Why should you watch Uchiage Hanabi, Shita kara Miru ka? Yoko kara Miru ka??
The story is Very Good (8). This story is not for everyone or better yet, not for the people whose mind is not open to feelings and imagination.
Uchiage Hanabi is a coming-of-age story centered on a young heart’s desire. The desire for various things like the desire to belong, to be loved, to love, or to be free.
The moment I saw the music video I was hyped about what this story would be about and how it would make me think; moreover, how it would make me feel. And once I started watching it, it did not disappoint. It was successful in making me think and feel abstract concepts about being young, being wild, and being free *sorry I could not help myself* and yes, about being and falling in love.
The whole concept of the title “Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom?” This is exactly how the story wants its audience to ask themselves. From what angle should we see our life? Should it be from the bottom, from above, or from the sides? It shows us that decisions that we make in our life can’t be reversible and all we can do is move forward from that point; regretting or feeling satisfied with the outcome of our decisions. However, before each turning point, each decision you make, you can try looking at it from different perspectives before deciding your action.
What I mentioned above is what I like about the movie. I was watching the movie and I had these bursts of emotions and questions of what how and why? There was not a straight answer from the story but as a feeler type of person, the symbolism was enough answers to my questions.
The art is Good (7). One of the things that ticked me out of focus while watching the movie was the 3D CG art. It just pops up out of nowhere and disconnects me from the world of Uchiage Hanabi. I can point out an example at the beginning of how the animation changes when the students are riding their bicycles. I could not mention other cases because *spoilers* but this brought down the quality of the anime presentation heavily.
I would appreciate it if they just stuck with one type of animation so that the continuity of the story art-wise would not be interrupted.
But overall, without the 3D CG, the animation is beautiful.
The sound is Great (9). One of the things I am looking at in a movie is the flow of the ambient music. How it sets up the mood and sustains it all throughout. This is because I had to sit for 1-2 hours straight which is very important for me.
This movie was delivered to me in this department. It helped me feel nostalgic and kept me glued to every scene that occurred in the story.
“Uchiage Hanabi (打上花火)” by DAOKO x Kenshi Yonezu the ending song is a 10/10 for me it’s a beautiful song that I regularly play when I listen to music and the emotion it evokes is perfect.
The characters are Very Good (8). Norimich and Nazuna, being the mains of the story are well crafted. I could see young teens like them thus they are believable and easy to relate to.
They are young teens that have a lot of energy where everything they think and feel can be done and where there is no limit to what and what not they can do.
The supporting characters in the story, mainly Norimichi’s classmates remind me of the boys from the movie “Stand by me” Their journey to know whether fireworks are round or flat is also a story to watch by itself.
Overall, I could see that there’s a lot of hate in this movie. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if you have not watched it yet, consider watching it then you can judge the movie for yourself if it’s good or bad or meh.
But for me, I would give Uchiage Hanabi 8 flat firework explosions out of 10.
