boy,
  I'll see you again.
  I'll keep a place where I can say,
  The blueness of this sky in the palette of eyes,
  Let me dive and wrap up,
  Even tears on your side.

• "Her Blue Sky"
  There are a number of references to "a Blue Sky".
  There is what Akane wrote in the school year book.
  There is the love song by Shinnosuke for Akane.
  Aoi tells Akane that she feels trapped by the geography of the town.
  

• Agency:
  0:13:45| Akane Aioi is not afraid to express her displeasure with Michinko Masamichi.
  0:28:40| A drunk Shinnosuke Kanamuro tries to rape Akane; she easily throws him to the ground.
  Compare the above two incidents with Chika Ohtaki, who wants some boy (any boy will do) to take care of her. Is she a slacker? (Incidentally, when Shinnosuke is NOT drunk and with Chika Ohtaki he does not try to engage in sexual intercourse with her; even though she apparently would not have minded.....)
  0:34:15| Akane Aioi tells Michinko Masamichi that she has willingly made her own life choices, thankyouverymuch.

  And by all means, let us not forget the images that are scattered throughout the ending credits. Also, by the end of the film Chika Ohtaki seems to have matured just a little bit.....

• 0:55:52| An homage to Ghibli's "Spirited Away".
• It would appear that rotoscoping was used in some static shots.

• Rafael Motamayor
• Melvyn Tan

  Aside from Aoi’s melodrama, I have several other complaints. I don’t mind the magical realism in Her Blue Sky, but the reason behind Shinno’s existence is rather vague and things get a bit too fantastical near the end. Aoi’s friends are good company, but they feel underbaked. As mentioned before, I’m not convinced by Aoi’s romantic feelings for Shinno. Lastly, the climax isn’t very impressive. However, none of these were deal-breakers and they didn’t hinder my engagement with the movie.

  When I first entered the cinema, I expected disappointment for Her Blue Sky. I thought the magical realism aspect would go awry and ruin the drama, or the drama would prove to be underwhelming or cringey regardless. However, I’m glad that the movie proved me wrong. It’s not amazing, but it feels very human. That’s always admirable, and I left the cinema feeling way more impressed and content then I expected to be.

• Sigsig

• Geoff Thew's Review ("Mother's Basement")
  
• Nick Creamer wrote:

  But when a mysterious girl suddenly pops into existence in the middle of his home, Nitta's carefully calibrated world will come tumbling down. Introducing herself as Hina, this girl apparently has psychic powers, and could very easily crush Nitta with an errant thought. But Hina isn't so interested in crushing, and would rather have tasty snacks and a place to sleep. From a glitzy life as a powerful yakuza, Nitta is going to quickly find himself reduced to a more domestic lifestyle, as he works to raise one very strange new daughter.

1. ep.#1: definitely reminded me of Bunny Drop's humor.
2. ep.#2: The graphics are surprisingly good.....
   Reminds me of Bartender.
3. ep.#3: And the humor keeps on rolling!
4. ep.#4: interesting compare/contrast with the Good Life vs. homelessness
5. ep.#5: middle school bartender is found out.
   The ED has grown on me. I wish I could sing.....
6. ep.#6 about Anzu's separation from her homeless companions is quite moving to me.....
   『Lyrics AMV』Hinamatsuri OP Full - Distance ／ Rie Murakawa by Pizza EX
7. ep.#7: Utako turns down Yoshifumi after exactly 1 date.
8. ep.#8: OP & ED both have 1 (different) character stripped from their sequences.
   More Comedy Gold:
   
   • Kei Ikaruga orders Hina to return ─ but Hina cannot do so because she no longer has a red orb.
   • Mami Shinjou pesters Hina with her (Mami's) delusions about being able to perform psychic actions.
9. ep.#9: Kei Ikaruga ask Mao to deliver a red orb to Hina ─ but instead of Japan, Mao is transported to a deserted island in the middle of the Pacific. Mao must cope with having been (accidently) abandoned.
10. ep.#10: Why does Minako Mishima ─ the mother of Hitomi Mishima ─ look younger than Hitomi?
11. ep.#11:
    • It's funny watching Nitta being so goddamned 2-faced!
    • What a cliffhanger! (well, it is the penultimate episode, after all)
12. Well, everything ─ sorta ─ gets wrapped up in the end.....

1. High School setting (private). But of course.
2. But Lillith is being assertive sexually, while Shinta is the one being indecisive. So the gender reversal is a plus.
3. The humor is surprisingly effective.....
4. Effective tragedy
5. Nice OP & ED.....
6. And the dub ain't half bad.....
   
   ADR Directors:
   • Melanie Ehrlich
   • Brittany Lauda

• only 45 minutes long
• The ending is tragic; and the OST is elegant in its simplicity.