bulah96 - 2014-03-09 04:39:24

Anima is a not even 4 minute short "art" film directed and animated by Kazuhiro Hotchi who's entire body of work seems to be, according to MAL short "art" films, such as Anima. As the Hummingbird blurb about it says, it is supposed to represent the journey of a human life. This is a task which it accomplishes quite well through an incredibly expressive interpretive dance by a frighteningly muscular woman. There is nudity in this animation but it is more along the lines of Renaissance art than of pornography. There could definitely not be seen to be much eroticism in the women's dance. As she leaps and bends to a somewhat melancholy piece of music that wouldn't be out of place in a silent film, the viewer is pulled into a strange but enjoyable world of music and dance.

The story is the story of a human life. While that wasn't immediately apparent at first to me, who is by no means a student of any form of dance, after a few viewings one can start to find the story in the movements and changes in the music. Due to the less traditional nature of the work and the brief length of the film, it does not place much strain on a viewer's re-enjoyment of the film. I give the story an 8 because I don't believe the film's story is immediately accessible to the average viewer. That may be only because the lowest common denominator is probably not a film like this one's target audience. Also one more experienced in dancing may have an easier time with Anima.

The music was well mixed, and was a solid complement to the animation. The director is responsible for the mixing, but not for the original piece. One good thing to note is that I didn't find the music tiresome or repetitive after repeated viewings. Due to how well it fits in the whole composition, I give the music top marks.

The animation is top notch, and feels very well designed. The woman is very well drawn, and her movements are very expressive. The background is rather otherworldly but fits the composition of Anima.

Final Notes: I really liked Anima, but can't really say it was perfect. I don't believe it was accessible enough. The woman kind of scared me with how realistic she was drawn, and how she moved. Lastly while I appreciated it, I can imagine that some may find the music's tempo changes annoying. If you wish to watch it for yourself, it can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q91ceXsdXzM

Personal Note: This is my first review, so I may not be as critical as I may become. Any comments or criticisms are always welcome.