My Oni Girl is a touching anime fusing the elements of fantasy with supernatural phenomena within a coming-of-age emotion-filled narrative. The film centers on Hiiragi Yatsuse, an almost too considerate and reserved high school boy who struggles with the art of expressing his emotions. In attempting to please everyone, Hiiragi turns out to be a passive spectator in his own life. As a result, he does not have any meaningful friendships or enjoy any sense of personal satisfaction.His life is devoid of any meaning.
Hiiragi’s monotonous life takes a turn when he meets Tsumugi, a bold and eccentric oni (demon) girl from the spirit world. Unlike Hiiragi, Tsumugi wears her heart on her sleeve and follows her guts, sometimes to her detriment. She is very much alive and, devoid of any shame, uninhibitedly frees herself towards the world without boundaries. Tsumugi is on a quest to find the human world her mother who has seemingly disappeared into.
Their adventure takes them through towns shrouded in inexplicable summer snowfall. The two start their journey tangled in personal differences but gradually grow to depend on one another. With every step, the boundaries dividing the human and spirit realm begin to merge. The recurrent summer snowfall, reflecting emotional suppression and inner desires that are true yet cold, visually encapsulates the motif of the region sprinkled throughout the journey.
On this journey, Hiiragi starts to face the self-imposed emotional barriers he has neglected. Tsumugi, on the contrary, begins to grasp the intricacies of human emotions and the burden that comes with expectations. Their relationship deepens as they both come to learn new things about themselves, their families, and the complex nature of coming-of-age.
Cast & Crew
Hiiragi Yatsuse – Voiced By Kensho Ono
Tsumugi (the Oni Girl) – Voiced By Miyu Tomita
Hiiragi’s Father – A man of few words, deeply numb, suffers inwardly, and does not emotionally connect with his son who is mourning in silence, thus making their relationship with each other strained.
Supporting Characters: Various figures from the spirit world, schoolmates, and townsfolk serve to enhance the emotional development of the protagonists and add elements of magical realism to the narrative.
The film was directed by Tomotaka Shibayama, who previously directed A Whisker Away. He brings a similar delicate touch to this film with an emphasis on emotional subtlety and vulnerability. Animation is done by Studio Colorido, a studio known for their bright, whimsical, and emotionally engaging animation as showcased in Penguin Highway and Drifting Home.
My Oni Girl revolves around a person’s journey toward self-acceptance. The narrative examines emotionally repressed people-pleasers through Hiiragi’s character arc. Tsumugi acts as a foil—untamed and extroverted—doing her best to free Hiiragi from his emotional constraints.
Tsumugi and Hiiragi provide contrasting examples of how teenagers struggle to express their feelings. Hiiragi’s side of the story captures the subtle oni — suppressed sentiments and unmet societal expectations.
Hiiragi and Tsumugi are products of their parents. The film explores themes of grief, abandonment, and seeking closure in Tsumugi’s attempts to reconnect with her estranged mother and Hiiragi’s estranged father.
The blending of folklore English and Japanese Oni add a touch of magic realism. The world within the film is not simply fantasty, but a hybrid of spirit and reality—offering a lyrical view of growing up and maturing emotionally.
Visual Style & Music
Under the animation of Studio Colorido, the film maintains its core colors and fluid motions that are lively and vivid dreamlike imagery, leaving the viewer with an out of this world experience. The supernatural snowfall that acts as a force of emotional stagnation makes the characters’ emotional journey feel surreal and makes us wonder.
Mina Kubota composed the film’s soundtrack capturing its essence in an emotionally evocative score during pivotal moments throughout the film. The popular Japanese band Zutomayo captures two songs “Uso Janai” and “Blues in the Closet” that plays Midway through the film encapsulating it’s melancholic yet hopeful feelings further improving it’s tone.
Reception & Impact
The film did good in the box office, but My Oni Girl did receive mixed to positive reviews after it’s release. Critics applauded the character driven narrative of the film but did feel at times there wasn’t enough tension to the plot or a strong antagonist to contend with. The film does not capture and redefine the coming of age genre, but does stood out due to its deceptive charm, place, and visual story telling.
Viewers seemed to resonate with the character Tsumugi because of her chaotic yet adorable personality accompanied by Hiiragi’s adventure of self disovery. People who felt like they had difficulties expressing their emotions, or as if they were under emotional pressure to live up to other people’s expectations and disregard their true sense of self seem to be attracted towards this film.
Concluding Remarks
The film, My Oni Girl, is gentle in comparison to other titles as its story is slower paced focusing on a softer type of introspection rather than an action filled one. The narrative at its core is a magical journey of emotional thawing and mutual growth between two people who belong to divergent worlds and take the leap of faith to nurture each other. Accompanied by breathtaking visuals and stellar performances, the thoughtfully constructed themes of the film make it a wonderful addition to the emotionally laden anime cinema studio Colorido is creating.
If you find character focused stories slower paced or enjoy the intricate intertwining of reality with folklore, then My Oni Girl is a must watch especially for those standing at crossroads in their lives like the protagonists of the story.
Watch My Oni Girl on Kisscartoon
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