Kujira no Chouyaku (original) (raw)
Synopsis
Time has come to a standstill. A whale appears from a glassy ocean and spends half a day soaring gracefully across the skies. What makes this works extraordinary is the artist's decision to use the transparency and visual bulk of 3D computer graphics only for the un-moving ocean and glaciers. The people, whale, and ships are all hand-drawn, and with this contrast, he invites the viewer into a different world. This is a poem written in animation, the creation of a true fantasy. This project was a considerable under taking, and the results are marvelous.
(Source: ANN)
Background
Winner of the Grand Prize at the 2nd Japan Media Arts Festival.
Characters & Voice Actors
Staff
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Reviews
Feb 10, 2012
Glassy Ocean is an inspired and avant-garde story that gives its audience numerous perspectives surrounding one "large" event - a whale jumping through waves of green glass.
For the people of this sea made of glass what seems like a small event to us is something to be marveled at. You bring your family and friends, tell your neighbors - you pack a blanket and a picnic and make a day of it. If you're really lucky, it's the event that marks the day you met your true love. This is the kind of day that people talk about for the next... 50 years! "Hey, remember that time the whale jumped?" "Hmmm, yes, those were good times." ^_^
This was an anime that felt like every aspect was done very much on purpose. The music was whimsical and fit the scenes perfectly. The cast had conviction and talent. The art could be wonderful and quixotic one minute and simplistic the next (or simultaneously), but I felt that it all added to the charm of the scene.
I think that Shigeru Tamura is of the option that "Time" is no small matter. A single occurence can take a moment or many days or perhaps longer. In Glassy Ocean, we see several variations of the passing of time in a multitude of ways. We see a world where it passes similar to our own world, one where it perhaps has begun to decay and one where at least certain physical laws that are associated with time have slowed to almost a stand still. Shigeru created an imaginative place where he could give us beautiful dreams and vivid concepts using very simple imagery.
Whether we are looking at art or sharing a story, Shigeru Tamura's beautiful tale suggests we should take a moment and appreciate the world that we see.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 7, 2023
I found this by using anilist to search for OVAs that came out from 1980-1999, scrolling down past the most popular ones, and just clicking on whatever looked interesting. I think I will continue to do this regularly from now on because this hidden gem is not even remotely similar to any anime I've seen before. The art reminds me of storybooks my parents would read me as a kid, the setting is incredibley unique and leaves much to your imagination. The blending of 2D and 3D animation creates visuals that are mesmorizing to look at. The sound design is simple but it adds to... the feeling of it being a low budget passion project. This is a work of art, and absolutely worth the 20 minutes it takes to watch it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 22, 2007
This anime can only be described as an animated poetry text that transforms the words into art. And it is just as hard to get a grasp of. I think you either need to have a grasp of the work in mention or be on a drug to fully enjoy what it is about. Nothing bad as such to say about it but it gets so deep it isn\'t of this world any longer.
The story is nonexisting. About the only thing we get to know is some background info on one of the characters, but he still remains a mystery afterwards. The art is a... blend of 3D CG and very simple 2D hand drawn characters. Nothing exiting either but one of the animes stronger points. We get treated with some interesting songs, but nothing memorable.
To conclude things, this anime is for those who are seeking and daring to watching something that is totally off the main stream of anime out there.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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