Toho Animation
I have long been a bit apprehensive of anime movies, although that’s really because I find most of the television shows exported to the US to be mostly uninteresting. Sure, I had an anime phase in college along with my martial arts and pro wrestling phases, but now I’m more in a phase of ‘liking good movies’. So I can be a bit hard to please when it comes to anime.
Penguin Highway is an animated film from director Hiroyasu Ishida based on the novel by Tomihiko Morimi. In an average town somewhere in Japan, we follow young oddball and budding scientist Aoyama (Kana Kita), a sort of matter-of-fact kid with aspirations to be the next great Einstein or whoever. He is pals with Uchida (Rie Kugimiya), a classic kid sidekick, and a rival/possible love interest Hamamoto (Megumi Han), the only kid in their class who can rival his intelligence and love for science.
It all starts with a series of mysterious sightings of penguins throughout the town, which makes little sense as there’s no zoo or aquarium nearby, and they are nowhere near the ocean. This piques Aoyama’s interest and he resolves to solve this mystery, but he is distracted by a new dental hygienist, never given a name other than ‘Lady’ (or in Japanese Onē-san meaning older sister, as played by Yû Aoi).
This Lady forms a budding friendship with Aoyama, and despite his weird, pre-adolescent hormonal interest in her, he also discovers an odd connection between her and the penguins. So they start experiments and form a sort of friendship, one she clearly sees as an older sister thing, but Aoyama is confused about a lot of things. Soon after this, a mysterious orb of water appears in the center of the forest, and this means it’s time for more experiments, this time with Aoyama and Hamamoto as well as Uchida.
Adventure truly begins at this point, as mysteries build and feelings are hurt. Bullies are turned friends, and families argued with. Aoyama remains a very different sort of protagonist, overly honest, and often speaking out loud things nobody wants to hear, like how he can’t stop staring at Lady’s breasts or his changing feelings for others as his life changes.
There is a cultural divide between Japanese and US audiences, and I think there will be quite a few instances of oddness here, including the critical relationship between Lady and Aoyama. It is ultimately an innocent, strengthening one, and the fantastical elements added are introduced slowly and carefully before the final, over the top crazy bonkers ending.
Characters are the key here, and yes, perhaps some background folk aren’t so interesting, but the primary four I mentioned have unique, interesting personalities that push and pull against each other in interesting ways. This is still a family sort of movie, so if things get complicated, it is in the Toy Story bittersweet way instead of something depressing or harsh.
I found this movie pretty good, and containing a few moments of emotional resonance. The weirdness might turn some people off, but I think in this modern world where many people between the ages of 12 and 30 have seen anime, I feel like it will barely be anything against the gory nonsense of Attack on Titan or the insanity of One Punch Man. Instead, it is more reminiscent of Your Name, a great movie soon to be ruined by an American remake.
Penguin Highway has a run time of 1 hour 58 minutes and is not rated.
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