Giovanni is a young boy who lives on the outskirts of a small rustic village. His mother is bedridden and his father has not returned home since leaving to work on a fishing boat. An outcast at school, Giovanni has only one friend: Campanella, the mayor's son. During the town's Festival of Stars, Giovanni starts to daydream atop a hill and looks up to find a steam engine train floating in the air. He boards the train only to find his friend Campanella already there. And so, the two begin their journey through the stars where they come across unusual people and visit many beautiful and haunting places.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
klausfish
This is a movie for dreamers. That's as simple as I can state it. It evokes strong interest and emotion from the viewer. I was on the edge of my seat. It is paced much like an odyssey-traveling along an ever changing magical landscape that you feel you are becoming part of. The artwork has a simplistic beauty that is extremely pleasing to the eye. There is a feeling of drama and intensity all throughout, even in the smallest of scenes you feel as if you are on the verge of-something, something big. This movie is for the fantasy, fairytale and visual experience fans.I feel like I have just watched my first piece of fantastical anime. That's a pretty huge feeling, I hope you can share the same.
Scruffyjay
This is one of the most atmospheric movies I've seen in awhile. It's very abstract, the animation and character design is very well done, especially for its age. This story stresses on friendship and makes you reflect on life. It impacted me very emotionally at the end, and there were many scenes I did not expect at all. The music, especially, was very well placed, and pleasing to the ear. Overall, this is the kind of movie I would love to show to all of my friends.
That_Bulge
-No spoilers are contained within this review- Night on the galactic Railroad is quite the ride… to say the least. Before beginning this movie I had been given fair warning, yet I still proceeded giving it the benefit of the doubt. Story (2/10) Have you ever smoked acid? Me neither, but I’m pretty sure this story is something that might pop into your head if you did. Get ready for the ride of your life as you follow two cardboard cutouts into a cluster of strange and meaningless scenes. Usually stories have linear plots and character developments with a twist at the end that makeseverything make sense. Gisaburou Sugii throws all of that out the windows. Night on the Galactic Railroad is a tale that will leave you shocked at the fact that you just spent over an hour of your life watching nothing.
Animation (1/10)
Bambi was made in 1942 and the animation still hold up to this day. Night on the Galactic Railroad was made in the mid 1980’s (38 years later) and the animation was terrible. This is a slideshow of a movie. Almost every shot is either a panning shot or a series of recycled animation.
Sound (1/10)
Never has there been a more disturbing sound track in anime. For 113 minutes I squirmed in my seat out of discomfort. The soundtrack consists of nothing but scary, creepy, and unsettling music. Even if the characters are going through something heartfelt or loving the music would cut in and ruin everything. The quality of the music is also a problem. This static music not only sounds bad but it breaks all illusion of immersion, destroying the atmosphere, which in all honesty is a breath of fresh air.
Characters (1/10)
Have you ever sat down and looked at a piece of cardboard covered in crayon scribble. That’s basically the experience of watching these characters on the screen. There has never been a more cold hearted character as Giovanni. This ice cold cat stares without compassion as children drown before his eyes. The only other being that is as heartless as Giovanni is his prick friend Campanella. This couple stares poker-faced as they see horrific sights and atrocities committed in front of them. It does not matter what these characters go through, their facial expressions will not change in the slightest.
Enjoyment (1/10)
The sound scraped against my ears, the animation scraped against my eyes, and the story scraped against my soul. This movie was uncomfortable, horribly written, and everything about it made me want to turn it off. This was a train-wreck of a movie.
Other Thoughts
I would not recommend this movie to anyone and neither should you.
