Runtime: 98 minutes
Director: Kotaro Tamura
Writer: Sayaka Kuwamura
Cast: Taishi Nakagawa (Tsuneo Suzukawa), Kaya Kiyohara (Kumiko Yamamura/Josee), Yume Miyamoto (Mai Nomiya), Kazuyuki Okitsu (Hayato Matsura)
Rating: 3.3/5
Most romantic comedies usually progress at a relaxed pace, since the experience comes from getting to know the characters and rooting for their love. However, Josee, the Tiger and the Fish not only does that, it also gives us a plot that proceeds at a faster pace, making it a for a more engaging show. Coupled with its beautiful art, the film manages to deliver a sweet story about love that’s visually and dramatically interesting.
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is a Japanese romantic comedy anime. It is based on the short story of the same name. The story revolves around the love between the two most unlikely individuals – an athletic undergraduate and a wheelchair-bound girl. However, they have to wonder – is this relationship good for either of them?
One of the core themes of the film is that about chasing dreams – which is made manifest in Tsuneo’s struggle to decide between love or his dreams. I think it’s executed fairly well here, in the sense that Tsuneo’s dream isn’t in your face – it’s hinted at throughout the movie. Yet when it comes to light that his dreams are at stake, it makes perfect sense – you’ve seen his actions throughout the film. I thought was a good reminder that as much as we love to chase our dreams, sometimes other dreams or real life gets in the way.
But ultimately, the story is about a romance that seems jeopardised at every turn. It is sweet to see how they fall in love, and how it’s developed organically through fairly mundane actions, rather than huge gestures of love (although since this is a romantic comedy, you do have some instances of that). If you’re here for a good old love story, you won’t be disappointed.
The plot is surprisingly chipper for a romance, as events unfold and we learn more about each character and their circumstances. I was fairly engaged throughout the film, and while you do have the characteristic tropes of love stories in there, it doesn’t belabour those points. In fact, it gets through those quite quickly.
The fantasy sequences are fun, and I wanted to see more of those. The art and backgrounds are also beautifully drawn, providing the perfect backdrop for the story to take place. It’s not a fantasy anime though, so I understand why we don’t see more of Josee’s imaginary world. Then again, I guess it could have been romanticised a bit more so that we could have more of that.
Unfortunately, the titular character is terribly grating and annoying. I understand that Josee is has a disability, but that doesn’t mean that she can go around being an entitled swine. Her whole Servant shtick shows how much of a princess she is, and this means that you really don’t want to root for her. So when it’s revealed that another girl loves Tsuneo, you can’t help but want him to ditch Josee and find a better life. Sadly, the title character is Josee, after all, and it seems unfair that her self-absorbed behaviour has no consequences in the film.
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is a beautiful anime that portrays a classic love story, albeit with a twist. It’s a feast for the eyes, and has some heartwarming moments. It’s weighed down by a main character that is thoroughly dislikable, and that is quite a pity for the rest of the film.
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is out in cinemas:
– 29 April, 2021 (Singapore)
This is an original article on marcusgohmarcusgoh.com.
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I’m an independent scriptwriter who’s written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Police & Thief, and Incredible Tales. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
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