Children of the Sea (manga title: Kaijū no Kodomo) is an animated feature film produced in Japanese language and released in 2019. Ayumu Watanabe is the director of the film and production was done by Studio 4° C. Toys lovers will also enjoy the movie, as it is filled with the adventures of children and inspired by the famous manga written by Daisuke Igarashi Moreover, the plot unfolds into an interesting tale that looks into the wonders of nature, the sea, and the relationship that exists between human beings and Mother Nature.
The focus is Ruka Azumi, a girl very attached to the element of water who as a baby, had loved the sea. The weight of her father’s job at their local aquarium makes her mesmerized by the ocean. More so she has an inherent love for the water and the marine life that surrounds her. She embarks on the sea with a sense of adventure, especially when she is introduced to two dusky boys, Umi and Sora. The boys assert that they are raised by dugongs, a kind of marine animal and seem very out of this world. Ruka stays in the sea; so does Umi and Sora who are perplexed by her adventurous nature and as a group they fly into the universe, extending from the waters to the very core of existence.
As the narrative develops, Ruka, who had been fleeing her family problems over the summer at the beginning, finds herself in the middle of a troubling series of events. This voyage binds her to the ocean in ways that are simply beyond comprehension. She discovers an ancient prophecy with Umi and Sora that – the two are said to play a part in an upcoming mystical occurrence called “the festival of life”, an event which appears to be the recreation of the universe through endless cycles.
The ocean and its relationship to humankind and humankind’s relationship to nature is the film’s core theme. When Ruka, Umi, and Sora find themselves tasked with the restoration of balance by the sea life forms following an unusual phenomenon – the vanishing of all sea creatures across the world – things begin to make sense. The festival of life is the ocean’s means of regenerating itself and accepting life in its holistic and multi-faceted form. Life and death, sea and land, man and beast, the dichotomy seems to be irrelevant Spanish and covers a territory that is pure philosophy in regards to the state of life.
The plot develops with a fascinating underwater cosmic vision that brings Ruka’s understanding of the world into question. This sequence, a visually stunning collage, helps to hierarchically investigate such issues as self, relationships, and belonging. Ruka understands that the feast does not only mean renewal of the sea but of every life as well hence the bond of the ecosystem is stressed here.
Cast & Crew:
Ruka Azumi is played by Mana Ashida: Ruka Azumi is the screen name for one of the talented young actors of Japan, Mana Ashida. Ashida is recognized for having performed various roles during his time in Japan and so he gives the character some experience and meaning. Her acting depicts the ever-changing phases of life which Ruka undergoes when she goes from being just a teenage hooligan to aaha about her significance in the grand scheme of everything.
Umi is voiced by Hiiro Ishibashi: Umi, the brother of the sea, one of the enigmatic boys, is voiced by Hiiro Ishibashi. Umi captures the magic of the ocean and the untamed nature of sea creatures. Ishibashi’s role enhance Umi as a being to which the ocean is a part of his essence and feels real instead of fake.
Seishū Uragami as Sora: As a child raised by the sea, Sora also shares this childhood with the other sea-raised child Sora voiced by Seishū Uragami Sora is the more philosophical and darker of the two boys. Ishibashi’s performance, which is coupled with Uragami’s, achieves the goal of establishing a character who is simultaneously old in a child like body yet adorable.
Sumiko Fuji as Dede: Japanese actress Sumiko Fuji lends her voice to Dede, who is a researcher and helps put into context the adventures the children have. Such representations of Dede’s character abound, signifying humanity’s interest in the unknown, as well as humanity’s sciences in examining the concieved ideas of the ocean’s mysteries.
Win Morisaki as Anglade: Win Morisaki assumes the role of Anglade, a character shrouded in mystery who seems to have ambiguous motives. Anglade’s background can be seen to span across the divide that separates mankind and the oceans, and she shows the consequences as well as the mistakes that accompany mankind’s subjugation of the natural order.
Director: Ayumu Watanabe – It is worth mentioning that Watanabe, who has directed the films for there is Doraemon and After the Rain in the past, also has the talent of the master filmmaker and so he gives Children of the Sea its distinct overall pacing and a palpable non conventional feel. His interpretation of direction combines diverse storytelling strategies; narrative, visuals and auditory to create a film that is an experience and not merely a story.
Screenwriter: Daisuke Igarashi – As the principal creator of the original manga series, Igarashi had to write the screenplay to make sure his version of Children of the Sea does not get lost on its way to the audience. His thoughts about the nature, identity, spirituality, etc. are seamlessly incorporated into the narrative of the movie.
Composer: Joe Hisaishi – The famous composer worked with Hayao Miyazaki and other well known Studio Ghibli’s projects created an elegant and tragic music masterpiece for the film, as well as decorated the entire movie. Hisaishi’s sound brings out the enigmatic charm of the sea and provides the viewer with a thrilling, expansive yet intensely intimate experience of sound.
IMDb Ratings:
Children of the Sea movie has a mean score of roughly 6.5 out of ten on the internet movie database, which shows that there were divided opinions on the film among the movie-goers. The reviews of the movie have remarked at its artistic and thematic ambition but also noted the jarring events that served as the backdrop to the somewhat convoluted plot. Viewers in search of philosophical themes as well as slower timed movies tend to be more favorable whereas a clear cut narrative may prove to be a tedious venture for them.
According to the critics, the animation deserves a special mention and has been described as “gorgeous” and “visually beautiful.” The Bounce Drama series Children of the Sea is, of course, not let down with regards to animation as Studio 4°C has a very particular approach towards the art of animation. The way underwater and cosmic animations are crafted is done in a beautiful manner that immerses the audience into the immense unknown realms of the oceans and beyond. This visual enchantment has led to Children of the Sea being likened to works produced by Studio Ghibli, in spite of Watanabe’s more experimental technique that is less story-driven than the narrative orientation typical of Ghibli films.
Both admiration and criticism of the film’s philosophical ideas and metaphors dealing with human beings in a natural world and the concept of the circle of life and death have been voiced. The film has been described by some critics as being “a very effective piece of environmental narrative” while others seem to deem it too vague. The storyline is however slow, controlled and quite lugubrious which does complement the film’s essence but can be boring to viewers who anticipate an ordinary anime story point.
In the end, Children of the Sea is probably best suited to audiences who are prepared to engage in a more thoughtful way as many will be looking at the images and themes of the film extensively. It is a film that prefers feeling and mood over comprehension of the plot, plus, it’s not very definite conclusion quite allows for speculation and further contemplation of more that such as the theme of universal this rebirth, personal sense of self and nature.
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