The Japanese Film Festival turns sweet 16 this year, and is screening the latest and greatest Japanese films on offer to celebrate. Slotting into the program is the beautifully crafted anime adventure, Friends: Naki on the Monster Island directed by Takashi Yamazaki and Ryūichi Yagi.
Takeichi a naïve boy from a poor village goes in search of an infamous Monster Island named after the colourful beasts which reside there, in the hopes of harvesting some of its fabled mushrooms to sell. Upon finding the island his initial joy turns to irritation when he discovers his little brother Kotake stowed away in the boat.
The boys find the island brimming with different species of mushrooms, but their harvesting is interrupted by the ferocious Naki, a red tri-horned ogre that chases Takeichi out to sea. Kotake is unintentionally abandoned and taken hostage by the band of monsters living on the island.
Naki is not liked amongst his peers and is ordered to take care of Kotake as part of his punishment for letting Takeichi escape. His inherent hatred for humans makes things difficult and he tries several times to get rid of the youngster, before Kotake’s adorable charm cracks his tough facade.
The film has been created using 3D computer graphics technology, giving it a textured, realistic look similar to How to train your Dragon. This makes for some incredibly beautiful and detailed locations that reflect the feel of each scene.
From the dark, perilous quality of Middle Rock to the lush landscapes and glittering sea views of Monster Island, to the meagre surroundings of the village, each location has been handled with great care and detail.
The characters display depth and believability, which can be attributed to the fluidity of expressions and movement, coupled with top notch voice acting. There are more than a few hilarious moments accentuated by slow motion and manga effects, which transcend the language barrier.
There are also some tearjerker moments and the film does convey a strong message of tolerance, loss and forgiveness. A touch of magic is added with elements like squidgy floating ball beings that change colours and abilities that Naki (can bound great distances) and his best friend Gunjo (can make himself invisible) posses, creating a sense of wonder.
Friends: Naki on the Monster Island is a perfect all-rounder, suitable for children and adults. Whilst some parts were slightly too brutal and violent for the younger audience, the anime definitely has some great qualities that make it entertaining.
There is a universal appeal here which no doubt would make the film successful commercially with a wider audience, should its producers consider re-releasing it with an English dub.
REVIEW SCORE: 8 OUT OF 10
Naki on the Monster Island screened as part of the 16th Japanese Film Festival at Event Cinemas George Street.
