Review of A Whisker Away
"Wow, a work from Junichi Satou (Aria, Tamayura) and Mari Okada (MSG:IBO, AnoHana, Lupin III: Mine Fujiko), must be great!" These were my initial thoughts about this movie before watching it until my hopes were shattered when I actually got to watch this movie. Story 3/10 A super clingy, full of energy girl Miyo Sasaki, nicknamed "Muge" who's in love with her classmate Kento Hinode, her indefatigable tries to get the attention of her crush were in vain so she thought of becoming a cat to get close to her crush which later turned out to be a deadly mistake because she had to throw her humanityif she wanted to continue being a cat. The premise sounds normal but it's later butchered by it's own progress due to ambiguous and unexplained actions and sequences.
Art and Animation 6/10
The art was the best thing about this movie something that was granted to come in a work directed by Junichi Satou, the background art really reminded me of Tamayura. The animation was so-so, keeping in mind that it was done by the same studio that made Penguin Highway, a movie which excels in both art and animation. Sad too see that they downgraded the visuals rather than improving it.
Sound 5/10
Couple of OSTs here and there, nothing to great and worth memorable. It had no opening song and the ending song was mediocre as well.
Character 2/10
The characters were written lively, they felt alive. But that solely couldn't make them good or likable. Really disliked the main girl "Muge", really energetic, someone who'd just go and want to become a cat forever because she got rejected once despite her awfully clingy behavior and without even thinking about the consequences that were to come with it (e.g. leaving behind her close friend, and her parents who try their best to take care of her). And then there's her close friend who really should be the MC of this movie but her name is forgettable that even I don't remember even tho I just finished watching this movie, same can be said for Hinode's friend. Hinode, the male MC gives of serious furry vibes and likes to be kissed by a cat, he's a typical edgy teenage boy who'd try to do anything for his love even brawl with a giant cat, maybe that's because he's a furry.
Enjoyment 3/10
You know what I enjoyed in this movie? The background scenery.
Overall it's nothing more than a 3, a big disappointment coming from names such as Mari Okada and Junichi Satou. Tho it made me realize how much I love Tamayura, maybe I might do a rewatch.