The appeal and reviews of "Stormy Night": A moving story and deep characters

"Stormy Night" - A story of friendship and conflict

Stormy Night is a Japanese animated film released on December 10, 2005. Based on a picture book by Yuichi Kimura, it was directed by Gisaburo Sugii and animated by Tsuneo Maeda. Distributed by Toho and animated by Group TAC, the film tells a moving story that lasts 107 minutes.

story

One stormy night, Mei the goat takes refuge in a mountain hut in pitch darkness. There, she meets a "friend" who has also fled the storm. In the cold darkness, she can't see or smell the other. But as they gradually exchange words, a mysterious sense of solidarity develops, and the two hit it off and promise to meet again.

The next day, when Mei arrived at the meeting place, she was greeted by a wolf named Gabu! Normally, wolves and goats have a relationship of prey and are preyed on, so there is no way they could ever get along. However, the innocent Mei innocently adores Gabu, and the slightly timid and gentle Gabu makes her feel like she "can't do anything bad to Mei."

However, a small problem occurs during what should be a fun picnic. Gabu drops the packed lunch he had prepared. Hungry, Gabu is torn between his wolf instinct to eat the goat and his friendship for his friend. Mei, who can't help but look at Gabu with suspicion at his suspicious behavior, cannot forgive herself for that.

Although there was some awkwardness between the two, once they overcame their conflict, they became good friends. They met and went for walks together as "secret friends." However, their peaceful days did not last forever. Their friendship became known to each of their species.

Having lost their home as traitors, Gabu and Mei set out on a harsh journey, believing that beyond the snowy mountains towering in the distance lies a "Green Forest" where wolves and goats can live together. However, the wolves follow Gabu to punish him for breaking the rules. On the way, Gabu's instincts, unable to bear the hunger, once again bare their fangs... What will become of the two of them?

cast

The cast of this work is impressive, with Shido Nakamura as Gabu and Hiroki Narimiya as Mei. Other actors include Riki Takeuchi as Giro, Koichi Yamadera as Barry, Tetsuya Yanagihara (American Crayfish) as Bitch, Yoshiyuki Hirai (American Crayfish) as Zaku, Mitsuaki Hoshino as Kama, Yuki Takase as Toro, Yasuyuki Kase as Gari, Takahiro Yoshino as Gori, Shozo Hayashiya as Tapu, Maya Kobayashi as Mii, Masamitsu Morita as Moro, KABA.chan as the goat lady, Eiji Bando as the elder, Yu Hayami (camera appearance) as Gabu's mother, and Etsuko Ichihara (special appearance) as Mei's grandmother.

Main Staff

The original story and script were written by Kimura Yuichi, the director, scriptwriter and director were Sugii Gisaburo, and the animation director was Maeda Tsuneo. The composition planners were Kuzuoka Hiroshi and Ishiyama Takaaki, the character designer and animation director was Eguchi Marisuke, the color designer was Utagawa Ritsuko, the art director was Abe Yukio, the music was Shinohara Keisuke, the editor was Furukawa Masashi, the negative editor was Kojima Toshihiko, the sound director was Fujiyama Fusanobu, the sound designer was Ogawa Takamatsu, the director of photography was Sato Yoichiro, the video director was Shinozaki Susumu, the executive producer was Kimura Akiko, and the producers were Nakazawa Toshiaki, Ooka Daisuke, Umemura Yasushi and Tashiro Atsumi. The animation was produced by Group TAC, and the Stormy Night Production Committee is made up of TBS, Toho, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Sedic International, Baku Enterprises, MBS, The Mainichi Shimbun, Itochu Corporation and Shogakukan.

Theme songs and music

The theme song "Star" was written and composed by Aiko, arranged by Masanori Shimada, and sung by Aiko. This song beautifully expresses the theme of the movie, friendship and conflict.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Stormy Night" is a touching story about friendship and conflict. The process of how a wolf and a goat, natural enemies, build a friendship and the difficulties they face to protect that friendship deeply touches the audience. In particular, the relationship between Gabu and Mei and the challenges they face provide plenty to think about, not only for children but also for adults.

The performances of the all-star cast are also superb, especially the voice acting of Shido Nakamura and Hiroki Narimiya, who express the emotions of their characters so realistically.Furthermore, the beautiful visuals by director Gisaburo Sugii and animation director Tsuneo Maeda also add to the appeal of this work.

The music also plays an important role, with Aiko's "Star" being a beautiful song that symbolizes the theme of the film, and Keisuke Shinohara's music also has the effect of building up emotions as the story unfolds.

Recommended points

"Stormy Night" is recommended for those who want to enjoy a touching story about friendship and conflict. It is a deep work that can be enjoyed not only as an animated film for children, but also by adults. In addition, do not miss the gorgeous cast, beautiful images, and moving music. It is a work that you should definitely see if you want to feel the importance of friendship and the courage to face difficulties.

In addition, the picture book on which this work is based is also popular, so by reading the book after watching the movie, you can gain a deeper understanding of the story. Another fun thing to do is to look for the differences and similarities between the movie and the book.

Related information

"Stormy Night" continues to be loved by many fans even after its release in 2005. Sequels "Stormy Night: Secret Friends" were released in 2012, and "Stormy Night: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter" was released in 2018. These sequels also tell the touching story of the friendship between Gabu and Mei.

Official movie merchandise and the soundtrack are also on sale, making them must-have items for fans. In particular, Aiko's "Star" is loved by many people and is also popular as the theme song for the movie.

Furthermore, this work has been highly acclaimed overseas and screened in many countries. In particular, the universal theme of friendship and conflict has touched many people across borders.

summary

"Stormy Night" is a moving animated film about friendship and conflict. With a star-studded cast, beautiful visuals, and moving music, this work is a profound story that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It is a must-see for those who want to feel the importance of friendship and the courage to face difficulties. You can also understand the story more deeply by reading the original picture book and the sequel. Please experience this moving story for yourself.