The appeal and reviews of "Brave Story": A thorough analysis of the moving adventure fantasy

Brave Story: A Fantasy World and a Tale of Courage

Introduction

"Brave Story" is a theatrical animation released in 2006 based on the original novel by Miyabe Miyuki. The film depicts the adventures of a young boy named Wataru, with themes of family ties and courage. Animated by GONZO and directed by Chiaki Koichi, the epic fantasy world unfolds on the big screen. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the story, characters, production background, evaluation, and recommended points of "Brave Story".

story

"If you fail, you can never come back" -- there was one wish he wanted to fulfill at all costs, even if it meant taking such a risk. That was to bring back his torn apart family. In order to change the terrible fate that had befallen him, 11-year-old Wataru mustered all his courage and stepped through the door that would change his fate. However, the extraordinary journey that began from there was far beyond Wataru's imagination, resolve, and even his one wish.

Commentary

"Brave Story" is a two-volume epic that took popular author Miyabe Miyuki several years to complete, and is a fantasy work that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Gonzo, who produces excellent works using their unique techniques that blend 2D and 3DCG, has reborn this large-scale fantasy into a large-scale theatrical animation. The director is Chiaki Koichi, an up-and-coming director who has worked on TV animation works such as "LAST EXILE," "Full Metal Panic!," and "Gatekeepers," and this is his first foray into theatrical film.

cast

• Wataru Mitani/Takako Matsu
• Ki Kima / Yo Oizumi
• Katz/Takako Tokiwa
• Mitsuru Ashigawa/Eiji Wentz
• Goddess/Imai Miki
• Kuniko Mitani (Wataru's mother) / Yoshiko Tanaka
• Akira Mitani (Wataru's father) / Katsumi Takahashi
• Grandma Yuna/Rie Shibata
• Highlander the Dog / Atsushi Tsutsumishita (Impulse)
• Young Bishop / Toshiyuki Itakura (Impulse)
• Katsumi Komura (Kacchan) / Mihoko Abukawa (Hokuyo)
• Ogawa/Saori Ito (Hokuyo)
• Mina/Chiwa Saito
• Mysterious girl's voice / Ayako Kawasumi
• Master Lau/Shiro Ito
• Bishop Dimon/Taro Ishida
• Onba/Kirin Kiki

Main Staff

• Executive producer: Chihiro Kameyama
• Produced by Kazuyoshi Seki, Shoji Murahama, Soichi Akiyama, Junichi Watanabe
• Producers: Hiroyoshi Koiwai, Koji Kajita, Daisuke Sekiguchi
• Original story by Miyabe Miyuki
• Director: Koichi Chiaki
• Screenplay by Ichiro Okouchi
• Screenplay cooperation: Reiko Yoshida
• Animation Director: Yuriko Senba
• Character design: Takuhito Kusanagi
• Original setting story/story by Yoshimitsu Ohashi, Yuichi Tanaka, Masahiro Maeda, Hitoshi Ueda, Yuriko Senba
• Character settings: Yuriko Senba, Hitoshi Ueda, Katsuichi Nakayama, Yoko Kobe
• Art setting: Makoto Kobayashi, Hitoshi Ueda, Shunji Murata, Akihiro Hirazawa, Yoshinori Shiozawa, Hiromasa Ogura
• Monster setting/Kaichiro Terada
• Genkai Moji Design/Takehito Kobayashi
• Design cooperation: Hiroshi Shirai, Yuji Sakamoto, Yoshinori Kunieda
• Storyboard: Koichi Chiaki, Yoshimitsu Ohashi, Masahiro Maeda
• Directed by Tomihiko Okubo, Yukio Takahashi, Masato Bessho, Masahiro Maeda
• Animation Directors: Atsushi Yamagata, Toshiyuki Fujisawa, Takaaki Wada, Shunji Suzuki, Jun Okuda, Kaichiro Terada, Eiko Saito, Hisashi Kagawa, Hiroyuki Kobe, Yuichi Tanaka, Tomoyuki Minagawa, Yu Kato, Shoichi Masuo, Manabu Tanzawa, Masahiro Koyama, Yuji Hosogoshi, Osamu Horiuchi, Elkin Kawabata, Shinichi Yoshikawa
• 3D Director: Hiroshi Shirai
• Color design: Hiromi Uchibayashi
• Director of photography: Hiroo Yoshioka
• Edited by Takeshi Seyama
• Music by Juno Reactor
• Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka
• Animation production: GONZO
• Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
• Produced by: Fuji Television Network, GONZO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Dentsu, SKY Perfect TV Wellthink
• Audio specifications: Dolby Digital EX, Skywalker Sound