Tenchio
Night on the Galactic Railroad, or Ginga Tetsudou no Yoru, may be based on a children's book, but it's definitely a movie anyone can enjoy. To be completely honest, I think I would've been seriously scared had I watched this when I was younger - it's quite creepy at times. Almost all characters in NotGR are cats with human proportions for some reason. I don't know if this was the case in the original book, but I never felt like it mattered, actually. Judging from the synopsis, it was because the animators were lazy, and that may've been the case for all I know. The storystarts off on an Italian-esque countryside, on the day of the so called Centaurus Festival. We are introduced to the movie's main character, a blue cat named Giovanni, who apparently is being bullied because of his father's line of work (smuggler) and is living together with his sister and sickly mother. When the night of the festival draws near, he is once again ostracized by the other kids - or should I say kittens? - and runs up on a hill from which he gazes up on the starry sky with awe. Suddenly, a flash of light appears and with it a magnificient train, which he boards together with his only friend Campanella, who was following him up the hill. Together they embark on a compelling journey as the train moves across the Milky Way.
The first thirty or so minutes of the movie are horribly slow, but after the characters have boarded the train, the pacing is screwed up a notch or two.
With the movie being made in 1985, it's no surprise that its animation is dated. Especially the characters look very simple, without much detail to them. On the other hand, the sceneries the two cats encounter during their journey are highly imaginitive; a walnut-littered excavation site of some kind of gigantic dinosaur skeleton; an immense field of corn with an unsuspended pendulum swinging in the blue sky above. And the like. I don't want to spoil too much, but there are some really interesting vistas to be seen. Night on the Galactic Railroad might not be as technically competent as contemporary Ghibli movies, but it certainly has got heart.
Cats and even some humans board the train and disappear into thin air as suddenly as they came, lending the movie an even more mysterious atmosphere. There aren't any deep personalities to be found here, though, but I doesn't matter - it's the journey and the journey alone that is the core of this movie and it's interesting enough.
Night on the Galactic Railroad features mostly classical music. Among the tracks we find the New World Sympony and Halleluja Chorus for example. Looking at the latter of those two, it's not too surprising that there are some Christian elements incorporated into the story more or less obviously, like it or not. Putting that aside, the music fits the mood most of the time, but there are some creepy, more ambient tunes that seem sort of misplaced in their context. Which in a way only serves to make the atmosphere even more creepy.
So, to summarize, this movie was quite a trip. It's very slow-paced in the beginning, but if you get past the first boring thirty minutes, you're in for an experience unlike any other.
Evangelynn
What an interesting film. I've never truly seen anything quite like this movie, and I find myself thinking about it quite often. The story is very simple, yet very complex at the same time. Just about two little cat boys who ride a giant train and travel across the universe, in it all being a metaphor for dying and being taken to heaven. While this film is very slow and can drag at moments, its extremely atmospheric. The inside of the train and the cats are nothing special but some of the backgrounds are STUNNING. Things like the giant cross and fields seen from the train look verywell drawn, especially for the time this movie was made.
It should also be noted that the main theme is one of my favorite orchestrated pieces of all time. Such a beautiful and haunting tune, combining a music box and the ticking of a clock.
This movie's ending also caught me off guard completely. This is a G rated movie, meant for children, but it has one of the most bleak and nihilistic endings I have ever seen. Seriously, if you would have showed me this movie as a kid I would have been very confused, but this does not mean the ending is bad by any means. It suits this movie perfectly, being so eerie and downright startling.
Overall, this is a movie I would recommend if you want to watch a classic, artbook of a film. Don't come for a linear story. Come for the capturing atmosphere, bleak tone and beautiful OST. Its not for everyone, but it is a one of a kind movie with heart behind it.
EriolElfwin
An extremely well hidden gem in a world of superficial entertainment that I was lucky to stumble upon. The entire movie is incredibly atmospheric and dream-like, the scenery is beautiful, the same for the music. It has the quality that some movies have to resemble a work of art, like a painting that draws you into it and makes you spend some time just appreciating it. I don't mind low pacing in general, I actually like it, and here the low-pacing is an extra plus that increases appreciation time. I could just watch it again and again. And it is not just empty beauty. Thestory is touching, deep, and emotional, and just adds to the overall beauty of everything. It's actually much more serious than I was expecting, with some dark revelations and concepts, although there is enough hope in it. It's surely something that will be stuck in my soul for some time.
