UlasanAnime.com – Aniplex’s “Kokosake,” also known as “The Anthem of the Heart,” is a well-crafted youth drama. The most challenging aspect of this film lies in its adherence to a typical youth drama format. This can be likened to a Japanese chef making sushi; while the tradition might not be ancient, the art has been honed to a razor’s edge in recent times, meaning any creation will inevitably be compared to highly acclaimed, top-quality works.
The beauty of sushi is that if you are a foreigner who appreciates Japanese culture and doesn’t shy away from raw fish, you’re likely to enjoy it. In the case of “Kokosake,” I believe anime fans, or “weebs,” will devour it just as readily. The question of how good it is might no longer be the primary concern, especially for Western audiences consuming anime. I believe it’s safe to say that “Kokosake” meets an acceptable level of quality. While it might not reach the pinnacle of artistry like a meal prepared by the legendary Jiro, this movie offers an enjoyable experience that justifies its cost.
In this instance, attending a screening at a Manhattan theater on a quiet Monday evening, the ticket price was $15, plus any fees from Fandango. This felt fair. For me, the opportunity to hear Tenchan and Inorin deliver realistic performances, especially in contrast to Uchiyama’s borderline-too-much-exposure acting, was almost worth the price of admission alone. It felt far more special than your average takeout roll.
To highlight some key enjoyable takeaways, the setting is remarkably accurate for the Saitama prefecture’s outskirts. I recall spending a couple of hours driving around Saitama, the movie’s setting, during IM@S 10th, and I can confirm its authenticity. Secondly, there was a supporting character who spoke in a manner reminiscent of the “dirty 2.5D idol prpr-ists” I know. Frankly, this is an indicator of how deeply otaku fandom has shifted its gears in the past six to seven years.
Returning to the acting, Amamiya Sora’s character is quite level-headed with just a hint of tsundere. This role plays perfectly into her strengths, resulting in a competent performance that, as a seiota (voice actor enthusiast), leaves me desiring something more exciting. On the other hand, Inorin’s character displays a wide spectrum of moods and emotional shifts, echoing many of her previous roles. “Kokosake” provides her with the opportunity for a memorable performance, though I’m uncertain if she has fully achieved that. It feels as though Minase Inori was cast in this movie both for its benefit and for hers. It’s a dynamic role that required someone as dynamic as her to pull off. At the same time, I’m not entirely sure if there was a singular, defining moment where her performance truly left an indelible mark.
I wonder if this is more a directorial choice, considering the film’s rather lifelike approach to character acting. Consequently, the voice acting is somewhat less exaggerated than the usual anime fare, with the exception of the main heroine.
On the production side, there were some interesting sequences featuring not so much dancing, but full-body, choreographed movements from numerous characters. These scenes were subdued yet impressive. One scene felt as though it was outsourced to Inu Curry, or something similar. I really need to check the credits to confirm, as I didn’t pay close enough attention during the scroll for some reason. As expected, there were several CG/ML seiyuu involved. I believe I heard Shiraishi Ryoko. Suwa Ayaka was only identifiable through the credits, along with Marietti, at least as far as my limited ability to read scrolling kanji goes. There was a piece of music in the movie that featured a choir arrangement of several seiyuu, which could have been interesting…
Regarding the Okada x Nagai connection, well, there’s nothing that will truly surprise you. There are numerous stylistic flourishes clearly attributable to her, but none of them truly stand out unless you are deeply invested in the meta-narrative of the movie, which I was, to a degree. For example, the aforementioned seiota character is perhaps the most indistinct. Another instance is the way the final romantic resolution unfolds and how events conclude. I hope that didn’t spoil anything for anyone, LOL.
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Finally, to circle back to the sushi-making analogy, it’s highly recommended to watch “Whisper of the Heart” before you watch this movie. They share striking similarities. I’m unsure if the localization team for this movie realized it, but even the English title now is a little too close. It’s close enough to be considered a homage, and at least it avoids “Country Road” in favor of more classic show tunes.
