What Mirai of the Future Owes to Mamoru Hosoda's Past

Mirai of the Future isn't just the first anime feature outside of Studio Ghibli to earn an Oscar nomination - it's a film that serves as punctuation to director Mamoru Hosoda's entire career. In this video I look at what Mirai of the Future owes to its own wonderful past.

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[midnightCirc]

The factual, relaxed tone of the narrator really makes the content of these videos shine. I feel like he could talk about anything and make it a worthwhile experience.

[davidfabella]

Hosada's artstyle is amazing for how simple and direct it is, Im inlove with his approach of color and angles

[Mr.gready]

The quality of your videos is outstanding, i’ve discovered your channel a couple of months ago, since then you have never failed to impress me. I’ve watched Cowboy Bebop thanks to you, because since that moment i always tought that it didn’t match my taste, oh boy i was wrong, anyway cutting things short, keep up the good work you deserve every praise you get

[aliam]

Yes I was so delightful when I saw Mirai got the Oscar nomination. It really is special. Spiderverse was super, Mirai was enchanting. Most of the scenes in Mirai are a tribute to the previous Mamoru's films. I absolutely love the combination themes of family love and time travelling in one movie.

[miatimberlake]

your channel has helped me share my passion for anime with my family better. don't stop the good work

[GamingPalOllie]

I really loved the movie and gave it an 8/10 on my MAL, which is a great score IMO.
When I finished watching it tho, the first thought that came to mind was "I can't wait to watch the Beyond Ghibli video on this!" and sure enough it once again turned out to be a great video that truly did this wonderful movie justice :D Thanks for the excellent content you provide Joe, your videos are great.

[enriquedelayeurrea]

Thank you for this! Mirai no Mirai is now my favorite animated movie, it just has so many layers, and every time I watch it I catch a glimpse of something new.
As someone who was the only son for four years and a half, and one day it was all disrupted by my little brother, it depicts exactly how it feels, at first the excitement, and then it turns to sour when you realize your parent's attention is not longer yours. Even at the train station when Kun not longer remembers his sister's existence, but he does remembers his dog's. I was asked once to draw my family, and I did just the same, I made a drawing of myself holding hands with my mom, my dad, and my dog, but totally nullified my brother.
And it is just such a dense movie hidden behind a simple story, talking about resilence, and the small moments that enrich one's life, the worth of family, growth, letting go.
I just love it.

[RaulFO]

I loved this movie and I am so glad you're talking about it.

[theodorexenophon]

Your videos always make me fascinated to see the subjects you’re discussing. There’s a real sense of care and art that goes into your words and editing, and I just want to let you know how much I appreciate your work.

[petrbouda]

Mirai is a film everyone should watch. It is a very civil one. And despite being set in modern Japan, it can speak to anyone with a family. What a waste that this masterpiece did not get the recognition that truly belongs to it (Oscar went to a Spider-verse movie? ROFL).

[waveplay]

Mirai is Hosoda's most complete, refined film yet. I really really enjoyed it, especially coming from The Boy and the Beast, which was "just" a fun movie. As you put it so eloquently, this film is earnest and honest when it needs to be, focused on the small things, and the fantastical elements are always in support of the exploration of the real, the core of the film. There's so much substance here, from the believable mom, the depiction of childhood angst to a young dad's insecurity and desperate struggle to live up to his wife and family. To me, this movie is the most wholesome anime film since My Neighbors the Yamadas, and Hosoda himself my favorite non-Ghibli director. I find it irritating that the whole fandom seems so in love with Shinkai's Your Name (which was honestly quite ordinary and more and more cringy towards the end), while Hosoda and his much more mature storytelling seemingly gets overlooked (though that might just be my perception). It's so good to see Mirai get nominated for an Oscar, hopefully this is an indicator of where Hosoda is going next.


*SPOILER*
My favorite part was when Kun traveled to his great-grandfather, that whole sequence was absolutely breathtaking and so wholesome. Also the scary train station, which was just the right amount of disturbing and traumatic.

[robofistsrevenge]

9:50 That tiny little ending montage was a thing of beauty, mate. Kudos.

[jeffriart]

Mamoru Hosoda is my favorite anime director right now. His works is always so engaging and very expressive. I loved how he has his own distinctive style and telling a story in an unique perspective.

[IslaMcTear]

I adore Mirai and your video made me love it more - I didn't think that was possible.

Beautiful video

[zzMandyzz]

I'm so happy I found your channel. The way you speak about these films is so beautiful and poignant. You describe the emotions of these stories so wonderfully. Keep up the fantastic work. You have an admirer right here.

[mendibeer]

Joe .. words can't describe how much i appreciate your videos, i had tears in my eyes when you said you felt proud and happy for hosoda, all because of the pure beauty in your editing and the passion that just drips off of every frame. you really know how to get my feelings flowing. keep up the great work <3

[doogelyjim]

I loved this movie so very much. I think the last 3rd really ties it all together. The scenes with the grandfather in particular were my favorite. It was fantastic seeing the race scene/the leg injury scene after having them both be spoken of like legend earlier in the film. The way the were portray, the music, the shot composition, the mystical affect to them. Just outstanding.

If you like Hosoda's films and other such films about family, then I implore you to watch another 2018 Japanese Oscar contender, this time for best foreign language film. Shoplifters, directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, is right up there with the best of Hosoda's films at portraying family, it might even be better than his body of work. It's genuinely that good.

[ellieadkinson]

Mirai is... so understated. I don’t have a better word for it because I still have yet to see it. This video has actually provided me with the most footage I’ve been able to find; when it ran at my local “fancy” cinema, so little was said about it that it came and went unnoticed in the blink of an eye, with the same quietude that it is built on. The parts where you showed the dog made me smile; I think that has a lot to do with my knowledge of his English voice actor being Crispin Freeman, who, based on the trailers I’ve seen that have him in it, I can say he’s perfect for the role. Actually all of the voice acting in the clips seems to be spot on. Anyway, I will shut up and leave you alone; I’m not making a lot of sense because I have a migraine headache right now. Please continue to make these videos. You have done such a beautiful job so far. <3

[sonicroze]

I love Hosoda's work. Like Miyazaki, I've come to give every new film an automatic "Must See" and have yet to be disappointed. Hosoda's work has an overwhelming feeling of "Family" ingrained in it, even if told through ... fantastical means. I loved that in "The Girl who Leaped through Time", her first order of business was petty revenge by eating that pudding! Hosoda's characters feel *real* and very grounded. I believe my favorite is Summer Wars, which you probably know, sprang from his work on Digimon Our War Game.


At any rate, this was a lovely video and I much enjoyed it! :) You manage to be informative, reflective and entertaining.

[watagashi_mitai]

I know lots of people have said it better already, but seriously, I really love your videos. I loved Mirai and now I appreciate it and love it even more thanks to your well written, edited video. I love Mirai's theme so much so hearing that edit at the end was PERFECT. Lol. Keep doing what you're doing.