An interesting comment is that I found it to be actually more concrete than the general consensus. Sure, the sequences have a strong abstract and symbolic element, however, many events do have a concrete explanation or receive one after we learn more of what is happening.
From all of the above, it's inevitable to conclude that the movie has the following qualities: abstract elements, symbolism, dream-like feeling, depth, and slow-pacing. It's also imperative to say that the story-telling is highly unconventional and requires the appropriate attitude to be appreciated. For some, like me, this means immediate recommendation. For others, it can mean a sound no. What it doesn't mean, however, is that it is just psychedelic bullshit; maybe it's just not for you. If you feel like the elements above appeal to you, I'd say it's a must. Break the barrier of infinite superficial and popular content, reach to the forgotten realms of the underground, and enjoy this hidden but preserved masterpiece.
LadyStardust97
I really, honestly, don't think it's possible to capture the beauty of this movie in words. I don't even know if I can call it a movie, because it's nothing short of an experience. It's a languid, heavy exploration of the cosmos, relying heavily on esoteric symbolism and the lack of interaction projected AS interaction. Screenshots and short clips don't do it justice; just like a Captain Beefhart album, this is something that you need to sit down and take in in one sitting with no distractions. The only thing I didn't give a perfect score to was the art, but please know thatthe art is gorgeous and the only reason I left off a point was because the high foreheads of the cats bothered me a little bit. Aside from that, I don't see any flaws.
Also: do not watch this movie if you want to watch a happy movie. This is not a happy movie. It does not have any happy parts. And the ending made me cry. A lot. For a while. But I still think it's an experience worth having, and even though it isn't happy, I did find it enjoyable.
Pup_Linton
Even being one of my favorite movies, it’s really hard to me to review this movie, but I’ll do my best. The story is amazing, but the way the movie tells it could be better. Sometimes it doesn’t flow smoothly. If you are looking for an action-packed movie, this is not for you. I think this is a movie to take a moment and just watch it, but sometimes the movie kind of stops and that can be bothering. Also the story is very philosophical, so the meaning of the movie isn’t evident the first time you watch it. I had to read an analysis ofthe book to completely understand it.
The art is ASTONISHING. The music was composed by Haruomi Hosono and is sometimes eerie, but also very beautiful. The art of the movie is magnificent and oneiric (also kinda trippy tbh)
The characters are cute kitties! I love the character design of the protagonists, but it is kind of cliché since it’s pretty easy to tell them apart from the rest of the cast who just look like normal cats. The cats on the train also have good designs.
Also I have a special feeling for this movie for one reason: Esperanto. Miyazawa Kenji (the author of the original book) was very interested in Esperanto, and the creators of the movie decided to use this language in the film. There’s even an Esperanto version of “Nearer my good to thee” on this movie! That’s amazing and gives an interesting atmosphere to the movie. This movie is the reason I became an esperantist.
(English isn’t my first language, so if I made a mistake please forgive me)
kekekeKaj
I'm really in two minds on what to make of "Night on the Galactic Railroad". On one hand it seems to be quite a subtle anime with deep and hidden meanings, on the other hand it's so booooriiiiing. One thing I am sure of though, is that in terms of effective audience targeting, this anime badly misses its mark. It's meant to be for children, but it'll be a miracle to find some that can actually sit out the whole film and absorb some of its meanings. For one thing the pacing is far too slow for children, and for another it's far too incoherent.In fact, even I had trouble keeping concentration, especially during the first half. My mind would often start wandering and then I'd suddenly realise that the scene's completely changed without me noticing, which is NOT a good sign. I couldn't be arsed to rewind either cos it just didn't seem to be worth it. The rather outdated production doesn't really help. Though the background music itself is really good, it's often overly quiet, which can make the film feel quite flat at times. The Second half of the film made me perk up, especially with the incident involving the ship. I think it was then that I realised that there's a lot more to this anime than meets the eye. Thinking back on it, perhaps other scenes such as the bird hunting one that seemed so pointless at the time actually has hidden meanings as well. Damned if I know what they are though.
