"Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror" is a Japanese animated film that tells the story of a young girl named Haruka and her adventures in a magical world. The film was directed by Shinsuke Sato and was released in 2009. The plot revolves around Haruka, a high school student who lost a hand mirror that was given to her by her mother before she passed away. Desperate to find the mirror, Haruka is transported to a mysterious island called "Oblivion Island" where forgotten items are collected and taken care of by little creatures called "Ferrybots". On the island, Haruka encounters a boy named Teo who helps her in her quest to find the mirror. Together, they navigate through various challenges and dangers to retrieve the lost item.
The success of Toy Story and Skrek are two CGI examples that I think of most when it comes to changing animation in America. Of course, it’s silly to point out only two examples, only two moments or studios (Pixar and DreamWorks here) as being responsible… but I think they are definitely noteworthy 🙂
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. Oblivion Island was nominated for and won awards but I suppose if I m interested in more than one marker of success, then I can t ignore box office either so, using IMDB, Haruka and the Magic Mirror had a worldwide gross of 3,171,022.
Together, they navigate through various challenges and dangers to retrieve the lost item. Along the way, Haruka learns important lessons about the power of memories and the importance of cherishing the past. The film is beautifully animated and features a vibrant and imaginative world.
Review for Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror
When it comes to CG animation, I always tend to look west (that’s despite the fact that technically, most modern animation, including anime is CG, as the ink and cel stage has been eliminated from even 2D animation). But when it comes to 3D CGI, my first thought is of Pixar and Dreamworks, and even Aardman. At this moment in time, Disney has no traditional style animation in production, it’s all 3D, whether through Pixar or through their own studios. Conversely, when it comes to Japan, and its anime industry, the perception is that it is all 2D or 2D style. Even when 3D is used, it gets cel-shaded and flattened down to work with 2D characters and environments.
Besides, I haven’t had a lot of luck with Japanese 3D animation, and neither have its storytellers. Other than the big, budget-busting, and studio-crushing mega extravaganza of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Japanese 3D CG animations have been wholly disappointing, with films like A.Li.Ce and Yuki Terai very low tech, and the more recent Tekken Blood Vengeance little more than an elongated cut-scene. There’s been more success with the halfway house of cel-shaded animation, making 3D characters and environments more resemble their 2D counterparts, and the 2 Appleseed movies were great fun. The subsequent Vexille fell a little flat though, and TO only half worked. So when it transpired that we would get Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror on Blu-ray and DVD, I wasn’t immediately thrilled to learn that it was another Japanese attempt to take on Pixar and Dreamworks at their own game, and make a proper 3D CGI animated family movie.
Haruka is a 16-year-old school girl who grew up, practically alone after her mother died, and her relationship with her workaholic father is strained to say the least. When she was a child, her mother used to tell her stories of how fox spirits collected the things that humans neglected, and why sometimes those things precious to us would go missing. Haruka promised to look after her mother’s treasured hand mirror after she died, but as she grew up, and as she and her father moved away, the hand mirror was forgotten, until later she realised that she had lost it.
One day, following a row with her father, she visits a shrine to pray for the return of the mirror. At the shrine she spies a mysterious creature picking up stray items. She follows it to a pool of water, and she’s pulled in after it to a magical world. She finds herself on Oblivion Island, where all of the lost items wind up. The various spirits wander into the human world, pick up what is discarded and take it back to use in their bustling island city. It’s Haruka’s chance to get her mother’s mirror back, and she enlists the aid of the fox spirit that she followed, a youngster named Teo. Getting it back won’t be easy though. For one thing, humans aren’t allowed on Oblivion Island. The other thing is that the mirror is the prize possession of the island’s ruler, the Baron, and he needs it for his own nefarious plan. For on Oblivion Island, mirrors have great power, and Haruka’s mirror is the most powerful of them all.
The island itself is a visually stunning blend of fantastical landscapes and vivid colors. The characters, both human and Ferrybots, are well-developed and add depth to the story. "Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror" is not only a visually captivating film, but it also carries important themes of love, loss, and the importance of embracing one's past. The concept of a world filled with forgotten items gives the film a unique and intriguing premise. Overall, "Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror" is a heartfelt and enchanting animated film that appeals to both children and adults. It is a captivating tale that explores the power of memories and the beauty of holding onto cherished moments..
Reviews for "The Impact of Oblibion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror on Fantasy Animation"
1. Emma - 2 stars
I found "Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror" to be a disappointing watch. The story seemed promising with the concept of a magical mirror and a girl entering a fantastical world. However, the execution fell flat. The plot was disjointed, and there were many unresolved and confusing elements. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to connect with any of them. Additionally, the animation style wasn't particularly appealing, and the action sequences felt dull. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unengaged with this film.
2. Michael - 1 star
"Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror" was a complete waste of time for me. The storyline was utterly unoriginal, following the typical formula of a young girl on a magical adventure. The pacing was extremely slow, which made it difficult to stay engaged. The characters were bland and lacked any real personality or memorable traits. The animation, while colorful, felt dated and lacked the fluidity and sharpness of modern animations. The overall film felt uninspired and forgettable, leaving me with no desire to revisit this world or its characters.
3. Sarah - 2.5 stars
I had high hopes for "Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror", but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The concept of a secret island made of forgotten items was intriguing, but the film failed to explore this idea fully. The plot felt repetitive and lacked surprises. The animation was average at best, not standing out from other films in the genre. Additionally, the characters felt underdeveloped, and their interactions lacked emotional depth. While it had moments of charm, overall, it fell short of being a captivating and memorable film.