Momaru Hosada's The Boy and the Beast (2015) crafts a world that is rich and exciting, offering an affirmation of the relationship's power to achieving self-actualization. Though the film is a vibrant addition to the world of anime, Hosada's tribute to familial bonds reaches beyond existing fans of that school of film. You don't need to know anything about Japanese animation to appreciate this film, just family.
The Boy and the Beast centers on a street urchin boy named Ren who stumbles upon a fantastical world of beasts, animal-like beings with the potential to become gods. He finds himself in the care of a brutish warrior beast known as Kumatetsu, a prime candidate to succeed the soon-to-retire lord of the realm. The two form a powerful, if turbulent, bond resembling father and son, and Ren makes his home in the world of the beasts under Kumatetsu's tutelage. But Ren's inevitable maturation threatens to lead him away from his Neverland, and Kumatetsu. As Ren is beckoned by the calls of adulthood, including college in the human world and the human father he thought he lost, the distance between him and Kumatetsu widens. But as an emerging conflict threatens to destroy both the human and beast world, Ren and Kumatetsu have to face the challenge together in a way that compels them to achieve a new level of union as both teacher and student and as father and son.
The surrogate parental relationship is the through-line of the film. When we first see Ren sulking through the city streets, the audience may be inclined to wonder what Jiminy Cricket figure is going to take Ren under his wing and nurture him into maturity. Kumatetsu in all his laziness and short-temperedness seems to exist primarily to thwart this archetype, and the audience learns that he is just as much in need of someone to show him the ways of adulthood as Ren is. The relationship between Kumatestu and Ren (whom he dubs Kyuta) is almost defined by its volatile nature from the start. The two spend quite a bit of time through the film yelling at (and sometimes chasing) one another. One might occasionally wonder if the two even like each other, and whether or not we should root for them.
Even so, their unusual relationship becomes a testament to the aching loneliness they both experience: Kumatetsu has known the same disregard and negligence that Ren has. In this way, the two are uniquely qualified to sympathize with one another, and the audience finds unexpected tenderness between Ren and Kumatetsu. Though they are often at each other's throats, Ren and Kumatetsu ultimately bring out the best in each other. For example, a pivotal scene in the film has Kumatetsu in the throws of a battle against another beast and sorely losing. Ren compels Kumatetsu out of his stupor of self-pity and on to victory by screaming at him "What are you doing, you chump!? Get up already!" It's scenes like this where the audience can peek into the understated sentiment they have for one another.
The backdrop of this relationship is a stunningly designed world. The world of the beasts is vibrant and steeped in lore and mythology that begs to be explored. Bright and colorful, and full of anthropomorphic animal creatures, the movie's design seems to dwell in some midground between Avatar the Last Airbender and Pokemon, and it takes the best of both. Though the coloring and detail isn't as picturesque as Makoto Shinkai's Your Name, the design of the world seems to come from a brand of mythology that predates the film. The animation here is cartoonish enough to be exciting yet painterly enough to feel transporting.
In the wake of Miyazaki's retirement, the world is searching for the next leading auteur of anime. Could Momaru Hosada be that figure? He has a definite shot. Hosada's monster world is at least as whimsical as what's seen in Spirited Away. He will definitely fill the need for those who grew up watching My Neighbor, Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service as kids and are now entering adolescence. Hosada's going to have a harder time finding that same support among the child audience Miyazaki is known for, at least for this movie. This film features more blood, punching, and (yes) impalement than most Miyazaki films. This film will please existing fans of anime but should not be used to initiate younger audiences into the genre.
The film definitely carries the torch of anime, but the film's audience is not limited exclusively to those already familiar with the genre. Ren's journey from an angry, lost child to an emotionally grounded adult is emotionally charged and cathartic. His relationship with the gruff but strangely endearing Kumatetsu provides comfort for anyone who knows what it's like to love someone who isn't easy to love. Watch the movie for a fantasy spin on Karate Kid, or in remembrance of someone you didn't know would be important to you.
The Boy and the Beast centers on a street urchin boy named Ren who stumbles upon a fantastical world of beasts, animal-like beings with the potential to become gods. He finds himself in the care of a brutish warrior beast known as Kumatetsu, a prime candidate to succeed the soon-to-retire lord of the realm. The two form a powerful, if turbulent, bond resembling father and son, and Ren makes his home in the world of the beasts under Kumatetsu's tutelage. But Ren's inevitable maturation threatens to lead him away from his Neverland, and Kumatetsu. As Ren is beckoned by the calls of adulthood, including college in the human world and the human father he thought he lost, the distance between him and Kumatetsu widens. But as an emerging conflict threatens to destroy both the human and beast world, Ren and Kumatetsu have to face the challenge together in a way that compels them to achieve a new level of union as both teacher and student and as father and son.
The surrogate parental relationship is the through-line of the film. When we first see Ren sulking through the city streets, the audience may be inclined to wonder what Jiminy Cricket figure is going to take Ren under his wing and nurture him into maturity. Kumatetsu in all his laziness and short-temperedness seems to exist primarily to thwart this archetype, and the audience learns that he is just as much in need of someone to show him the ways of adulthood as Ren is. The relationship between Kumatestu and Ren (whom he dubs Kyuta) is almost defined by its volatile nature from the start. The two spend quite a bit of time through the film yelling at (and sometimes chasing) one another. One might occasionally wonder if the two even like each other, and whether or not we should root for them.
Even so, their unusual relationship becomes a testament to the aching loneliness they both experience: Kumatetsu has known the same disregard and negligence that Ren has. In this way, the two are uniquely qualified to sympathize with one another, and the audience finds unexpected tenderness between Ren and Kumatetsu. Though they are often at each other's throats, Ren and Kumatetsu ultimately bring out the best in each other. For example, a pivotal scene in the film has Kumatetsu in the throws of a battle against another beast and sorely losing. Ren compels Kumatetsu out of his stupor of self-pity and on to victory by screaming at him "What are you doing, you chump!? Get up already!" It's scenes like this where the audience can peek into the understated sentiment they have for one another.
The backdrop of this relationship is a stunningly designed world. The world of the beasts is vibrant and steeped in lore and mythology that begs to be explored. Bright and colorful, and full of anthropomorphic animal creatures, the movie's design seems to dwell in some midground between Avatar the Last Airbender and Pokemon, and it takes the best of both. Though the coloring and detail isn't as picturesque as Makoto Shinkai's Your Name, the design of the world seems to come from a brand of mythology that predates the film. The animation here is cartoonish enough to be exciting yet painterly enough to feel transporting.
In the wake of Miyazaki's retirement, the world is searching for the next leading auteur of anime. Could Momaru Hosada be that figure? He has a definite shot. Hosada's monster world is at least as whimsical as what's seen in Spirited Away. He will definitely fill the need for those who grew up watching My Neighbor, Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service as kids and are now entering adolescence. Hosada's going to have a harder time finding that same support among the child audience Miyazaki is known for, at least for this movie. This film features more blood, punching, and (yes) impalement than most Miyazaki films. This film will please existing fans of anime but should not be used to initiate younger audiences into the genre.
The film definitely carries the torch of anime, but the film's audience is not limited exclusively to those already familiar with the genre. Ren's journey from an angry, lost child to an emotionally grounded adult is emotionally charged and cathartic. His relationship with the gruff but strangely endearing Kumatetsu provides comfort for anyone who knows what it's like to love someone who isn't easy to love. Watch the movie for a fantasy spin on Karate Kid, or in remembrance of someone you didn't know would be important to you.