Following an explosion at a factory that mysteriously freezes a town in time, two students encounter a mysterious feral child, spurring an impulse of love fueled by the frustration of their daily lives that begins to upend their world.
Director: Mari Okada
Writer: Mari Okada
Stars: Junya EnokiReina UedaMisaki Kuno
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“Maboroshi” is a 2023 Japanese animated science fantasy drama film directed and written by Mari Okada. Produced by MAPPA and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, the film features a voice cast including Jun’ya Enoki, Reina Ueda, and Misaki Kuno.
Plot Overview
Set in a town where time has mysteriously stopped due to a factory explosion, “Maboroshi” follows 14-year-old Masamune Kikuiri. The explosion has sealed off all exits, leading residents to adhere to a rule of no change in hopes of returning to normalcy. Masamune’s life takes a turn when his enigmatic classmate, Mutsumi Sagami, leads him to the steelworks factory’s fifth blast furnace, where they encounter Itsumi, a feral girl who cannot speak. This encounter disrupts the town’s delicate balance, as the characters’ uncontrollable impulses of love begin to unravel their world.
Critical Reception
“Maboroshi” has received mixed reviews. Rotten Tomatoes describes it as a film where “the story is convoluted and lacks impact.”
Despite this, the film has garnered attention for its unique narrative and animation style.
