It isn’t often that an anime director becomes a recognizable name on Western shores. Besides Hayao Miyazaki, few Japanese animators have had their works even sell beyond the niche import market over here, let alone get the kind of critical applause Miyazaki has garnered over the years. Allow me to introduce you to Mamoru Hosoda, an anime director whose recent string of successful features has fired up a buzz machine of Studio Ghibli proportions. With his latest film, Wolf Children (which also happens to be the first film to come out of Hosoda’s Studio Chizu), it is obvious that Hosoda is walking in the footsteps of Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli, whether or not Hosoda is up to the task of living up to that standard is another story all together.
Take the trailer for Wolf Children, the story of Ame and Yuki, two little demi-humans, the progeny of a werewolf and their human mother. If the magical realism of the plot isn’t enough to reveal Hosoda’s aspirations then the enchanting visuals of the trailer will certainly show off the singular and inspired style Hosoda has been developing for himself. I’ll admit that the whole affair looks pretty damn cute and that the character designs by Evangelion veteran Yoshiyuki Sadamoto are a step in the right direction for Studio Chizu. Still, I am a bit fearful that with this latest move into magical realism Hosoda is doing too much to co-opt himself into a spotlight still very much occupied by Hayao Miyazaki. With the coming of age story and the fantasy elements on display here it seems as though Hosoda may be treading into territory that is becoming dangerously derivative.
Regardless of that, the film received rave reviews in Japan and Europe when it was released last year. So at least Hosoda is managing to garner that Miyazaki level of critical acclaim. Not to mention that with the success of Summer Wars it is hard to imagine the man doing anything wrong. Couple that with Hosoda’s characteristic youthful modernism (take for example Ame and Yuki’s parents, two star crossed college lovers) and I think you’ve got enough in this trailer alone to identify Mamoru Hosada’s unique yet complimentary style.
The flick is currently being toured around conventions and festivals by American distributor FUNimation. We’ll have to wait and see if the film generates enough buzz to warrant a theatrical release. If not, we’ll be waiting for the DVD to find out if Wolf Children goes beyond being a pale imitation and helps Mamoru Hosoda step out from Miyazaki’s shadow.
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