Maboroshi (2024) Review: Get Into the Mesmerizing World, But Please Temper Your Expectations

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Copyright © Netflix, MAPPA


Title: Maboroshi
Director: Mari Okada
Release Date: September 15 2023 (Japan), January 15 2024 (International)


MAPPA is a big company known for anime TV series, such as “Attack on Titan” and “Jujutsu Kaisen”, which were both successful for high-quality animation and diverse plots. Its newest anime feature film, "Maboroshi", explores what would happen after world-alteration and the poignant theme of losing loved ones. Although its story and execution are not to a masterpiece's level, it still delivers with its remarkable animation and core concept for a small experience.



Summary

     In a rural Japan, young boy Masamune (Junya Enoki/Max Mittelman), is trapped in a world impacted by a timeless freeze of repeating routines. Out there, he meets named Mutsumi (Reina Ueda/Jeannie Tirado) who is a girl dealing with this reality. However, at the same time, they face a mysterious girl named Itsumi (Misaki Kuno/Kitana Turnbull) who intrudes into their solace. During this journey, they discover more about the world's repeating freeze and secrets that uncover their realities.


Reasons

     This film's biggest strength is the breathtaking animation. MAPPA is a successful anime company, so the animation will most likely look amazing. The teal and brown color palette is paired with deserted backgrounds. Not only do they make the world look realistic but also oddly magical. To add, the character designs, especially those of the main teenage characters, look like normal to contrast with the fantastical environment.
     Anime is known for trying unique concepts, so the strength from the story would be the premise of a world freezing in time is interesting for those. The sided concept that makes the movie more intriguing is how the young teenage characters are unveiling what is up with this worldly problem. It is not considered to be perfect for beginners but it may be suitable for those who have some anime experience.
     While the pacing is decent, the execution for both story and characters would need more strength. Firstly, plot holes are still remaining. For example, it did not explain Itsumi's fate in the ending or the reason for the time freeze. Those will leave viewers confused. As for the execution for the characters, they do not use any originality other than clichés which is not an excuse to fill them fully.


Conclusion

    "Maboroshi", may have some freezes that make the world dangerous but overall, it is a good world to visit with magical repeats ahead. The animation and premise are the two highlights that can give this film some potential in being successful. However, you might feel disappointed with both story and character execution. If you are looking for a visually stunning anime film, you can dive in to the world of Maboroshi. Just do not blame me if you find yourself checking your watch to see if your world froze, too.


    Score: 7/10 (+ bonus points for visual magic)

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