Birthday Wonderland
- wulfeyes08
- Apr 7, 2020
- 2 min read
On the day before her birthday, Akane's mother sends her to her Aunt Chii's store retrieve her own birthday present. While there, Akane inadvertently summons the great Alchemist Hippocrates who immediately declares that she is the Goddess of the Green Wind and she must come with him to save his world from its impending destruction.
Birthday Wonderland is an interesting mix of Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and Spirited Away. Like all of these films/books, it is centered around a young woman at a cross-road in her life, who must decide whether or not she has the courage to stand up for what is right. It focuses on Akane's growth from passive observer, to strong, determined heroine.
Akane, our reluctant heroine who finds herself avoiding problems rather than meeting them head on.
The Alchemist Hippocrates and his assistant Pipo. They help push Akane along, showing her that in order to grow, she must follow her heart and push forward. Also, look at that sweet mustache.
Birthday Wonderland transports you to an interesting and whimsical parallel world where you can follow Akane and her Aunt Chii as they try to find their way home. It's beautifully animated, using both color and uniquely designed characters and landscapes as well as a killer soundtrack to bring everything to life. There's even a really cool rock number that plays during one scene that had me grinning with delight.
Akane and Chii's surprise meeting with a lake of giant fish.
The story is also well written, drawing inspiration from other fantasy movies and novels to bring you something fantastical and comprehensive, even drawing on your own imagination to help drive it. There is a wonderful sense of urgency to Birthday Wonderland, a sense of worry that constantly hangs over the heads of out band of heroes, that is only compounded when you meet the movies villains. It's a race against time that will have you cheering them on every step of the way.
Zan Gu, Birthday Wonderland's main villain who isn't quite what you expected.
All in all, Birthday Wonderland hit all the fantasy, coming of age plot points for me, keeping the twists and turns interesting with the use of both touching emotional moments and unexpected humorous moment. It's one of those stories that evokes strong feelings of nostalgia, reminding me of all of those times I used my imagination to push through my own uncertainties.
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