Have you ever wondered what it’s like to see the world through a child’s eyes, especially when that world is suddenly turned upside down? Mamoru Hosoda’s animated masterpiece, Mirai, invites you on an unforgettable journey. This Mirai movie review dives deep into a film that is not just a visual spectacle but a profoundly human story about family, jealousy, and the passage of time.
Mirai isn’t a high-stakes adventure or a battle of epic proportions. Instead, it’s a quiet, intimate, and often chaotic portrait of a four-year-old boy named Kun whose life is upended by the arrival of a new baby sister. The film explores the tumultuous emotions of childhood with a magical twist, as Kun’s family home and its fantastical garden become a portal to meet his relatives at different points in their lives.
The Power of Perspective: A Unique Narrative Approach
One of the most compelling aspects of Mirai is its narrative choice. Rather than telling a grand tale, it focuses on the microcosm of one family and the emotional evolution of a single child. This is a story about the messy, beautiful reality of growing up and sharing a life with others. Hosoda, known for his ability to blend the fantastical with the deeply personal in films like Wolf Children and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, once again proves his mastery.
The film’s plot unfolds through a series of episodic adventures, each triggered by Kun’s emotional state. When he feels lonely and neglected, he meets his great-grandfather as a young man, a proud family patriarch who teaches him a lesson about courage. When his parents are at their wits’ end, he meets his mother as a mischievous young girl. These encounters aren’t just for spectacle; they are carefully constructed to help Kun understand his family’s history and his place within it.
Thematic Depth: More Than a Simple Sibling Rivalry
While the initial premise is a classic tale of sibling jealousy, Mirai uses this familiar theme as a launchpad for a much richer exploration of family dynamics.
- Empathy and Understanding: Kun’s journeys through time are essentially lessons in empathy. By seeing his parents not just as authority figures but as people with their own childhoods and struggles, he begins to understand their perspective. The moment he sees his father as a clumsy boy unable to ride a bicycle, the film poignantly shows how we often carry the lessons and insecurities of our youth into adulthood.
- The Family Tree as a Living Entity: The family’s house, with its central “family tree” in the garden, is a powerful metaphor. The film visualizes the family not as a static collection of people, but as a dynamic, interconnected lineage. Kun’s encounters with his ancestors and future sister reinforce the idea that he is a product of a long and complex history.
- The Adult Struggle: The film doesn’t shy away from the challenges faced by Kun’s parents. His father, a work-from-home architect, struggles to balance his creative passion with the demands of parenthood. His mother tries to manage the household and her career, often with a short temper born of exhaustion. This realistic depiction of parental stress makes the film incredibly relatable for adults.
Animation and Artistry: A Visual Masterpiece
Hosoda’s Studio Chizu delivers an animation style that is both unique and breathtaking. The character designs are simple and expressive, capturing the nuances of Kun’s tantrums and moments of pure joy. The film’s true visual genius, however, lies in its fantastical sequences.
For example, when Kun’s jealousy manifests, the house can become a surreal landscape of distorted perspectives.
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A standout scene sees Kun transformed into a prince, only to be “demoted” when his sister is born, a clever visual representation of his feelings. The contrast between the grounded, everyday scenes and the vivid, imaginative voyages creates a rich, layered cinematic experience.
Critical Acclaim and Legacy
Mirai has received widespread praise for its unique storytelling and emotional depth. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 91st Academy Awards, a significant achievement that placed it in the company of cinematic giants like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an impressive 90% “Certified Fresh” rating, with critics praising its “breathtakingly beautiful animation” and “lyrical, humanistic touch” (Rotten Tomatoes – Mirai).
This critical success is a testament to the film’s universal themes. As Mamoru Hosoda himself has stated, his films are often about “how a family can change but always remain itself” and Mirai is perhaps the purest expression of that idea.
A Must-Watch for the Whole Family?
While Mirai is a family-friendly film, its slow, slice-of-life pacing might not appeal to every child, especially those accustomed to faster-paced action. However, for those who can appreciate its subtleties, the film offers a powerful tool for family discussion.
Here’s why you should watch Mirai:
- For Parents: It’s a mirror reflecting the challenges and joys of raising young children, reminding you that their seemingly irrational emotions have complex, internal logic.
- For Older Siblings: It provides a validating look at the feeling of being “dethroned” by a new baby, showing them that their feelings are normal.
- For Everyone: It’s a beautifully animated, deeply touching story that celebrates the bonds that connect us, past, present, and future.
For more on the master behind the movie, check out this guide on the works of Mamoru Hosoda, which highlights his other acclaimed films and recurring themes. You might also be interested in our post about the “Best Family-Centric Anime Films” that explores other shows and movies that handle similar themes.
A Quiet Masterpiece
In a world filled with bombastic blockbusters, Mirai stands out as a quiet, thoughtful, and profoundly moving film. It reminds us that the greatest adventures aren’t always to distant lands, but can be found within the very walls of our homes and the complex history of our own families. The film’s gentle magic and powerful emotional core make it a timeless classic that resonates long after the credits roll.
So, if you’re looking for an animated film that offers a different kind of magic—one rooted in reality, and a heartfelt Mirai movie review—then this is the film for you. Stream it, rent it, or buy it, and prepare to be enchanted.
