Mirai

...Or the fun of finally seeing another anime film on the big screen.

One can always count on the Oscar for Best Animated Feature to include at least two films inaccessible to wider audiences. As in, "not playing at a theater near you." At least one or both of these films is distributed by the company GKIDS. Fortunately, this year, at least one normally inaccessible film went wider via Fathom Events. That film is Mirai, which is now a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominee. And here's hoping the Academy will take notice.

Four-year-old Kun's (Jaden Waldman) world is disrupted when his baby sister, Mirai (meaning future), comes home. His parents (Rebecca Hall and John Cho) are overwhelmed by the stress that comes with her. Kun can't stand losing all the attention. It's a typical household. Is it?

Strange things happen to Kun in his house's garden. He first meets his dog, Yukko, as a human (Crispin Freeman). He then meets Mirai as a teenager (Victoria Grace). He also meets his mother at his age. There's even his great-grandfather as a young man (Daniel Dae-Kim) shortly after World War II. These fantastical visits slowly teach Kun to appreciate his family more. There's a bleak future for Kun if he keeps up the brattiness.

Writer and Director Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, Wolf Children) tells a slow and steady story. It's never boring. Parents and kids can identify with the stress of a new sibling/baby. In one scene, Kun mischievously plays with Mirai's face, then smacks her with a toy train when mommy drives him off. The pile-up of emotions which follows is darkly funny (daddy falling apart and Yukko howling sell it). Kun's episodic fantastical encounters gradually improve him. His fantastical adventures have plenty of endearing moments. Future Mirai was only really in three scenes. She could've used a few more.

The animation is a great mix of hand-drawn animation and CGI. The characters' exaggerated facial expressions are priceless. They move with personality. Their real and fantastical environments are colorful. The CGI is noticeable but it serves the surreal climax well. How surreal? It sees Kun wander a nightmarish train station, save baby Mirai from a ghoulish train, and go with future Mirai on a magical family history tour. On the mundane side, Kun's house is an architectural marvel designed by actual architect Makoto Tanijiri.

My screening of Mirai was the last of Fathom Events' special screenings. A few other cities have it playing regularly. See it if you can find it. It's an unforgettable family fantasy. It's a visual sensation. It's an emotional experience even if you don't have kids. It's a lot of things.

Fathom's screening ended with an interview with Hosoda, discussing his inspirations for Mirai and the declining state of 2D animated films. His family experiences inspiring Mirai is endearing. The film's a great case for keeping 2D animation alive. It's also a great case for releasing international animated films wider and wider.