Main Characters

• Wataru Mitani
  An 11-year-old boy leads an ordinary life, but one day things change. In order to restore his family, he enters the world of illusions.
• A friendly resident of the fantasy world who resembles Ki-Keematokage. After saving Wataru from a pinch, they decide to travel together.
• The captain of the "Highlanders" who protect peace and order in the Katz fantasy world. A proud female warrior who is willing to sacrifice her life for justice.
• Mitsuru Ashikawa
  A mysterious transfer student who entered the Illusion World before Wataru and demonstrated his powers as a "Mage."
• A Ne girl who is a star of the Mina Circus but is searching for her father. She meets Wataru during an incident and sets off on a journey with him.
• The Goddess of Fate, the goddess of the world of illusion who governs fate and will grant the "Traveler" one wish.

Theme songs and music

• TM1
• On the morning of decision
• Lyricist: Futoshi
• Composer: Futoshi
• Song: Aqua Timez

Background

"Brave Story" is based on the original novel by Miyabe Miyuki. The original work is a two-volume epic that depicts the boundary between fantasy and reality, and focuses on themes of family ties and courage. GONZO, in charge of animation, visualized this epic tale using their unique technology that combines 2D and 3DCG. Director Chiaki Koichi has earned high praise for his TV animation works, and this is his first time working on a theatrical film. The screenplay was written by Okouchi Ichiro, with the assistance of Yoshida Reiko. The music was composed by Juno Reactor, and the sound director was Tsuruoka Yota.

evaluation

"Brave Story" received high praise from critics and audiences alike. It was especially praised for its grand fantasy worldview and story that depicts family ties. GONZO's visual expression that combined 2D and 3DCG also drew attention and was praised for its visual beauty. The portrayal of character growth and human relationships was also deep, capturing the hearts of audiences. However, some viewers commented that the story development was a bit complicated.

Recommended points

"Brave Story" is a must-watch for anyone who loves fantasy animation. Here are some reasons why we recommend it:

• A spectacular fantasy worldview : The depiction of a fantasy world is extremely fascinating both visually and narratively. The visual beauty that highlights GONZO's technical capabilities has the power to draw the audience in.
• Themes of family ties and courage : Wataru's journey to bring his family back together deeply touches the audience. The story depicts the importance of family ties and courage, and is relatable to children and adults alike.
• Character Growth : The growth of the characters, including Wataru, and the changes in their relationships add depth to the story and leave a strong impression on the audience. In particular, the friendship between Wataru and Ki-Kima is heartwarming.
• Music and Sound : The music by Juno Reactor and sound design by audio director Yota Tsuruoka enhance the atmosphere of the story and, combined with the visual beauty, enhance the work's appeal.

Conclusion

"Brave Story" is a grand fantasy animation based on the original work by Miyabe Miyuki, depicting family ties and courage. With GONZO's technical capabilities and under the direction of Chiaki Koichi, it has been produced as a visually and narratively excellent work. It is a must-see for anyone who loves fantasy animation. The story, which depicts the importance of family ties and courage, is relatable to children and adults alike, and the portrayal of character growth and human relationships is deeply moving. Please experience its charm on the big screen at least once.