Anime: Mai Mai Shinko to Sennen no Mahou

SPOILERS ALERT!! All my reviews have spoilers!

Mai Mai Miracle is an animated movie from 2009 directed and written by Sundo Katabuchi and it’s an adaptation of the autobiographical novel of Nobuto Takagi’s “Maimai Shinko”.
The story begins in the postwar era (1955) in the spring time, and takes place in Mitajiri (near Hofu) in Yamaguchi.
It’s about a 9 years old girl called Shinko who things that can connect with the past of her village, and, indeed, thousands of years before, in this land, lived a Princess in the Heian Era.
In her school arrives a new student, named Kiiko, that came from the city and a friendship start to begin with this two girls, but they have different personalities and views: Shinko is the extroverted, tomboy type who knows a lot about the country side; while Kiiko is the shy and reserved type that still greaves her mother’s death and knows about the city lifestyle. So, this exchange of view will be much emphasize within the movie – Kiiko has things in her house that Shinko never saw, but Shinko still things she has a better thing that her friend – she has a special “mai mai” (a cowlick) that allows her to see (imagine) the past. Of course we, the audience, know that in fact all her imagination comes from the local legends that her grandfather tell her… but well, this is suppose to have some magic!
In fact, many people like to compare this title with “Totoro” from Ghibli, but I think they are very different! It’s true that both deal with the children facing disappointment, and there’s a bridge to imagination, but “Mai Mai Miracle” can work better with a mature audience than with kids, because this story has a life of its own, and “Totoro” brings the magic to reality in a way that involves the audience in the adventure. So basically, one gives a way to dream, while the other takes you to your memories.
The storyline itself is weak, and the pace is slow, but well, what can I say about Sunao Katabuchi? In 2001 he done “Arete-Hime” with Studio 4ºC and it was a disaster! Katabuchi is not good making adaptations, he said himself that he had issues telling stories from a female point of view! And he even picked up all his latest crew to produce this one…
Well, the result turned out to be better, but the magic, again, is not functioning in this one!
The backgrounds are very well done; the characters designs, on the contrary, leave much to tell, which makes the artwork not that much impressive!
The sound can be adequate, but not much memorable; the good thing is that they integrated real natural sound in the movie.
So, overall, the story is not very deep; the theme despite being about friendship enhances some aspects that are not the most fitted for kids, like death, separation, unrequited love by one of the parents, but if you’re looking for something just to relax, and bring some memories from childhood this movie might suit you.