There's a great twist at the end that I really didn't see coming - maybe it's 'cos I can be a bit dense when it comes to predicting twists. I especially like the way the main character Giovanni held on to the milk he was taking to his mother despite him getting a big shock. There is no cliched smashing of the bottle, and I thought that was a nice touch. The strong ending made me feel I really need to re-watch it at some point in order to understand the movie better... but the dead slow pacing is putting me off re-watching it any time in the near future.
To sum up: An overly long, boring anime but with a deeper story full of religeous themes under its yawn inducing exterior. I find it puzzling that it has been made into a two hour film when it would have fared far better as a one and a half hour one with which the pacing would have been less painful.
ktulu007
Unlike a lot of anime films, Night on the Galactic Railroad isn't based on a game, a manga or a light novel. It's based on a children's story written by Miyazawa Kenji. It's a novel that's unfinished. Miyazawa was still polishing the middle of the piece when he died in 1933. The novel was posthumously published as it was and it became a classic work of children's literature. In 1985 it was made into an anime film. How well does it work? Let's take a look and find out. We open with our protagonist, Giovanni attending classes. Giovanni attends school with all the other cats...Yes, cats. All the characters in this were replaced by talking cats most of which need to put on pants. For those of you who aren't familiar with the book, it's not originally about cats. That pointless change aside, Giovanni goes into town to get milk for his sick mother while all the other cats are attending the starlight festival. Giovanni stops to rest on a hill when he hears a train. A train that stops right in front of him. He gets on board to find that his best friend, Campanella is there as well. The two ride to a variety of different locations but what's their destination and what's waiting for them when they arrive? I'm not going to give that away, even though it's kind of obvious. The symbolism in this is pretty effective and it ties together nicely. I'm not even going to complain about it being kind of heavy handed since this is a kid's movie. The film does have some flaws though. There are some really slow stretches, especially in the beginning, where nothing of value happens. Changing all of the characters to cats would be fine, albeit pointless, but there are three human characters introduced later which doesn't make sense. At least keep it consistent. The reason that Giovanni's on the train is pretty weak as well, especially when you figure out what its nature is. They also separate the scenes with chapter cards which show a mostly black screen with some words like "Giovanni's Ticket" or "Apples" which doesn't really work in a film. It just serves to bring the action to a grinding halt for several seconds each time.
This film is more about the journey than it is the characters. The characters in this are a little deeper than those found in Animal Crossing, but they're still kind of shallow. And, honestly, they aren't as much fun. Giovanni and Campanella have a pretty good connection and Giovanni does develop a bit as a result of his experience, but aside from that there's not much to the characters.
The art in this is a bit dated. To be fair, this movie is older than I am so that's only to be expected. The art actually does hold up quite well. The backgrounds are very well done and nicely detailed. There are some spectacular environments in this film, especially when they're showing constellations and representations thereof. The characters are the real weakness. Not because they're mostly drawn as cats, but because of their expressions. Most of the time the characters either look slightly surprised or just blank. Actually, that might explain why most of the characters are drawn as cats. Since it's more difficult to identify expressions on animals, it may have been a deliberate effort to conceal that flaw.
The voice acting is pretty good. Both Tanaka Mayumi and Sakamoto Chika do well in their roles. The rest of the cast is decent enough, although most of them don't say much. The music in this is really well done. It goes perfectly with the art to maintain atmosphere.
The yuri factor is a 1/10. There are only two important female characters. Giovanni's mom, and the inexplicably human girl they meet on the train and they never meet.
My final rating for Night on the Galactic Railroad is a 7/10. It has some weaknesses in terms of story but overall it has aged pretty well. It may not be as good as the novel but it's still a solid film and I think it'll prove to be enjoyable whether you're a child or not. Tomorrow we end this week of film reviews with Kara no Kyoukai 3: the search for more money... I mean Tsukaku Zanryu.
thenewtypetheory
Night on the Galactic Railroad is a slow-burning reflective piece about death and self-sacrifice. The story follows Giovanni, an absent minded yet diligent working class boy, through his night whisked away on an inter-dimensional trail ride. Though adapted in 1985 from the 1934 cult novel of the same name, the work’s enduring influence on anime cannot go unnoticed. This is what drew me to the work initially as I felt my understanding of shows like Mawaru-Penguindrum and Giovanni’s Island were lacking. After viewing the film I quickly realized how much wider this scope of impact was. For example, its persistently soft and otherworldly feel, andephemeral characters are all over the waterside train scenes in Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. I was pleased to find that the film stands on its own despite its age and countless imitators.
