Scotland Loves Anime ran Kurayuaba, a steampunk worldbuilding anime earlier which I described as undercooked. I accused it of not spending enough time on the plot and clarity in favour of an interesting and mysterious world.
The sequel, also set in the same world and using the same blurry-by-design animation, Kuramergukagari, had its UK premiere on Sunday at the same festival in Edinburgh. It was a gamble by the organisers, and while the cinema was full, the crowd chatter had many overheard conversations of people not expecting much from the film.
Sometimes, low expectations help because Kuramerukagari is a little better. The difference? A tighter, clearer and punchier plot?
However, it’s just a little better, and some characters felt indistinct.
Kuramerukagari look and feel
Kuramerukagari is a visually ambitious anime film that embraces a steampunk aesthetic with gusto. While its CGI-heavy animation style may not appeal to all viewers, it creates a distinctive look and feel. The character designs are sleek and stylish, and the vibrant cityscape provides a dynamic backdrop for the film’s action sequences.
I think the world Kuramerukagari would make a fantastic tabletop RPG.
The film’s energetic but sometimes erratic pacing and bombastic soundtrack contribute to a sense of excitement and momentum; however, it might not be enough to keep viewers engaged throughout. I found it had a saggy middle.
While the steampunk elements may not be as intricately detailed as in some other anime, they effectively establish the film’s unique visual identity. What was missing in detail was made up for with volume, and the world is tightly packed with rail tracks, dripping water and much of it in contrast to the flickering neon sign that appears so often. Kuramerukagari is a visually striking film with a “fog of war” that sometimes offers the perfect home for a fast-paced and entertaining steampunk adventure. And yet, at other times, the action feels out of place.
Plot and characters
In a coal mining town run by factions and toughs, a map shop owner, Kagari and her friend Yuya get caught up in an intrigue around “moth holes” (aka sinkholes) that have started to appear.
The network of tunnels under the city is a dangerous labyrinth, and the two friends’ maps have become tremendously important to the town’s future.
Other characters are, therefore, violent miners, police, and the various powerbrokers that the two encounter. There’s also the often lurking presence of the steampunk machines and mecha that keep the town going.
As with Kurayuaba sometimes the plot gives away to complexity and mystery in a way that feels like a budget shorthand to skip forward to the next scene without a solid resolution. Unlike Kurayuaba, there’s a much better resolution, although it’s not perfect.
Overall
I’m glad I got to see the premiere of Kuramerukagari, and I bought my ticket before seeing Kurayuaba. Next year, I hope Scotland Loves Anime does not put faith in a double all-or-nothing gamble, though, as both sibling feature-lengths came up short.
🍻 Sponsor: Cheers, Dusk Wave Arts and Barheim, the beer tower defence game, for enabling our Scotland Loves Anime trip.
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