Children of the Sea (film)

Children of the Sea (Japanese: 海獣の子供, Hepburn: Kaijū no Kodomo, transl. "marine mammal children") is a 2019 Japanese animated film directed by Ayumu Watanabe and produced by Eiko Tanaka, with animation production by Studio 4 °C. It is based on the manga of the same title by Daisuke Igarashi, who also wrote the film's screenplay. It is Watanabe's first theatrically released film since Space Brothers #0 (2014), and the first animated film adaptation of an Igarashi manga.[7] The film stars the voices of Mana Ashida, Hiiro Ishibashi and Seishū Uragami. Set by and in the ocean and themed on the mysteries of life, it depicts the connections between humanity and nature. It was released in Japan on June 7, 2019.[8][9]

Children of the Sea
Theatrical release poster
Japanese海獣のこども
HepburnKaijū no kodomo
LiterallyMarine mammal children
Directed byAyumu Watanabe[1]
Produced byEiko Tanaka[1]
Based onChildren of the Sea
by Daisuke Igarashi[1]
Starring
Music byJoe Hisaishi[1]
Production
company
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • May 19, 2019 (2019-05-19) (Tokyo)
  • June 7, 2019 (2019-06-07) (Japan)
Running time
111 minutes[1]
CountryJapan[3]
LanguageJapanese[4]
Box office$‎2,2 million (Japan)[5][6]

Plot

After a falling out with both her mother and the other members of her school club, female lead and junior high school student Ruka finds herself with nowhere to spend her days during summer vacation, and so she ends up hanging out at the aquarium where her father works. While there, she meets a mysterious pair of brothers, named Umi and Sora, who her father tells her were "raised by dugongs." The three teens share some sort of connection to a series of supernatural phenomena that have been affecting the world's marine life, such as a comet falling into the sea and aquatic life from around the world gathering in Japan.[10]

Voice cast
  • Mana Ashida as Ruka Azumi.
  • Hiiro Ishibashi as Umi.
  • Seishū Uragami as Sora.[lower-alpha 1][11]
  • Win Morisaki as Anglade, a genius marine biologist who pursues the mystery surrounding Umi and Sora.
  • Goro Inagaki as Masaaki Azumi, Ruka's father who works at an aquarium.
  • Yu Aoi as Kanako Azumi, Ruka's mother, whose relationship with both Ruka and Masaaki is strained.
  • Tohru Watanabe as Sensei, the coach in charge of Ruka's handball team.
  • Min Tanaka as Jim, a former friend of Anglade and a marine biologist who now takes care of Umi and Sora.
  • Sumiko Fuji as Dede, a mysterious figure who watches over Umi and Sora.[2][11]

Production

On 16 June 2018, animation production company Studio 4 °C announced that it is producing an animated feature film adaptation of Daisuke Igarashi's comic Children of the Sea.[12][13] On February 27, 2019, the main voice cast along with the composer and production team behind the movie was announced.[14] On March 13, 2019, the remaining main voice cast for the film was announced.[15]

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-06-24/studio-4c-production-employee-gets-repaid-2.8-million-yen-in-unpaid-overtime/.161004 An abuse of labour happened during the production of the film, though the worker eventually got paid.

Marketing

On April 8, 2019, the first trailer of the film was revealed on social media, previewing a minute or so of footage and the voice of Mana Ashida as protagonist Ruka Azumi.[16][17] On May 9, 2019, the second trailer for the movie was released.[18]

A special talk was held at the National Museum of Nature and Science's exhibition Mammals 2 – Struggle for Life on April 17, 2019, after the museum closed. Daisuke Igarashi and Ayumu Watanabe attended the talk and discussed the dangers and threats wild mammals are facing due to environmental change with a researcher from vertebrate research group of the museum. The short-term exhibition also displays the original manuscript of the Children of the Sea comic and special unused images which were cut out from the movie.[19]

Release

The film had a special public world premiere screening in Tokyo, Japan on May 19, 2019 at Iino Hall[20] and will have another advance preview screening on May 30 at Toho Cinemas Kinshicho Rakutenchi, both with appearances by staff and cast, before going on general release on June 7.[21]

Internationally, it will have its French premiere on Monday 10, June at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, competing in the Contrechamp category.[22]

In English-speaking countries, it has been licensed for Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment, who gave the film its Australian premiere on June 15 at Sydney Film Festival,[4] and for the United States and Canada by GKIDS.[23][24] It was originally intended to be released in April 2020, but it is postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.[25][26] On June 15, 2020, it will be released through August 11-12 2020 and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on September 1, 2020.[27]

Music

Theme song

On 24 April 2019, it was announced that Japanese singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu will be in charge of the film's theme song.[28][29] The single, titled "Umi no Yūrei" (海の幽霊, transl. "Spirits of the Sea") is written and produced by Yonezu and will be released on 3 June 2019.[30][31] To commemorate the release of the song, a free lottery was held for 100 people to attend the premiere of the song's music video on 27 May 2019 at a secret location in metropolitan Tokyo, which would turn out to be Enoshima Aquarium; the video was then released online the next day, on May 28, 2019.[32]

Score

The original musical score of the film is composed by Joe Hisaishi, a long-time collaborator of Studio Ghibli. When talking about the film, Hisaishi says "What's interesting about this movie is that it has things you wouldn't expect as story… I stuck to a minimalist music style for the entire picture, so it has been quite a challenge as a film score. The film inspires the viewer's imagination of the universe's memories and the effervescence of life."