This owes to its characters above all else. I was initially off put by the stolid reactions to the fantastical and terrible situations many of the cast found themselves confronted with. However, it becomes evident that this was the point in a scene where Giovanni easily shrugs off disparaging remarks from his schoolmates. Giovanni and the rest of the cast have an enviable stoicism about them that the author endearingly asks the audience to imitate. Throughout the film characters willfully resign to their fates trading faith for fear. Many instances of Christian symbolism and ritual are employed to reinforce this theme. The conclusion seems to be patently Christian too - service to others is happiness. However the film’s incorporation of religion, though reverent and unassuming, is somewhat eclipsed for a broader more metaphorical take on its precepts.
While the animation wasn’t impressive even by 80’s standards, it still manages to be engaging. The character animation was given the most fluidity. The film is without any grand action set-pieces but what action there is is at least colorful and stylized. The backgrounds were the most unique aspect of the art direction. They have a stripped-down psychedelic design aesthetic to them. This paired with the sparse, lightly distorted and swelling synth tracks makes for a compelling atmosphere. Both the sound design and art direction vary enough while maintaining an otherwordly theme that creates a strong sense of adventure.
Night on the Galactic Railroad takes the pauses it needs to. It works remarkably well as an unhurried, simple and multi-dimensional meditation on life. It is a journey that borrows from old literature and history itself so well that even when the references are not understood it still speaks well to the themes it sets out to explore - another undeniable anime classic.
JuneNephthys
Night on the Galactic Railroad is a perilous adventure of two cat-people, Giovanni and Campanella, who travel through space on a train that glides through galaxiesーor is it? This iconic film is something that bred films like Angel’s Egg and Yuasa Masaaki’s adaptation of Nekojiru-sou; this movie is a heavily surrealistic, auteur piece that breaches the boundaries of mortality and death. An unfettered classic that will send shivers down your spine with the eerie atmosphere and emotionally intense climax. The story begins with the protagonist, Giovanni, running errands for his sickly motherーwhich then turns into a magical adventure with the deuteragonistーthe protagonist’s closest friendーCampanella. Muchof this movie is quiet and contemplative, rather than filled with dialogue; every speech, action, and observation by a character in this film is intentionally there to scrub away Giovanni’s confusion and lead him to the grand realization towards the end.
The pacing may seem slow, but the deliberation and the uncovering of mysteries throughout the breadth of the movie makes those solitary moments worth while. This series is similar to something like Neon Genesis Evangelionーwhere you watch it the first time to experience it and the second time is to analyze things that you may not have noticed before.
This film left me feeling deeply lethargic and melancholic. It made me cherish the journey that I’ve embarked on with the people I love and how much I should treasure those moments while they’re still alive. An allégorie towards the strife of living itself. The subtly, care, and passion poured into this film can be felt. It is unlike anything that has ever existed in Japanese animation and I feel that it deserves the reverence that it gets from many long-time anime fans; a curio among most. It’s difficult to say much about this film without spoiling anything, but I definitely recommend the experience that this film brings to anyone who is willing to be confused at first, then sit through a slow burn, only to be immensely rewarded in the end. I give Night on the Galactic Railroad a 7/10.
