Steven looks at Fractale, and … wow. Miyazaki-esque indeed. I am just as intrigued by the fact that the main character engages in routine prayer, as I am by the Dennou Coil-esque augmented reality.
Also, Nick has screenshots and links to the trailer for Shinkai’s next film opening in May – Hoshi wo Ou Kodomo, or Children who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below.
In a lot of ways, Shinkai is essential viewing for a Miyazaki fan. He has a way of recapturing that magic that I frankly felt was missing in Ponyo. Looks like Fractale is also an attempt to pick up that standard. Of course, Shinkai’s visual style is not a copy of Miyazaki’s at all, but something wholly new, that manages to evoke the same emotional response. The way Shinkai plays with light, in particular… wow.
UPDATE: Fractale episode 1 is here. Hopefully new ones will appear there also.
6 responses to “Fractale and Hoshi wo Ou Kodomo”
Thanks for the link. That does look interesting.
What they’re calling “prayer” isn’t anything you’d recognize as being such a thing. If you watch the show, you’ll understand what I mean. It seems to be more along the line of connecting to some sort of computer for daily synchronization.
I understand – but I like the way that the character refers to it as prayer. Not to be cynical about it, of course – I obviously ascribe more meaning to my prayers than a data download or an empty ritual (or any kind of broader act of willful subservience to tyranny, as seems to be implied, but I’ve only seen one episode). But the fact that the characters themselves have a spiritual belief system is something rather rare – this is more than the usual shrine and spirits worship of Japanese culture, but an explicit appeal to a higher authority. That’s something that interests me in a plot sense, even if it ultimately turns out to be nothing of the sort.
Which is why, on a bigger tangent, the ending of Batttlestar Galactica did not bother me as much as it did other folks. The ending there (no spoilers) left the big questions open, and a sense of mystery in place. I’m sure that Fractale won’t leave such loose ends, but it would be amazing it it did.
Hey! Episodes 2 and 3 have shown up over there!
Well, episode 3 of Fractale is certainly interesting.
awesome, i’ll watch these this week. So much easier this way than the torrent business.