A Whisker Away is an animated fantasy that was released in 2020 and is widely considered to be a piece of art. The film’s directors Junichi Sato and Tomotaka Shibayama and screenwriter Mari Okada uniquely blends elements of magical realism and fantasy with deeply thoughtful thematics of self reflection, love, and isolation.
Miyo Sasaki is a character in the film that is a bright and cheerful middle school student. Along with her family, she is a resident in the quiet Japanse town of Tokoname. Despite being shy, Miyo is often described as type of girl with a unique aura and charm, and she is also recognized for her playful signature move ‘Hinode Sunrise’ in which she affectionately ‘attacks’ a fellow student and crush, Kento Hinode.Beneath Miyo’s jovial exterior remains a girl deeply touched by a strong feeling with sadness and a livelihood permeated with insecurity. Miyo’s mother and father are already divorced, and while her new father as well as stepmother take care of her, she feels uncomfortable in her new surroundings. Miyo conceals her emotions behind a larger than life persona that she uses in attempts to interact with Hinode in a number of unconventional ways particularly drawing attention to herself for the purposes of self glorification.
On one such day, Miyo is gifted a bizarre mask by a peculiar feline that appears to converse and refers to themselves as the Mask Seller. Upon wearing the mask, she is able to metamorphous into a white feline. Miyo manages to escape the intricate challenges of her life as a human and is adopted by Hinode, who persona llty dubs her Tarō in her feline form. Miyo is now able to interact with goto in a manner she was restricted from using for the duration of her life.
While speaking to “Tarō” the cat, Hinode opens up with his concerns and fears while still being detached from Miyo the girl. Miyo, while being a cat, finds out more about Hinode world. Hinode is also under pressure from the family to take up the family pottery business, even when one wants to take a different direction. Just like Miyo, Hinode also goes behind the mask to his true protective feelings.
Over the course of time, Miyo spends time as a cat, leading her to a desire to completely detach from her human self. The Mask Seller presents her with a proposition which states that if she relinquishes her human mask, she can stay as a cat for eternity. Out of emotional frustrations, she accepts.
With the passage of time, Miyo understands the worth of her human self. The compassion from her stepmother, the care from her father, and the pleasure from little humane activities fills her with memories. Most importantly, she wishes to be fully understood, and not as a cat, as Miyo.
At the same time, Hinode starts to untangle the truth and understands that he cares for Miyo much more than he would like to accept. Hinode and some cat companions must rescue Miyo and help her regain her human identity before it’s too late.
The story achieves an emotional high when Miyo reverts to her human form and she and Hinode begin to interact softly and honestly as their true selves. They vow to be there for each other, shedding their disguises and facing the world side by side.
Main Characters
Miyo Sasaki: Despite her being a lively and animated middle school student, she conceals her melancholy feelings with a loud and upbeat personality. She transforms into a cat as a means of escapism to be with the boy she likes.
Kento Hinode: A boy in Miyo’s class is quiet and pensive. Initially detached, he emotionally connects to “Tarō” the cat and slowly opens up to Miyo as well.
The Mask Seller: A shadowy, cat-like figure who gives humans magical masks. He personifies temptation — offering an escape from suffering, albeit with a price.
Kaoru: Miyo’s step mother who, over time, builds a close relationship with her step-daughter and serves as a form of quiet strength throughout the movie.
Yoriko: Miyo’s closest companion, who endeavors to aid Miyo and help her grow in understanding herself.
Themes and Messages.
- Identity and Self-Acceptance.
A focal point of the film revolves around the idea of understanding and accepting the self. Miyo feels unloved and misunderstood as who she truly is, and in turn, wishes to become someone, or something, else. In the end, her journey proves that the only self she can truly embrace to be happy and connect to someone is her real self.
- Escapism vs. Reality.
The concept of magically changing and becoming someone else to escape concerns is explored in the story. Miyo learns that the avoidance of pain does not permit real healing, because being a felid is easier than it seems. True problems are the ones that one escapes, not the other way around. Peace does not stem from running away.
- Communication and Connection.
Both Miyo and Hinode are unable to articulate what they truly feel. Their journeys allow them to develop an understanding of the importance of listening and speaking. This instance shows the necessity of being empathetic and talking in a soft manner.
Family and Belonging
The relations each character developed with his or her parents show the importance of being understood and appreciated in a family. It also shows that love can be cultivated within family bonds, regardless of how it began.
The Animation and the Music
Gentle, colorful, and creative, the animation in A Whisker Away is one of its finer features. One of the distinguishing marks of the town of Tokoname is borderline lavish beauty which is further accentuated by the realistic architectural structures and the calming environment. The magical charm which enfolds the transformation scenes where a human converts into a cat, and vice versa, is sheer delight from one serene experience to another.
The soundtrack, with its delicate and poignant character, is well suited to the film. It captures the essence of each episode, whether it is comedy, and hence mirth, or sad and contemplative periods. The theme song, along with the background music, acts to perfunctorily emphasize the essence of the story.
What Makes It Unique
Rather than swift moments of action, A Whisker Away captures the quietable intricacies of life’s emotions layered with a magic touch. It instantly roots down to feelings of every child, every teen, and even adults who, at least once in their life, felt the need to conceal their identity.The creative whimsy attributed to matters concerning cats is but ‘kid stuff’ and more to do with a ‘thrill’ more than a ‘chill’ to your emotional reality. You arrive at your true depth only if a person looks through the ‘outer mask’, and with a sincere soul, tells, ‘I see you’.
Conclusion
Throughout the runtime, the movie is suggestive of self love and love for others, and it is a testament to creative prowess and fantasy woven together marvelously. While the movie takes swimms in heavily romaniticized waters, the reality is that it is a story grounded in the deeply emotional aspects of love, and courageous acceptance of self, and the unfathomable lengths that one is willing to go in order to protect one’s identity.
Themes of the movie, no matter how old or young, touch you in a meaningful manner. It tells us that it is alright to shed a tear, it is fine to feel like you have no direction, and it is fine to seek for assistance. You see that the only necessary trait you need to possess is being yourself.
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