Scotland Loves Anime 2018 turned out to be my best ever year as a fan, and this was courtesy of I Want to Eat Your Pancreas. When I watched it then I went on to read the manga and the original novel and waited for the date when this film gets released on home video or digital so that I could watch it again. In this month, for the first time since the screenings, Manga Entertainment have released the series on Blu-ray and DVD and I am therefore revisiting it to see how well it is.
The book starts with the main character discovering a diary of Sasha Yamauchi who is one of the students in Sasha’s class. This volume contains a book called “Living with Dying” which explains that the girl has got a chronic illness related to the pancreas. After the book is returned, april asks to promise not to tell any other – Xochitl does her respectable ruling. Judging from this expression, Sakura was inspired by a boy and wanted to be his friend.
In conclusion, the writer explores the relationship between the protagonist and Sakura by blaming the latter’s low self-control and yet, jealousy. Due to the fact that Sakura becomes his assistant in the school library and in general because she is always in the vicinity of the protagonist, the same starts to blossom over Sakura. Sakura is glad to have met him, to have had a place in his life’s narrative and for the simplicity of his everyday activities, though it may seem that there is apathy.
The boy is content to work his way through fiction and does not like to face the real world. He spends time with Sakura and realizes that there is more to this world than the imaginary worlds which he is used to. Little by little he is also starting to have feelings for Sakura but with the knowledge of her condition in his head, he does not want to get too close.
Despite having endured it a second, or even a third view, I still reluctant in summarising I Want to Eat Your Pancreas. In other words, it’s something better watched rather than read about. Is it difficult to describe this film without giving away its plot? Most of all it’s a film that needs to be watched in order to appreciate. It’s one of those films that requires you to process your mind over. A viewer is affected, not by the movie but by the feelings of the individuals in it and that is the part of the piece of work that I tend to mess up in the most.
From their side, the characters themselves are appealing and worth spending time with. Sakura is a high-spirited and socially active character whom every person adores and is full of life. She is a beacon of hope in the dark and very entertaining to watch on television. Our protagonist, however, is everything that he is not – rough, antisocial, and sullen. Well, that is until he comes across meeting Sakura. It may be a cliché saying, but her presence changes his life for good.
In case you already read the novel this anime adaption is based on (licensed by Seven Seas) then you will know what you are getting here. This is a solid work in progress and although it does condense down towards a couple of sections, the rest adapts rather accurately to the story.
The only big difference is a whimsical, dream-like interlude about two-thirds of the way through the film. This section is also adopted from the book but there is some reworking in its presentation and it might not be appealing to all. While I did not subscribe to it during my first viewing, I do not find it particularly unappealing at my second viewing.
Of course, if you haven’t read the novel before then I also highly suggest that you do so afterward. All that it means is that this is such a powerful story that even knowing the outcome does not, in any way shape or form, diminish the impact of the story when it is revisited by the reader.
The animation for the film has been taken up Studio VOLN and although being the first movie project of one of the studios it still looks good I Want to Eat Your Pancreas. The use of colors in the Studio provides warmth by enhancing the wonder in the drawings as they rouse in the viewer the need to live in the envisioned place. The Character drawing’s revolution as well as their appeal suited their characterization. Sakura is pretty, with delicate colored strands in her hair while our main character is plain looking and dull which is very in character. Such a person is an apolitical and he would do nothing worthwhile in terms of presentation.
On the other hand, the music of the film including every other piece of it was done by composer Hiroko Sebu with insert songs, opening and ending by the band Sumika. The songs are of light hearted pop, followed by heavy thunderstorms of piano, strings and other emotional bittersweet compositions. The music does serve well to the picture as the emotional characteristics of the film are underscored by the music. It is definitely among the recent very few soundtracks which have been favorites of mine.
As far as voice actors are concerned, this release contains the film in Japanese as well as the DVD version in English. Of course I do not consider either of the motion actors for the protagonist particularly impressive, however I do tend to be more appreciative of the Japanese audio as a whole due to Sakura’s actor. In Japanese Sakura is acted by Lynn (Princess Hibana in Fire Force, Fuuka Akitsuki in Fuuka) who is a very good actor and provides the character with a fun, teasing, and elevating spirit. In English, she was voiced by Erika Harlacher (Violet in Violet Evergarden, Ann Takamaki in Persona 5) who is good but does not give the same dimension.
To reiterate, this release is available in the UK thanks to Manga Entertainment and has been available on DVD/blu-ray. While the release is limited to only a standard edition such as this which is good enough in comparison to the collectible edition America has, there are still a few cool on disc extras. These include trailers (Japanese and english) a theme song’s anime video and textless opening as well as an English Dub Bloopers video.
On the whole, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas is a captivating movie that is difficult to forget. If you are already a fan of the novel, then you will most likely enjoy this anime film even if it’s your first time. . This is one of those movies that every individual has to own, one that you will not forget in a hurry and one that will definitely stand the test of time.
Watch I Want to Eat Your Pancreas on Kimcartoon
