The appeal and reviews of Hottarake no Shima -Haruka and the Magic Mirror-: A thorough explanation of the moving adventure and magical world

Hottarake Island -Haruka and the Magic Mirror- Review and Recommendation

overview

"Hottarake Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror" is an animated feature film distributed by Toho that was released on August 22, 2009. It is directed by Sato Shinsuke and produced by Production IG and Polygon Pictures, and is based on an original story. The film depicts the adventures of Haruka, a high school girl who gets lost in the mysterious world of "Hottarake Island," and searches for a hand mirror she lost as a child.

story

The protagonist, Haruka, is an ordinary high school student who lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her father. One day, while visiting a shrine in Musashino, Haruka witnesses a "fox" carrying an abandoned rubber toy airplane. While chasing the fox, she gets lost in the forest, and the moment she puts her hand in a mysterious puddle, she is sucked into "Hottarake Island". This island is a mysterious world made up of things that humans have "abandoned", and there Haruka meets a fox-like resident of the island named "Theo". On the island, Haruka is reunited with her beloved sheep stuffed animal from her childhood, and also sets out on a journey to find a hand mirror given to her by her mother. However, on an island where humans are not allowed to enter, Haruka continues to search for the hand mirror, even though she is noticed by the island's resident "Baron". Will Haruka be able to find the hand mirror and return to the real world?

Commentary

The original idea for this work comes from a collection of old folk tales found at the producer's parents' home. Among them is a legend of a fox that is passed down at Hatanoya Inari Shrine in Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture, and includes a story about a fox that takes away things that people cherish, and returns what they need. Based on this legend, a story was constructed that depicts the connection between the world of Hottarake and the real world. The screenplay was written by Adachi Hirotaka and Sato Shinsuke, and after about two years of production, the images, although digital, have the warmth of hand-drawn cel animation. It took a staff of about 100 people four years to create this work, and it was released as a fantasy anime that the whole family can enjoy.

cast

Haruka is played by Ayase Haruka, and Theo is played by Sawashiro Miyuki. Haruka's mother is played by Toda Naho, her father by Omori Nao, her friend Miho is played by Tanimura Mizuki, the island resident "Baron" is played by Ieyuki Iemasa, and Cotton is played by Matsumoto Tamaki. Each cast member expresses the emotions of the characters richly, adding depth to the story.

Main Staff

The film was directed by Shinsuke Sato, produced by Chihiro Kameyama and Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, executive produced by Takashi Ishihara, Michiru Ishikawa, Yoshio Takada and Hirofumi Ogoshi, and produced by Daisuke Sekiguchi and Katsuji Morishita. The screenplay was written by Hirotaka Adachi and Shinsuke Sato, character designs by Ren Ishimori and Ryo Hirata, music by Yoshi Ueda and sound direction by Takashi Ui. The CG director was Takashi Nagasaki, the art director was Masanobu Nomura, and the film was produced by Production IG and Polygon Pictures.

Main Characters

Haruka is a 16-year-old high school freshman who lost her mother at a young age and lives with her father. She has a bright and lively personality, but deep down she feels lonely. Theo is a resident of "Hottarake Island" and has weak magical powers, living alone in a corner of the island. After Haruka gets lost on the island, he accompanies her in her search for a hand mirror. Theo's dream is to build a real airplane and fly in the sky.

Theme songs and music

The theme song, "You Are the Sun," is sung by Spitz, with lyrics and music by Masamune Kusano and arrangement by Spitz and Seiji Kameda. The beautiful melody of this song symbolizes Haruka's adventure and growth, adding a deep emotional impact to the story.

review

"Hottarake Island -Haruka and the Magic Mirror-" depicts the importance of relationships, growth, and regaining what has been lost through a story where fantasy and reality intersect. Haruka's character is skillfully portrayed with both brightness and loneliness, evoking sympathy from viewers. Her friendship with Theo and her adventures are full of elements that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Visually, the animation is appealing, making full use of digital technology while still retaining the warmth of hand-drawn art, and the unique worldview of Hottarake Island is particularly beautifully depicted. Music also plays an important role in enlivening the story, and the theme song by Spitz, "You Are the Sun," is a beautiful song that symbolizes Haruka's journey of the heart.

Recommendation

This is a fantasy anime that is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. It will be able to convey to children in particular the wonder of dreams and adventure. It also contains deep themes that make you think about growth and human relationships, making it enjoyable for adults as well. The beautiful visuals and music are also not to be missed, so this is a work that we highly recommend to anyone who likes fantasy anime. Furthermore, the story, based on a folktale from Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture, is a good opportunity to learn about traditional Japanese culture and beliefs. Be sure to experience this mysterious adventure at the theater.

Additional Information

This work was released in the summer of 2009 and was highly praised by many audiences. In particular, the depiction of the friendship and adventure between Haruka and Theo captured the hearts of many viewers. The unique worldview of Hottarake Island is not only visually beautiful, but also an important element that adds depth to the story. Furthermore, the theme song "Kimi wa Taiyo" was loved not only by Spitz fans but also by anime fans. This work is sure to be loved by many people in the future as a work that shows new possibilities for fantasy anime.