BowlingJD
Based on the classic Japanese fantasy novel by Kenji Miyazawa written around 1927, Night on the Galactic Railroad is a bit of a story with major themes hidden and in plain sight. One theme in particular, “What is true happiness” is the focal point. It was directed by Gisaburou Sugii (Astro Boy episode director), and a slew of other notable staff members, most of which went on to promising careers in the anime industry as directors or studio founders. One of note was Kōichi Mashimo, whom founded Studio Bee Train (.hack//sign). The story centers on what appears to be a mix of an old Japanese townwith Italian influences, hence the two main characters names Giovanni and Campanella. All the major characters in the anime are depicted as cats as to mellow down the somewhat depressing overall mood. During the night in town, there is a star festival called the Centaurus Festival. However, due to our poor stricken main character, Giovanni must work and care for his family instead. He goes to get some milk at a dairy farm and falls asleep. A train appears, and somehow, he ends up boarding it. He is joined shortly thereafter by his only friend Campanella, who is wet for some reason. There, they both start a journey through the galaxy over the course of a single night meeting strange beings, Cats and humans alike, all of whom have interesting circumstances why and how they came to be on the train.
Pacing wise, the anime is fairly slow, especially during the beginning with almost nothing significant happening other than giving the viewer an idea of the town and the people in it. Over the course across the Milky Way, there are imaginative visual, interesting ways of giving each theme an underlining meaning whether it is through classical music or symbolism, and even the importance in what the characters are saying creates deep philosophical thoughts.
Based on the fact it is geared towards trying to teach children symbolism and themes, the anime hits the mark. However, the slow pacing and how tough it is to pick up on some of the more important meanings in some scenes leads to some viewers overcoming to boredom easily. Night on the Galactic Railroad has very enticing visuals, music, and generally makes up for the pacing once the characters get on the train. It’s an enjoyable ride from 30 minutes in to end, and worth a good watch to get a nice perspective on “What is true happiness?”
TableDrawz
let's be honest if you have a short attention span and you only like generic anime this probably isnt for you, but if you're the type to watch anime to live an experience, to feel like youre traveling somewhere else or to simply discover a new world, this is definitely an anime for you. This is an emotional ride about friendship but also about life. Its a simple, dreamy anime where things are simply happening and you need to just stay along for the ride instead of nit picking every detail. Story- 10/10 Its fun, you just need to listen to it and not thinktoo much. seriously dont, that anime is only fun if you're just listening to it, especially with someone else.
Characters- 9/10
they're not really special or different, but once you get to the end of the movie you still feel like you miss them for some reason. because even if you dont have multiple episodes to get attached they still leave a lasting impact on you.
Art- 10/10
interestingly enough in the manga the artstyle was quite different because the characters were actually not anthropomorphic cats. but im so glad they decided to change that for the anime because it really makes in all better. it definitely adds to the "dreamy" and "weird" feel that this anime has and i think changing the characters for cats was a really smart choice.
soundtrack- 10/10
The music in the anime actually makes the atmosphere a lot more tense and scary than it should. it adds a lot of suspense and its honestly what makes the anime even better. what couldve been a simply dreamy anime had a lot more substance all because of the soundtrack. its beautiful, sounds good and really shows the difference between a simple ride and a more suspensful moment.
overall im glad i got to watch this anime, its amazing and i recommend it to literally anyone who's reading this right now! good luck!
AeroGunz
“Night on the Galactic Railroad” is what happens when You have a hell of a trip after a bunch of drugs You took to deal with a really, Really tough day. One night a boy named Giovanni finds himself on a very unique train. He doesn’t really have any recollection of getting a ticket. On the train he finds his (probably only) friend - Campanella. Together they travel through the galaxy on the way to the edge of the universe. During the ride they meet a bunch of people who have different takes on life and witness a lot of things that would make You questionYour sanity on a normal day, and develop their relationship further.
The longer the ride goes the more it is obvious that Giovanni is a bit special. Something that is shown by a unique ticket he possesses. A ticket so unique that even a passenger who seems to have a lot of experience with the galactic train, never saw it before.
I know this description is a bit dry but I really want to avoid spoilers.
