[Spoilers Ahead] My thoughts on the movie “Chikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” ~I’ll never forget summer in Chikawa~
Good evening, this is yuu.
With its extensive merchandise lineup, numerous collaborations, guaranteed-to-be-popular admission特典 (special gifts), and a whirlwind screening schedule… the movie “Chikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island ” has finally been released, generating an overwhelming amount of excitement and anticipation, with many wondering,
“Will this be the dominant film of the summer!?”
As a mere Chiikawa fan, or rather, otaku, I naturally rushed to the movie theater on the release day and thoroughly enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster of 99 minutes.
Today, I want to write down my honest impressions before I forget them.
*Please note that the following contains spoilers, so if you want to avoid any information before watching the movie, we recommend you go back to the previous page.
■The long-awaited feature film – a fan’s perspective
First of all, I was incredibly excited for days before the release because Chiikawa, a series I’ve been following for the past few years, was finally being made into a feature film and released nationwide. I briefly mentioned my
frequent visits to Seven-Eleven at the beginning, but… I realize that I’m currently dedicating a considerable amount of my life resources to following Chiikawa and Nagano-sensei
‘s works. It would take quite a while to explain why I’ve become such a fan, so I hope I’ll have the opportunity to talk about it someday.
As an adult, I rarely go to the movies anymore. Going to see a movie on its release day was something I hadn’t done since I went to see Mewtwo Strikes Back
(Pokémon) when I was in elementary school. This Chiikawa movie brought back the same feelings I had back then—excitement, nervousness, and eagerly awaiting the release day.
An acquaintance of mine said to me, “A Chiikawa movie… what kind of story is it? Is it a long story? I can’t imagine at all!” But I think it’s natural that they would think that if they only watch the short, minute-long animation in the mornings. I gave a rather light explanation, saying that there are stories that are suitable for feature films, but I also thought that this movie is perfect for making people think, “(Is this what Chiikawa’s stories are like…!?)”
Even if you haven’t followed the original story serialized on social media, you can still enjoy this movie even if you’re completely unfamiliar with it… In fact, I think some people might even decide on their favorite character after watching this movie! The main character is Chiikawa
, who is timid and cries easily, but possesses decisiveness and courage when it matters . Hachiware is hardworking, curious, and a little ditzy, but kind-hearted . Usagi is unpredictable and unconventional, but the most reliable when you’re in trouble, and the most surprising character of all .
Besides the three main characters, there’s also the reliable elder otter who’s a top-ranked monster hunter, the chestnut bun who loves sake and snacks , and the spoiled flying squirrel who ‘s always and everywhere willing to do whatever she wants … Rather than them having any special roles that are different from the anime just because it’s a movie, I think they all behaved the same way on this island as they do in the regular stories . That’s why I think even people who aren’t very familiar with the Chiikawa story will find scenes where they can genuinely think, “This character is great, I like them…”
The characters’ reactions upon arriving on the island are a must-see!
While usually cool and composed, Rakko-sensei, who actually has a huge sweet tooth, joins the long line for the island parfait , saying something fitting as he savors it (though these words later awaken Hachiware…!).
Kurimanju quickly starts a drinking party with yakisoba and beer, which is awesome, and Shisa -chan, who says she wants to try the island-exclusive ramen, even on her rare day off, is thinking about work (Shisa-chan works as an assistant at a ramen shop)…
what a studious girl…🌺 The scene where she and Chiikawa hold hands and have fun is just too cute… We also see Momonga
, as always, busy being selfish and acting cute, and Kani-chan, the used bookstore owner, gently comforting him. The used bookstore owner is the most recently depicted character among the main cast. Perhaps we didn’t know such a character existed…!? That might be hitting a nerve with someone…
■ The beauty and terror of the Siren character
So, the main plot of this movie revolves around encounters and battles on an island, lured by an attractive yet suspicious flyer promising a 100x reward for monster hunting… and sweets, spicy food, everything is practically free
… For us, who are well-trained in today’s malice-filled society, the question “What does ‘practically’ even mean?” is a valid one, but let’s just proceed with the story without thinking too deeply, like Hachiware. (laughs)
The main villains throughout the story are the aforementioned “Sirens,” who are the targets of extermination and are also featured in the legendary creature encyclopedia , and the “Mermaids . “
After their encounter in the mystical cave, the siren explains that “it seems our fellow mermaids were eaten by the islanders, so we are attacking them in return.” Chiikawa and her
friends, who are basically the ones being attacked in this world, don’t quite understand what the siren means by “that’s why we’re eating them .” If you’re watching the story from Chiikawa’s perspective, the siren’s innocent yet terrifying statement, “that’s why we’re eating them (for revenge),” is chilling.
The sirens of legend, which we are familiar with, are said to have charmed and attracted sailors with their beautiful singing voices, ultimately creating mountains of their corpses.
What deserves special attention here is the voice actress for the siren, Minori Suzuki .
The siren’s beauty and terror were both captured in a wonderful performance and singing voice, and I was completely captivated by her… I especially loved the a cappella version in the second half…
If you’re curious, please enjoy her beautiful voice in IMAX… It was a first-time experience for me to be so scared it sent shivers down my spine , yet still want to hear more …
■The film’s score and visual beauty alone make it a worthwhile watch.
Even if you don’t quite understand or get the point of the movie’s story until the end, I think it’s worth watching for the musical-like score, the comical background music interspersed throughout, and the stunning visuals of Chiikawa and the backgrounds as they move around during the battle scenes.
First, there’s the scene where Shimajiro, a guest character and hero in the story, makes his appearance. It’s simply fantastic .