This film, together with Ni no Kuni, released two months later, mark Hisaishi's first two scores for animated feature films since 2013's The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, directed by Isao Takahata,[33] and the first non-interactive animated productions not produced by Studio Ghibli with music by Hisaishi since the release of Venus Wars in 1989.[34]

Reception

Children of the Sea grossed $2,221,161 from theatrical screenings in Japan.[6]

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 69% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 13 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10.[35]

Accolades
Year Award Category Recipient Result
2020 Mainichi Film Awards Best Animation Film Children of the Sea Won[36]
Japan Media Arts Festival Awards Animation Division - Grand Prize Children of the Sea Won[37]

Notes
  1. Airu Kubozuka was initially announced to play Sora. However, he dropped out of the role since he had trouble with his voice changing due to puberty.

References
  1. "JFDB – Children of the Sea". Japanese Film Database. UniJapan. 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019. Running Time: 111 min
  2. "Animēshon eiga Kaijū no Kodomo kōshiki saito" アニメーション映画「海獣の子供」公式サイト [Animation film Children of the Sea official site] (in Japanese). Children of the Sea Committee. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  3. "Kaijū no Kodomo: sakuhin jōhō" (in Japanese). eiga.com. 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2019. 製作国: 日本
  4. "Children of the Sea". Sydney Film Festival. 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019. Sat 15 June […] In Japanese with English subtitles […] Australian Premiere […] Distributor: Madman Entertainment
  5. "映画『海獣の子供』評価は?感想ネタバレあらすじ/海空は何の象徴？隕石や人魂や星の正体は？". ピクシーン Pick Scene 映画の評価ランキングやネタバレ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  6. "Children of the Sea Box Office Mojo listing". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  7. "Igarashi Daisuke no purofīru – allcinema" 五十嵐大介 のプロフィール – allcinema [Profile of Daisuke Igarashi – allcinema] (in Japanese). Stingray. 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  8. "Anime news: Children of the Sea manga gets anime film adaptation". The Asahi Shimbun. September 9, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  9. Komatsu, Mikikazu. "Children of the Sea Anime Film's Teaser Trailer Introduces Beautiful Visuals, Music by Joe Hisaishi". Crunchyroll. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  10. Baseel, Casey (May 28, 2019). "Anime film "Children of the Sea"'s trailer is heartbreakingly beautiful, looks like nothing else". SoraNews24. Socio Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  11. "Children of the Sea Film's Kenshi Yonezu Theme Song Gets Music Video". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  12. "五十嵐大介「海獣の子供」が劇場アニメ化、STUDIO4°Cが制作". アニメ！アニメ！ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  13. "Children of the Sea Manga Gets Anime Film by Studio 4°C". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  14. Inc, Natasha. "アニメ映画「海獣の子供」は6月公開！キャストに芦田愛菜ら、音楽は久石譲（コメントあり / 動画あり）". コミックナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  15. Inc, Natasha. "アニメ映画「海獣の子供」に稲垣吾郎・蒼井優ら、ポスタービジュアルも解禁（コメントあり）". コミックナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  16. TOHO animation チャンネル (2019-04-08), 【6.7公開】 『海獣の子供』　予告1（『Children of the Sea』 Official trailer 1 ）, retrieved 2019-05-29
  17. "Children of the Sea Film Adaptation 1st Trailer Released". Moshi Moshi Nippon. 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  18. TOHO animation チャンネル (2019-05-09), 【6.7公開】 『海獣の子供』　予告2（『Children of the Sea』 Official trailer 2 ）, retrieved 2019-05-29
  19. Inc, Natasha. "海獣の子供×大哺乳類展2がコラボ！展示や五十嵐大介、渡辺歩監督らによるトークも". コミックナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  20. "5/19（日）世界最速ワールドプレミア上映会、実施決定！". Nyūsu | Animēshon eiga Kaijū no Kodomo kōshiki saito (in Japanese). Starcast Japan. April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  21. "PARCO特別試写会、実施決定！　森崎ウィンもゲスト参加！！". Nyūsu | Animēshon eiga Kaijū no Kodomo kōshiki saito (in Japanese). Starcast Japan. April 26, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  22. "Children of the Sea". Annecy International Animation Film Festival. CITIA, Image & Creative Industries. Retrieved April 29, 2019. Category: Feature film contrechamp
  23. "Children of the Sea". GKIDS. Retrieved 21 March 2019. Coming Soon to Theaters
  24. "TEASER: GKIDS Acquires NorAm Rights to 'Children of the Sea'". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  26. https://gkids.com/2020/02/18/gkids-and-fathom-events-continue-partnership-to-bring-children-of-the-sea-to-select-big-screens-nationwide/
  27. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-06-15/gkids-shout-factory-release-children-of-the-sea-film-on-bd-dvd-in-september/.160655
  28. "Kenshi Yonezu to Provide Children of the Sea Theme Song". Manga.tokyo. 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  29. "米津玄師が映画「海獣の子供」主題歌「海の幽霊」書き下ろし、新たな髪色の写真公開（コメントあり / 写真4枚）". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  30. "米津玄師、新曲「海の幽霊」MV公開 アニメ映画『海獣の子供』本編映像を使用". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  31. Ryusenkai (2019-05-28). "Kenshi Yonezu unveils lavishly animated Music Video for "Umi no Yuurei"". Arama! Japan. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  32. "『海獣の子供』主題歌の全編アニメーションMVが解禁！ | アニメイトタイムズ". Animate Times (in Japanese). Animate. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  33. "Children of the Sea Anime Film Looks and Sounds Incredible in New Trailer". Otaku USA Magazine. 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  34. "Hisaishi Jō no purofīru – allcinema" 久石譲(Joe Hisaishi) のプロフィール – allcinema [Profile of Joe Hisaishi – allcinema] (in Japanese). Stingray. 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  35. "Children of the Sea (Kaijû no kodomo) (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  36. "74th Mainichi Film Awards". Mainichi Film Awards. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  37. "Children of the Sea, A Brief History of Robo sapiens Win Media Arts Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
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