The Garden of Words November, 2013 is a feature Japanese animation directed by Makoto Shinkai. If you are familiar with Shinkai Makoto’s works, he has a gentle touch in his animation and tells stories that are heart stirring. A very engrossing work of art that comprises superb animations, beautifully developed characters, and a superbly executed yet a simple and emotional story. This post provides a comprehensive analysis of the movie and its conceptual, thematic, aesthetic, and critical aspects.
Using as a starting point
Takao Akizuki, played by Japanese baker Shinji Hosoe, is a 15 year old high school student who ignores school and goes to a garden on rainy days. A garden located in the Tokyo area also known as Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. This kind of life takes a turn for the worse when he finds a beautiful older woman named Yukari in the vicinity. Yukari is employed as a teacher but has her own troubles as well. Takao however has no idea that this woman is also looking for peace and quiet from her life, and finds it in the garden around the rainy season.
Their meetings start off as an exchange of silent companionships; Takao sketches to himself as he plans to create professional shoes in the future while Yukari drinks beer and chews on chocolates. In the process, they begin having little discussions and there is a bond that seems to be almost ‘therapeutic’ in a way. Takao gets to talk about his wish to turn into a shoemaker who earns a living doing what he loves. However, he is young and society expects a lot from him. On the other hand, there is Yukari who is trying to battle bullying from her student’s which has led her to feel useless and questioning her place as a teacher. Both of the characters impact one another positively.
With the rainy season progressing, that sense of friendship progresses as well. Their loved ones support them and motivate them to know that there is no one else for understanding. As Takao falls in love with Yukari, he has to face the reality of the difference in age and Yukari wanting to leave Tokyo. The climax in this part of the film is beautifully portrayed as they both have explosive emotions where they simply cannot bear their situation and each other anymore. This narrative touches on several themes namely loneliness, self progression and the impermanence of people through the lens of Shinkai.
Visuals and Art Direction
It is no secret that Makoto Shinkai has a knack for precision. The Garden of Words is not an exception. The movie’s visuals can be described in one word: overwhelming. Shinkai’s team of animators was able to capture the beauty of Tokyo during the rain in a very delicate and sophisticated manner. Every rainfall and leaf, every reflection is animated with such painstaking detail that it creates an immersive experience for the viewer and makes the audience actually feel like they are in the garden. People respond to Shinkai’s sentiment, his love towards anything in the movie, and every weather in particular. In this case, the weather is Rain, which is bluntly depicted in the film, and significantly symbolizes the characters’ sadness and loneliness.
The film makes use of cool colors and greens, blues and greys in order to portray not only the peace of the garden but also the inner peace of the characters. The texture of rain complements each scene and conflicts Takao and Yukari from the outside world which helps to foster their relationship in a peaceful setting. The cinematography in the animation film is referred as almost photographic in its quality and features stunning shots that showcase the beauty of the nature and the urban environment and its details. Shinkai’s trademark style can be seen in every still, the movie The Garden Of Words has earned praise for its beautiful portrayals and is considered one of the screen best anime art work.
Let’s Talk Symbols and Themes
In addition to its artful visuals, The Garden of Words also delves into themes that many will surely have a soft spot for, specific themes such as loneliness, love that goes unreciprocated, or self-development. Among the main themes of this work, it can be mentioned, is the theme of loneliness; Takao and Yukari are shown to be lost souls in their quests for purpose, or companionship. Takao’s loneliness, in a way, comes from being different from everyone his age in that he has a goal of becoming a shoemaker. On the other hand, Yukari is never able to break out of her self-imposed limitations that stem from being bullied in her work environment. Both of them find a relief in the garden where they come to sit close to each other without saying a single word.
Rain, which can be described as a recurring image in the video, narrates of the tenderness of their relationship. Just as it is impossible for rain to stay for a longer period, so is the time they spend together in the garden. The rainy season in Canada symbolizes happiness in the sense that it depicts the difference in able moments which makes it bittersweet for the relationship. Also, the fact that the characters use Tanka, a traditional Japanese form of poetry, is evidence of their feelings even if they’re not present. The very name, The Garden of Words is one that brings forth the image of a garden in which words are few and far off but are very meaningful.
Also significant is the theme of the transformation of the character. Wondering what the story is about? At a designated period, Takao, a 15-year-old boy with an inclination to shoemaking, is troubled by the complications of his family life. He imagines that if he knows how to make shoes, he might understand how to “heal” others. For Yukari, the garden is an escape from reality; however, it also creates a barrier between her and her true self. Through their experiences in the latter half of the picture, we see how the two lead persons come back to nature, feeling more secure than before.
However, I feel capturing their voices through voice overs would have been a better experience. I liked how it was realistic in the sense that none of the characters screamed or were overly dramatic, which more often than not, constitutes mainstream cinema today. Simple and seemingly mundane situations, such as the protagonist Takao dreaming about 40 pairs of shoes, have an understated impact that feels refreshing. The film also reinforces how the lead characters’ connection grew out of adversity. Throughout the film, it becomes apparent how deeply impacted each of them have been.
The characters are more developed, thanks to voice acting in the film. It is clear that Takao’s voice has enough tenderness and tact to allow the emotion existing within the preteen to be delivered authentically. Quite the desperation that now Hanazawa as Yukari emotions brow tightly scrunted through such sobering resignation. Both voice actors provide powerful but measured performances, suitable for the film’s sensitive nature.
Reception and Critical Analysis
The Garden of Words has been met with high levels of critical success around the world. Its animation had been singled out for praise on multiple occasions along with Shinkai’s evident skill in storytelling which evokes atmosphere. A fairly high rating, often found somewhere between 7.5-8.0 depicts both good reviews and somewhat harsh ones. Some reviewers praise it as one of the most, if not the very, prettiest anime ever created but often with too little to time scenes in the garden. Viewers of Shinkai`s work are grateful for the way director understood and visualized such complex emotions in a short film.
Not all the critics are convinced about the nature of the relationship between the characters Takao and Yukari. Some feel that the age difference and what their connection entails, make the movie controversial. However, Shinkai has addressed this, stressing that the relationship is intended to depict one which is not concerned about age but rather two persons who are able to find peace in each other. Shinkai’s treatment of the characters’ ranking helps fans enjoy the emotion and the symbolism of the romance without being worried about ethical issues.
Concluding Remarks
The Garden of Words is a visually stunning movie that depicts the quiet love between two characters. Full of imagery, Makoto Shinkai creates a world where even the simplest of actions is imbued with significance. Feelings of isolation, temporariness, and the requisite for change are important to everyone and so the story can be appreciated by people of various age categories. Even though it is short, The Garden of Words managed to make an impact, demonstrating a rare talent that Shinkai possesses, that of narrating complicated tales in a delicate and graceful manner.
In its deeper meaning, “The Garden of Words” explores the theme that people come into our lives for a reason and more often than not end up leaving us just the same way. It reminds us that the most transient relationships do affect us in some way or the other, help us evolve and grow. Shinkai’s creation is still a deep, thought-provoking commentary on the intricacies of human interpersonal bonds which not only makes The Garden of Words a classic but also anime cinema strive for.
Watch The Garden of Words on Kisscartoon
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