Modest Heroes

Fans of Japanese animation and those who have never seen it before can both find something of interest in "Modest Heroes," the simply told, often surreal and always sincere short film collection from the relatively new, Tokyo-based Studio Ponoc.

In the first short "Kanini & Kanino," a pair of children lose their father, so they go on an adventure to find him and save his life. What makes these siblings remarkable is they are tiny humanoid creatures, about the size of bugs, and they can talk and breathe equally well above and below water. And what sets this film apart is the animation, namely the intricate and varied textures in the backgrounds.

The world these crab-like beings inhabit appears almost photorealistic at times, and at times it looks more like a cartoon. It depends on if we, the audience, are above or below the water. The characters, however, never change. They remain rooted in the world of anime.

From here we move into a fully drawn world – flatter and with harder lines – but the story is much more naturalistic. "Life Ain't Gonna Lose" involves a family living in Tokyo and dealing with a food allergy. There is no fantasy here; just the hard realities of a mother and son dealing with a world of commercially produced food – food that could easily send the boy into anaphylactic shock. This straightforward, true-to-life plot engages both children and adults alike, because audiences can put themselves into either character's shoes.

The final short film features an adult protagonist and better resembles the existential drama of Kafka or Sartre than a children's cartoon. "Invisible" stars a Japanese salaryman, a white collar worker who functions as an expendable cog in a machine and whom no one seems to notice. People look right through this man and so does the audience. We can only see the clothes he wears and the rain on his skin. (At one point, the camera actually travels through his body.) The more this invisible man goes unnoticed the more non-existent he becomes, until he virtually blows away and disappears into the ethos. Eventually, a selfless act grounds the man and makes him visible.

Americans rarely have the opportunity to see this kind of animation, dubbed in English with actors like Maggie Q and created by some of the best filmmakers working in Japan today. This film festival on Blu-ray disk combines the work of three talented directors – Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Yoshiyuki Momose and Akihiko Yamashita – in a stunning and yet under appreciated format, the short film.

Additionally, this collection comes with a substantial number of special features: A featurette, a press conference recording, the Japanese cast interviews, trailers and an art gallery.

"Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre"
Blu-ray Combo Pack $19.97
www.shoutfactory.com/product/modest-heroes-ponoc-short-films-theatre/