Fortune Favors Woman Nikuko is a extremely distinctive movie as it’s one which I imagine can solely be advised via the anime movie medium. Whereas the narrative being advised isn’t a grandiose one, it’s one which’s intimately centered on its characters and, because of this, offers a heartwarming viewing expertise.
Nikuko & Kikuko
The movie begins with a narrative about its titular character Nikuko, a girl who sadly has not had a easy life as she’s been cheated by nearly each man she’s met and needed to transfer from one place to a different together with her daughter Kikuko. Kikuko is definitely named after her mom, who’s nicknamed Nikuo (“The Meat Woman”) as a consequence of her boisterous nature, huge measurement, and her love for meat (therefore the “Niku” which means meat in her title). Her nearly too carefree nature usually embarrasses her younger daughter, who’s simply making an attempt to dwell a traditional life in grade college.
The movie intricately tells the story of the mother-daughter duo by displaying the essential moments of their lives, be it Nikuo’s checkered previous or the brand new experiences younger Kikuko lives via daily. No second within the movie feels ineffective or included for the sake of it, as every occasion we see them dwell via builds their character extra and varieties a novel bond with the viewers.
Youth & Expertise
Within the first half of the movie had been proven Kikuko’s each day life as a traditional grade-schooler. She offers with on a regular basis issues and experiences like coping with battle amongst classmates, combating and making up with pals, and even discovering a brand new crush. These little moments achieve highlighting the easy, harmless, but usually turbulent moments of youth. Afterward, nevertheless, we’re then proven a contrasting story about Nikuo’s previous and the character surrounding Kikuko’s delivery which, in comparison with the sooner a part of the movie, tells a extra gritty, grownup, and uncooked story. It additionally shows an unlucky aspect of maturity that some folks, particularly girls, sadly must dwell via.
These tales are blended so nicely into the story regardless of its 90 minute screening time you can’t assist however really feel drawn to the characters regardless of their easy nature, as the truth that they’re easy, extremely likable characters residing easy lives makes them that rather more endearing. The movie doesn’t characteristic any central narrative or fascinatingly deep plot, which admittedly might deter some filmgoers. Nonetheless, should you’re like me, you’ll discover the movie extremely pleasant because it offers an intimate and entertaining story that simply permits you to flip your mind off for ninety minutes.
The Signature Manufacturing Type
One other aspect of the movie that’s arguably its most tasty side, if not its finest side, is the animation. Studio 4°C did a wonderful job presenting the attractive picturesque scenes of a windy ocean-locked island, with extremely detailed backgrounds and character designs harking back to Ghibli movies (together with Ghibli references) due to character designer and supervising animation director Kenichi Konishi, who labored for the studio on The Story of Princess Kaguya, but the movie nonetheless has its their very own distinctive aesthetic. A core side or aspect within the studio’s movies is their near-obsession with water, which comes throughout fairly nicely on this movie. The animation of this aspect, whereas not distinguished all through, all the time evokes a sense of serenity when displayed. The movie’s soundtrack additionally considerably provides to this sense as, once more, whereas used sparsely, efficiently provides to the expertise.
The one side of the movie that hinders the expertise is that some elements of the plot, which you’d anticipate to be wrapped up neatly on the finish, are left as much as the viewer’s interpretation, most certainly as a consequence of time constraints on the movie. Whereas these ignored plot factors aren’t jarring sufficient to negatively have an effect on the viewing expertise, it’s value mentioning regardless.
Last Ideas
Total, Fortune Favors Woman Nikuko, whereas not providing something distinctive by way of storytelling, continues to be a well-crafted, well-produced movie that evokes a myriad of emotions in its viewers that may comprise of nearly anybody of any age.
Fortune Favors Woman Nikuko begins screening in theatres June 3. A screener of this movie was offered by GKIDS for this overview.
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The Assessment
Fortune Favors Woman Nikuko
PROS
- Nice, modest story
- Endearing characters
- Unimaginable animation
CONS
- Some unfinished plot factors
