Miss Hokusai

Some films are meant for the biggest screen possible, or simply a bigger screen than the ones we typically have in our homes. For the case of "Miss Hokusai," and most animated films for that matter, this is indubitably true. Here is a film I can't help but admire for its beauty, its lovingly detailed animation -- and yet, something felt lost by not witnessing this in the all-encompassing form of a darkened cinema house.

If anything, this is a major compliment to the film, which I watched by way of a review screener at home. The entirety of the film was spent wishing the screen and its images were absorbing me more. It's like viewing a painting using Google Images, and then seeing it in the flesh. It just doesn't compare. "Miss Hokusai" is filled with gorgeous, delicate worlds of meticulously crafted details. I'd highly recommend it, and with that recommendation comes an asterisk to make sure you find a way to see it in theaters while it lasts.

The film follows the story of the titular daughter of a famous painter named Hokusai, constantly hidden by his shadow. O-Ei is a powerful female character, and this is a story not previously told in the anime world. The film is directed by Keiichi Hara, who brings a keen eye and offbeat personality to this tale. It's a delight to take in in all things, from the visual to the emotional.

Much of the film's power comes across, thematically, in scenes involving O-Ei's younger sister, who was born blind. There's an incredibly moving sequence on a bridge involving the power of sounds and scents and sensation, and how this must feel to someone without sight. The movie's visuals then remind us on the value of this gift we have -- to see -- and how much would be lost without this.

If you have eyes, use them. See "Miss Hokusai."