Lu over the Wall REVIEW: light-hearted anime with an infectiously catchy soundtrack

Lu over the Wall REVIEW: light-hearted anime with an infectiously catchy soundtrack

0 comments 📅09 December 2017, 10:28

In the sleepy seaside town of Hinashi, legends of mystical sea creatures aren’t far from people’s lips and locals often talk of their loved ones being taken by merfolk. So when Kai, an ex-Tokyoite loner finding it hard to come out his shell but with a passion for making music, is asked by Kunio and Yuho to join their band practice on Mermaid Island, you can guess what they find…

The classmates encounter Lu, a mermaid who loves to sing and dance, and desperately wants to become friends with everyone in town. So they decide to help her. While this is a film aimed at children, the narrative is especially beautiful when it focuses on the merfolk, their lives underwater and those they’ve affected in the town.

Unconventional director Masaaki Yuasa is known for his quirky animation style in series such as Ping Pong and The Tatami Galaxy, which have made him stand out in the industry. By comparison, Lu over the Wall feels pretty conservative, even if the eccentric non-linear art style of his animation company Science Saru is still there. However, its colourful art also makes it perfect for all ages.

It would be unfair to compare this to Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo, despite the focus on mermaids and the mystical which obviously brings that film to mind – this is not just another retelling of The Little Mermaid. It’s a light-hearted anime about legends, friendship and courage, which just happens to have a simpler story and an infectiously catchy soundtrack, and it’s an interesting direction for Yuasa to head in.

INFO
Release: 6 December 2017
From: Anime Limited
Format: Theatrical Release
Age Rating: PG

 

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