When it comes to Giovanni and Campanella themselves there isn’t much to say. They are pretty much just proxies for the viewers. The only things that we know is that Giovanni doesn’t have many friends, is bullied because of his father and takes care of his mother. Campanella on the other hand is Giovanni's only friend, is stoic and cares about Giovanni. For a story such as this it is a bit on the low info side and it is to the detriment of the drama. But given the story is aimed at children I guess I can live with it.
While not as mindfucking as “Angel's Egg” and being pretty heavy handed with its metaphors it is still a very atmospheric movie with a pretty universal message. Both Giovanni and Campanella, despite travelling on the same train don’t witness all the same things and there is a good reason for that that is revealed towards the end but You can easily figure it out sooner.
The movie has a lot of scenes that are there just to build the drama and a lot of them are longer than they need to be. I can’t really get mad about that, a lot of movies from the 80s have scenes like that so it’s obviously a product of the times. That said, I do understand why some people think the movie is slow. Up until the halfway point the movie takes its time and builds the universe of the train. The thing that bugged me for a long time is that there are no clear rules to the train. We see things that could be interpreted as memories, hopes and even just the daily grind. It does get a little clearer towards the end but You never get the full picture.
I really don’t want to spoil anything and talking about the plot would be mostly spoilers so…
Despite being old with dated animation (the music is still wonderful) it’s a very solid movie. Being from 1985 I understand that not everyone would be willing or able to sit through it but I encourage You to do just that. You might be surprised by what You’ll find.
EpisodicFan
This movie is paradoxical for a number of reasons, but the most important one was how it merged a sense of calmness with unease. Its extremely slow pace was an open invitation to a very contemplative viewing experience. There is a generous abundance of silent moments in which the characters are able to allow their emotions to sink in, and in turn the viewer is allowed to interpret their thoughts and emotions. Inner monologues are practically non-existent, and the dialogue is enunciated very naturally, more for the benefit of the moment than for the viewers' comprehension. This is not a negative point, far from it.Those quiet scenes in which we are able to take in the atmosphere are meant to lead us into thought, into interpretation, and the message is either clear enough or just elusive enough to allow the imposition of certain key emotions of our own.
This intent is at times truncated by the rather rigid animation, and while the character designs are memorable enough, they are not given much leeway in the form of facial expressions, so the conveyance of subtler emotions depends on the viewer's ability to project their own feelings into them to a certain degree. This is a shortcoming that has a significant impact on a movie that is so reliant on emotion rather than plot or character. Despite this, the visuals are for the most part a pleasure to observe, particularly the backgrounds. While not overly intricate, the art's ability to transmit a sense of welcoming warmth, of impending dread or absolute desolation should not go without mention. It is obvious that the director prioritized the environment over the people in it, and despite how harsh my wording may sound, let it be said that at no point do the characters look bad; at worst they are serviceable, and at best a little better than that. The rigidity that dictates their movement and reaction, while not awful, will serve as a deterrent for many people, and they should be made aware of that.
I believe that what should be taken away from the film is its devotion to the establishment of a mood. It is an emotional experience, one that takes you to both beautiful and haunting spaces, that delves in the stark themes of solitude, isolation, hardship and death, as well as, more positively, on the value of a life well spent, endurance against its cruel realities, and even faith. This movie bears a surprisingly blatant religious charge whose effect with undoubtedly vary depending on the viewer. In my case, due to my lack of a potent religious background, I was not as touched as others may have.
In any case, this movie is a study of the beautiful and the grim, a serene and entrancing experience that will demand patience from you, but whose fruit will be extremely fulfilling.
Due to its pacing and this very clear focus on an element that does not appeal to the average viewer as much as character studies or plot driven stories might, I find myself hard pressed to issue an open recommendation. Despite all my commendations I would not qualify this movie as a required viewing for everyone, but if you are ever in the mood for a calming, personal experience, a journey of sorts to undertake (preferably alone), I would advice you to give this movie a chance.
