Summary
An energetic animated debut aimed squarely at younger audiences maintains a sense of wonder through a surprising amount of scientific methodical rigour.
Studio Colorido and director Hiroyasu Ishida have slowly been building a reputation over the last few years with a series of acclaimed shorts and their commercial work. PENGUIN HIGHWAY (ペンギン・ハイウェイ) represents Ishida’s first feature-length foray, adapting a novel by Tomihiko Morimi (Tatami Galaxy, Night is Short, Walk on Girl).
Aoyama (Kana Kita) is only 3,888 days away from becoming an adult. The studious child follows in his father’s footsteps by chronicling all he sees in meticulous notebooks. So the sudden appearance of penguins in his small village warrants an investigation. Somehow related to the mysterious woman (Yû Aoi) working at a dental clinci, Aoyama and his friends uncover something wonderful.
Given the involvement of Studio Ghibli character designer Yojiro Arai, who also led animation on last year’s Ancien and the Magic Tablet, there’s a sweet charm that pervades just about everything in this storybook of a film. The breezy, summer holiday vibe is perfect for fans of Mamoru Hosoda and the like, and Ishida has younger audiences firmly in mind. This is refreshing for modern animation, even if there’s a few giggling jokes Aoyama’s fascination with boobs.
PENGUIN HIGHWAY is educational without being didactic. Emphasising the importance of questioning and ethically researching strange phenomenon, the triptych of kids at the heart of the film are easily identifiable as peers for all young audiences. There’s typical subplots about bullies and crushes, of course, but these remind us that these are still kids after all.
The wonderful animation is especially strong around the appearances of penguins. A motif of a cola can transforming into penguins is a clever trick. Later, a giant ‘ocean’ sphere appears in a field, resulting in a gravity-defying series of sequences. Without revealing too much about the final act, the most imaginative pieces are inside the sphere where things get really trippy. Umitarō Abe’s score is like a lighter version of Joe Hisaishi’s pieces, and just as endearing.
Offering a variety of intelligent role models for kids, PENGUIN HIGHWAY may not always be the most original piece, but it’s got a lot of heart. While the final act is reminiscent of both Ponyo and E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, it all comes together for a satisfying all-ages adventure.
2018 | Japan | DIRECTOR: Hiroyasu Ishida | WRITERS: Makoto Ueda (Based on the novel by Tomihiko Morimi) | CAST: Kana Kita, Yû Aoi | DISTRIBUTOR: Toho, Studio Colorido, Fantasia International Film Festival (Canada) | RUNNING TIME: 118 minutes | RELEASE DATE: 29 July 2018 (Fantasia), 17 August 2018 (Japan)
