Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror is a Japanese anime film released in 2009. It is directed by Shinsuke Sato and produced by Production I.G. The film follows the story of a young girl named Haruka who loses a hand mirror that was given to her by her mother. The mirror, which holds sentimental value for Haruka, ends up in Oblivion Island, a magical world made up of forgotten and discarded items. Haruka discovers that the island is inhabited by strange creatures called "fox-masked" creatures who collect and hoard forgotten objects.
Haruka sets off to find the mirror, but must contend with the Baron, the evil ruler of the island who wants the mirror for his own purposes. She also meets the fox boy, who's named Teo, a gang of wicked thieves, a trio of foxes who bully Teo, and her lost plush toy Cotton. Haruka must decide who, if anyone, she can trust in this strange land as she works to get the mirror back.
When Haruka s mirror was brought to Oblivion Island, he made the residents think it was stolen from him by bandits just so he could plan to steal that mirror and build a better island. While following a strange foxlike creature in the woods, she tumbles into a mystical world where once-cherished toys and treasures go when their owners neglect them.
Haruka discovers that the island is inhabited by strange creatures called "fox-masked" creatures who collect and hoard forgotten objects. Motivated by her desire to find her lost mirror, Haruka ventures into Oblivion Island. She encounters a fox-masked creature named Teo, who initially captures her but later becomes her ally.
Oblivion Island : Haruka and the Magic Mirror
Urban legend has it that things that are not cherished by humans will be taken by fox spirits to another world and that is why things are frequently lost. Haruka was given a mirror by her terminally ill mother that she treasured deeply. However, as time goes by the mirror was forgotten and her relationship with her father had also taken become estranged as he had to work long works and frequently neglect her. One day, she went to a local shrine to pray for the return of the mirror and encountered a masked spirit that was removing forgotten items and followed him back to search for her mirror.
Review
Directed by Shinsuke Sato, Oblivion Island is a 99-min kaleidoscope of high speed roller-coaster chase and touching moments as Haruka travelled to the land of lost items to retrieve her lost property. It's been quite a while since I have enjoyed a good movie-length anime, the last being Sky Crawlers that turn out to be utter rubbish. The main thing I want to emphasize about Oblivion Island are the wonderful characters that I felt connected very well with the audience. It fits so well in our current context of modern times. Haruka, a latch key kid from single parent household. Strained parent-child relationship as a result of long working hours. We are also introduced to Teo, the spirit who act as the guide for Haruka in her search. It would appear Teo is from the lower class in his society and frequently picked-on and bullied. And they perform the most manual of tasks of transporting lost items from the human world back to their island. The interaction between Haruka and her very reluctant fox spirit guide has a very good development and growth througout the movie and the pacing is just nice. The plot is very cleverly build around urban legend that, although is not reality, gave the movie the solid base that it needs to tell a good story. As audience, we all share Haruka's sense of wonder at how human items have an improvised use on the island. And Teo's fascination and joy at the item's true usage and functions when revealed by Haruka.
Production IG comes very close to telling as good a story as Ghibli did with Spirited Away. Although Oblivion Island is not as ambitious as Spirited Away in disecting and exploring the loss of the Japanese culture, Oblivion Island did have (a simpler) moral value to impart to the audience in the end. In a very touching climax, we are shown the memories stored in the mirror and the writers gave it just sufficient weight and coverage to show Haruka's resolve to put things right. That we should treasure our memories (and belongings, of course!) less they fade away and we loss a piece of us forever.
I think special mentioned should be given to Sawashiro Miyuki for her role as Teo. After her turn as Celty in Durarara! and Busujima Saeko from High School of the Dead, I didn't think Teo could do with a sultry and husky voice. But she pulled it off perfectly to give Teo an initial sulky disposition and later a change of attitude towards Haruka as their friendship developed.
I read that Oblivion Island is Production IG first foray into a fully 3-D animation and I think they did a swell job. I love the wonderful mosaic of colours like patchwork quilts that is the most outstanding feature of the Teo's world, since everything is built from mix-and-match stuff from the human world. But I would like some of the lines to be sharper. The music is appropriate and be sure to stay for the credits for the upbeat ending theme.
A good and touching story combined with some adrenaline chase sequence and comedic moments - and we have a winner! — Diane Tiu
Recommended Audience: Nothing really objectionable. I have seen parents with their children in tow in the theatre.
I think special mentioned should be given to Sawashiro Miyuki for her role as Teo. After her turn as Celty in Durarara! and Busujima Saeko from High School of the Dead, I didn't think Teo could do with a sultry and husky voice. But she pulled it off perfectly to give Teo an initial sulky disposition and later a change of attitude towards Haruka as their friendship developed.
Together, they embark on a journey to retrieve Haruka's mirror. As they explore Oblivion Island, Haruka starts to understand the importance of memories and not clinging to material possessions. She learns that while physical objects may hold sentimental value, they are not the only things that define a person's memories. The film touches upon themes of nostalgia, letting go, and the power of personal connections. The animation in Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror is visually stunning. The film beautifully depicts the contrasting worlds of the real world and Oblivion Island. The attention to detail in the animation brings the characters and scenes to life, making it a visually immersive experience. Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror is not only a visually impressive anime film but also carries an important message about the value of memories and personal connections. It serves as a reminder to cherish the memories we create with loved ones, rather than attaching ourselves solely to material possessions. The film is a heartwarming and enjoyable watch for both children and adults alike..
Reviews for "The Unique Animation Techniques in Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror". The concept seemed promising, but the execution fell flat. The animation was lackluster and the plot was confusing at times. It felt like the movie was trying too hard to be emotionally impactful, but it just didn't connect with me. The characters were also underdeveloped, making it hard to care about their journey. Overall, it was a forgettable experience for me.
2. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror" based on the positive reviews I had read. However, I found the movie to be quite boring and predictable. The story felt generic and unoriginal, and the animation style didn't captivate me. The themes of memory and nostalgia, which are central to the film, were not explored in a meaningful way. I also found the dialogue to be clichéd and the characters lacked depth. Overall, I was disappointed by this film and would not recommend it to others.
3. Alex - 1/5 - "Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror" was a complete letdown. The plot was incredibly convoluted and hard to follow. The animation, although visually appealing at times, felt disconnected from the story. The film lacked originality, relying on tired tropes that have been seen in countless other movies. The characters were one-dimensional and offered no real depth or development. I struggled to stay engaged throughout the film and ultimately found it to be a forgettable experience. Overall, I would not recommend wasting your time on this movie.