An Anime Review of 'A Whisker Away'

A Whisker Away is the new film by Studio Colorido that dropped on Netflix on the 18th of June. (Yesterday as of the writing of this). When I heard of this film, I got excited as a result of what the studio had released before, I am a big fan of Penguin Highway. This is one of the few times I am glad that Netflix is going so hardcore when it comes to the distribution of both classic and upcoming anime. In addition as a result of the lack of theatrical trips as a result of more global issues, the fact that we are still getting new content to consume is fantastic to see.

A Whisker Away revolves around the idea that a person can turn into a cat and vice versa by using a mask, based on their desires. The film revolves around an incredibly energetic girl named Miyo, who has feelings for a classmate named Hinode, and Hinode himself. The film starts off as a simple romantic comedy, however as it continues to progress we are presented with a really emotional story that encompases a significant sized supporting cast that compliment the respective feelings of the two leads.

The narrative has a great cadence to it, travelling at a pace that is easy to digest. Allowing one to really absorb the events that are unfolding, and really get a good grasp on the characters emotions and desires. The film has the ability to maintain a whimsical, and aloof tone, while also balancing it with the heavy emotional drama that the two characters go through. The film handles it’s tone wonderfully, knowing when to let the drama of the scene reach its natural end before shifting gears and moving on. The placement of humor is wonderful, it is never at a point where it would break the immersion created by the emotions on screen, or is in points that help to compliment the sentiment that is expressed in the visuals and the narrative as a whole.

From a visual point of view, the film is stellar. The detail on the frame is immaculate, and the integration and usage of 3D and 2D animation is immaculate and near seamless, the movement of the characters are incredibly fluid, which helps when it comes to the immersion of the film. The expressions of the characters are at times exaggerated, however it fits into the style of the animation to a point where it helps to convey the emotions of the characters without any ambiguity. That being said there are instances where the facial animation is done in such a subtle way, when compared to much of the other instances, where it leaves an incredibly strong impact even after the end of the film. There is a particular scene concerning Miyo in class towards the middle of the film, that had some of the best animation in the film and perfectly conveys the emotions she is going through, while being subtle at the same time. This same subtlety is what makes it work as much as it does, because it creates a sense that it is a far more grounded moment and makes it feel ‘real’. It was an incredibly emotional moment and the scene that stands out the most to me. The human characters, even the side characters, have unique designs that help them stand out. The landscapes are gorgeous to look at, and the colours are intoxicating. In short this is a good looking film.

The music does its job well by melting into the film without being obtrusive. Helping to elevate the mood of the film without overpowering the scene to the point where the soundtrack is what you remember instead of the actual film.

This is a film that I found to be quite emotional, and resonant. Heartwarming, and at times heartbreaking. In short it is a wonderful film, and I highly recommend it. A Whisker Away is available to watch on Netflix.