Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
This is a very early film by Japanese movie-maker Makoto Shinkai. 16 years ago, he wrote, directed and voiced the narrator in this one. He was in his mid-20s when he made this black-and-white film and built a nice career on this early effort, including "Voices of a Distant Star", another successful short movie from him, but also a couple full feature films.This film here is about a cat, voiced by Shinkai, and his special relationship with his mistress. We also find out about another cat he meets and about life in general. This is a film that does not really tell a story, but more relies on atmosphere and emotion in an almost poetry-like manner. Still, unfortunately, it did not work for me to an extent where I would recommend it.
ShortoftheWeek
Makoto Shinkai is a force to be reckoned with. The buzz surrounding his 2002 film Hoshi No Koe, (available on domestic DVD as Voices of a Distant Star) catapulted him to fame in his native Japan, eliciting hyperbolic claims of him being the "next Miyazaki" That film, a 30min mix of 2-D and 3-D animation was as celebrated for its novelty as much as anything elseit was created by Shinkai entirely at home on his Macintoshbut his followup, the beautiful feature film The Place We Were Promised In Our Early Days, demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt the skills of an animator with a beautiful visual sense.This short, Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko (She and Her Cat ) is an early work by Shinkai, done in 1999. A charming monochrome piece, the story relates the relationship between a young Japanese woman and her cat, told from the perspective of the cat.Pretty and endearing, the film is also an excellent primer on a number of common anime stylistic techniquesmundane objects slowly panned and artistically framed, ellipses of black, and on-screen text, serve to balance the whimsicality of a woman and cat love story with an almost nostalgic sadness.**Check out all our weekly reviews at ShortoftheWeek.com
Atavisten
Three seasons of this cats life is summed up in five minutes by the cat himself. He goes dating with Mimi in summer and she wants to marry him, but seeing as they are both kittens and he has an affair with an adult woman he cant do anything but make empty promises to her.Its a pleasant short with lots of detail. The drawings are wonderful all made in black and white depicting the city realistically. The story is likewise interesting from the perspective of the cat. You can really tell a story in five minutes, thats remarkable.If this is made by a débutant it looks very promising for hers/his carrier.
Chibi_Tai
A beautiful short film that is an extra on the Voices of a Distant Star DVD. In a mere five minutes, you are taken into the world of the cat, Chobi, and his life with his beautiful owner, known to him as "She". I can't really say too much without ruining the experience. There are 3 different options to watch it in (digest, 3 min or 5 min), I advise watching the 5 minute version, you'd be surprised at how much more detail is in it. The only minor problem I had is that there is no dub. Normally I dislike dubs, but I feel if they had done a good dub it would have given me more time to admire the imagery.Words really can't do this justice. See it for yourself.
AD