MidnightPuppet
+Beautifully atmospheric +Simple character animation but gorgeous scenery +Very artsy and symbolic +Slower paced but I like it +The characters were cute +Surreal -Yeah definitely for the more creative, artsy type (Which isn't really negative tbh) As I said, this movie is very atmospheric, and very dreamlike. Yes, it's very slow paced, not much happens at once, but personally I love these types of movies now and then. These types of movies are always such a nice breather from the usual anime I watch. If you're more into shOUNEN, TONS OF DRAMA, SUSPENSE, FAST PACED ACTION then yeah you're definitely not going to like this movie. It's more something forpeople who are creative (What I mean by that is people who are, daydreamers, surrealist, artist ect ect).
But who knows, if you can handle slower paced movies I recommend checking it out. It's a pleasant experience.
SailorCat_YT
I wish I could say I enjoyed it and appreciate it for the art it surely is, I really wanted to like it. But I ended up being disappointed. First of all, the whole movie (even the everyday life scenes) have a strange and uncanny feeling to them, and often even a creepy one. I heard many people liked the mysterious atmosphere, but to me it was kind of off-putting. I also think the pace of the movie is too slow, at least for me. It was kind of boring for a decent amount of time. But my main issue with the movie is that Ididn't get most of the scenes in the railroad. They were just so weird - but (in my opinion) not an interesting or exciting kind of weird, but just a strange, off-putting one. The movie leaves me very frustrated because I can't understand it. I don't know if there is anything to understand, the scenes are probably just supposed to be creative and dreamy. But as I said, I found most of them pretty boring and alienating.
The artstyle... I don't know. It's not bad, it has very pretty scenes, but there was also something putting me off again. The main characters have the same expression most of the time: a little surprised, but not very emotional.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll put it that way: There is a character with two kids who came from a ship, and he did a specific thing, that everyone seems to be okay with or even think it's good. I find the moral to be problematic in this scene.
Finally, a positive point: I liked the ending and when you're realizing the real purpose of this railroad.
So, this movie definitely made me think about it a lot. But there is still the frustration about me not understanding the scenes. It wasn't a bad movie and people who like more artistic and creative movies might like it. But the events weren't very interesting to me and it was kind of off-putting. It's a pity.
fabunihorn
I fully recommend this movie is for those who enjoy slow burning, lonely, artistic type of films that leave you thinking about the meaning afterwards; this isn't to say that it is boring, quite the opposite. The pace is actually not that slow until halfway through when they get on the train, and the beginning is mostly story building and establishing characters, which in my opinion was not as boring as other reviews have made it out to be. The characters themselves do not drive the story, they are taken on the journey and through the galactic train go through strange dream-like worlds and meetpeople along the way, some who are mysterious and others leaving you questioning the morality of the characters and why everyone is so accepting of the strange circumstances. But that is it, this story is not retrospective and doesn't explain why things are the way they are, for example, why the characters are cats, and also the presence of humans is unexplained; if you are the type of person that needs reasons why then this movie is not for you as it doesn't provide one.
Giovanni's character takes everything in his life at face value. He does not react much to his situation and doesn't question Campanella about the events which led to them growing distant as friends once they meet again, he is mostly just happy to be with his friend again, and doesn't address the fact that he is being bullied in any way(ignoring his mom when she asks him about it and instead talks about Campanella)which may be off-putting to some people who enjoy more dialogue and reactions from characters because in this movie the dialogue is very minimal and it's up to the watchers to figure out what has happened between them and what the symbolism could mean.
This movie is very atmospheric and a "go along for the ride" type of movie; it is not so abstract and "psychedelic" to the point where it loses meaning, but it doesn't feed the watchers everything and likes to show more than tell. Just don't think so hard about it as you're watching and enjoy is through the OST, the beautiful scenic art, and storytelling. I would lightly compare this to SubaHibi, specifically the ending of down the rabbit hole where Zakuro is on the train and there's a lot of visuals, just not as deep and introspective.
There are vague moments where its hard-to-understand what's going on or decipher the meaning of things, but you're mostly supposed to just sit back and enjoy it. The movie has a great gut-wrenching ending which ties everything together and reveals the main point of the journey; this is also where the main character exhibits the most emotion driving home the theme of the significance of friendship.
