Anime Review: 'Bubble'

Who can't wait for the beauty of this Netflix anime release? Tetsurō Araki's 'Bubble' (with his 'Bleach' and 'Attack on Titan') promises action with slick visuals to become a Cilers watch list.

'Bubble' is a 2022 Japanese animated film produced by Wit Studio. The film was directed by Tetsurō Araki and written by Gen Urobuchi. The character designs were done by Takeshi Obata and the music was composed by Hiroyuki Sawano.

The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 10, 2022. It will then be followed by a worldwide release on April 30, 2022 on Netflix, and for a theatrical screening in Japan this May.

Synopsis

Hibiki (Jun Shison) is a mainstay of the Blue Blaze team in a parkour match with daily supplies to survive in Tokyo. Tokyo became an abandoned city due to a mysterious bubble that created a gravitational anomaly that destroyed the city and flooded the city of Tokyo.

During the match, Hibiki tries to save her friend who almost fell in a spiral that can drag people and any object into it. Instead of saving Hibiki fell into the water and almost died because of this.

In the water, Hibiki is rescued by a mysterious woman who comes from nowhere. After saving Hibiki, the woman was taken by Hibiki to join the Blue Blaze group. The behavior of this woman is unusual and behaves very strangely, making it difficult for friends to communicate. Who is this strange mysterious woman?

The struggle for togetherness when abandoned

Explicitly, the condition of the perpetrators of parkour in the forbidden city of Tokyo is a victim of a disaster that occurred 5 years ago. Those whose families are spared choose to stay in Tokyo and survive.

The togetherness of Hibiki and his friends is always made fun, so the spirit to fight in the midst of a city crisis that they themselves do not know, becomes lighter. Although Hibiki's character is made quiet like most "cool" characters in many anime, on the one hand, being together with the team always invites a smile.

The charm of paintings wrapped in captivating action

Impressive visuals appear throughout the anime aspects of 'Bubble'. Starting from the setting of the city of Tokyo, which is depicted as abandoned with the destruction of the city and waterlogged conditions, it becomes a new thing that turns out to be explored very neatly. From buildings that were almost destroyed to water elements that remained in use.

The backdrop, which still uses classic 2D techniques with eye-catching coloring, is the most impressive attraction throughout the film.

Read More

Even without a 3D setting like most anime today, the visual dynamism combined with hibiki's parkour actions and friends blends beautifully.

Appearing with visuals alone is not enough, the movement of parkour is so fast that it is made like a charming acrobatic in a painting of each diverse setting. You won't get bored with the possible setting there, but each different angle impresses the dynamism that lives on.

Gravitational anomalies lead a beautiful match

Who would have thought that the flying bubble became a terrible scourge in a developed city like Japan. Like the mystery that makes the apocalypse of a city, loading a bubble "bubble" runs the story in an unusual direction.

The captivating parkour actions are also between fear and resisting the gravitational anomaly. Their struggle in parkour action becomes a new style in anime stories, combined in a post-apocalypse dressing, it will not feel like the romance drama tucked away between the characters that are made always fun in friendship.

Conclusion

'Bubble' is an unusual anime style choice and is so attractive with its soothing visuals. Perform with acrobatic parkour games in the middle of Tokyo that are made to be destroyed.

Although Hibiki appears in a "cool" style, the familiarity of one Blue Blaze team is warmly intertwined even in their death-defying actions. The mystery of anomaly presented throughout the action makes us glued to the emptiness of the story space.

Director: Tetsurō Araki

Cast: Jun Shison, Riria, Alice Hirose, Mamoru Miyano, Yuki Kaji, Tasuku Hatanaka

Duration: 100 minutes

Score: 8.8/10