Mirai
- wulfeyes08
- Apr 23, 2020
- 2 min read
Becoming and older sibling is never easy, especially when you realize you're not the center of attention anymore. Sibling rivalry is bound to happen, but even all that doesn't stop you from realizing just how much your family means to you.
Mirai is the story of a young boy named Kun learning to work through his jealousy over his newborn sister, Mirai. Like any young child, he lashes out, throws tantrums, and even threatens to run away when he is not given the immediate attention he thinks he deserves. During these outbursts, he finds himself face to face with his sister's future self who asks him to stop being so mean.
Little Kun trying to bond with his little sister.
Newborn Mirai looking on in confusion and concern at Kun.
You can tell that Mirai takes its inspiration from Studio Ghibli films like Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, wherein the main protagonist is taken through time and space, often finding themselves in fantastical situations and meeting people they wouldn't have the chance to otherwise. It says something about Studio Chizu that they are able to create these feelings of wonder much like Ghibli and their works are truly to be appreciated for how much love is put into them.
Kun meets the self proclaimed "prince" of the household.
The story telling and pacing are really well done, diving between fantasy/sci-fi and reality with ease. You're often left wondering, is this real or all in Kun's young mind. Much like stories such as The Wizard of Oz and Jumanji, certain characters and scenes can represent a person's inner conflict and acceptance of a situation. They can show how one as young as Kun might process their emotions and stories they have been told by others. It's incredibly relatable, in that we have all had those feelings of uncertainty and we have all at times lost our way and needed some advice to keep us going.
Kun meets this very important someone in his travels who teaches him the importance of never giving up.
Mirai's voice cast did an amazing job at conveying the hopes, fears, and irritations of each and every characters. From the feelings of being replaced to the worry of not being good enough, it hits you in the heart and delivers and amazingly heart warming story about love, acceptance, and growing up. As an older sibling and a mother, I could relate to all of these things and it left me in tears at times.
If you are a lover of fantasy, science fiction, and Studio Ghibli, then I suggest you watch this beautiful film. It's also kid friendly, so the whole family can enjoy it together.
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