Kaijuu no Kodomo

Ruka Azumi's ordinary summer vacation revolves around spending all her time on the handball court to avoid her only housemate, her alcoholic mother. When an incident at practice leads to Ruka's exclusion from the handball team, she is forced to find other outlets to enjoy herself, eventually winding up at the aquarium where her father works. There, she meets Umi, a mysterious boy raised by dugongs who is being kept at the aquarium in order to research his strange water-dependent body.

Ruka and Umi become fast friends, and the pair is soon joined by Sora, Umi's brother who also has an unusual relationship with the ocean. Together, the trio explore a dazzling undersea world while learning about a peculiar "festival" that all sea creatures around the world are preparing for.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sora Main

Uragami, Seishuu Japanese

Azumi, Ruka Main

Ashida, Mana Japanese

Umi Main

Ishibashi, Hiiro Japanese

Anglade Supporting

Morisaki, Win Japanese

Cusack, Jim Supporting

Tanaka, Min Japanese

Dede Supporting

Fuji, Sumiko Japanese

Azumi, Kanako Supporting

Aoi, Yuu Japanese

Azumi, Masaaki Supporting

Inagaki, Gorou Japanese

Tanaka, Eiko Producer

Watanabe, Ayumu Director, Storyboard

Kasamatsu, Kouji Sound Director

Kino, Hanasaki Script

Reviews

Jan 28, 2025

re4zen

Recommended

Kaijuu no Kodomo (Children of the Sea) 2019 - A Cinematic Poem of Nature and Existence.

One word to describe this film: "Beautiful."

- This Film is very Peaceful and Refreshing.
emerges as an intricate odyssey of cosmic and philosophical inquiry, where the boundaries of existence are woven into a tapestry of reflective pondering.

mesmerizing narrative depth, it contemplates the ephemeral nature of life, the inexorable interconnectedness of all creation, and humanity's eternal pursuit of purpose.

every frame resonates with a palpable artistry, a vivid manifestation of visual transcendence where each stroke and hue exudes an evocative vitality. Immersed in themes of life's transience, the profound interconnectivity ... of all beings, and humanity's ceaseless search for meaning, the work transcends mere narrative to become an ethereal exploration of being—denouement resounds with a gravitas both celestial and profoundly human, leaving an indelible, ineffable impression upon the soul.

Kaijuu no Kodomo (Children of the Sea) —unfolds as a symphonic meditation on existence, seamlessly intertwining cosmic vastness with profound philosophical reflection. immersing the viewer in a sensory tapestry where every brushstroke and visual nuance feels vividly alive.

a Little Enlightenment:

This story flows as effortlessly as water itself—a thematic mirror of its oceanic setting. rebellious yet fragile protagonist, On her path of solitude and self-discovery,

For those drawn to aesthetics of the ocean, summer, and fantasy, Kaijuu no Kodomo presents an unparalleled visual and emotional experience. The animation—crafted with meticulous artistry—seamlessly blends ethereal beauty with cosmic wonder. Every frame feels like a painting, every movement like a carefully composed symphony of light and shadow.

Noteworthy Insights:
This is not a film for those seeking linear storytelling or conventional action—it’s pure art, a meditative experience requiring patience and introspection. Its core is poetic, weaving metaphysical questions about humanity’s place in the cosmos with stunning visuals.

Artistic Nuance and Themes:

Kaijuu no Kodomo is more than a film; it’s an exploration of existence, a meditation on interconnectedness. The sea is not merely a backdrop but a living, breathing character, representing both the mystery and fragility of life itself.
Its soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi complements the visuals perfectly, creating an immersive atmosphere where sound and image resonate in harmony.
The film challenges its audience, demanding emotional engagement and intellectual curiosity. For those willing to dive deep, it rewards with themes of rebirth, unity, and the boundless power of nature.
In the vein of other artistic anime like Angel’s Egg and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Kaijuu no Kodomo transcends the boundaries of conventional cinema. It’s not for everyone, and that’s precisely its strength—its beauty lies in its subtlety, its refusal to conform, and its invitation to view the world through a more profound lens.

In Summary,
This film is a masterpiece of visual poetry—peaceful, breathtaking, and deeply introspective. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most profound stories are those that don’t tell you everything but allow you to experience and interpret them in your own unique way.

“The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too.”
― Vincent van Gogh

Studio 4°C masterfully preserves the brilliance of this work, ensuring it radiates at the zenith of its artistic and narrative potential.

Thank you for reading, and may you find beauty in the depths of this cinematic ocean.

Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Feb 20, 2025

jennisiaria

Mixed Feelings

Alright, let's dive into Children of the Sea, a visual masterpiece that looks like it came straight out of the ocean and slapped you across the face with its sheer beauty... but then proceeded to drown you in a sea of confusion and disappointment when it came to the plot. As a lover of the sea, I went in with high hopes, ready to be swept away by waves of emotional depth and breathtaking animation. And wow, did it deliver on the animation front—the ocean scenes? Absolutely jaw-dropping. You could almost taste the saltwater and feel the cool breeze of the sea. The visuals are ... like watching a painter bring the vast, mysterious world of the ocean to life, with waves crashing in ways that make you feel like you're actually there. It’s beautiful... almost too beautiful.

But then... the plot. Oh boy. Now, if you’re like me, a sea lover who appreciates good storytelling and maybe thought they were going to get an awe-inspiring tale about the mysteries of the ocean, then brace yourself for a weird underwater adventure that will leave you questioning everything and wondering if there was a plot in the first place. It’s like the ocean waves are crashing around you, but no one bothered to give you a map or explain why the waves are so... confusing. The characters? We get to know them, but not in a way that makes us care about them. The pacing is so slow that you might as well just be sitting on a beach watching sand drift through your fingers while the movie meanders like a lost fish trying to find its way home.

The whole thing feels like it’s trying to be deep and philosophical, but it ends up being more of a what-is-going-on situation. There are moments where it feels like the story is trying to explore the magical, mysterious connection between humans and the ocean, but the narrative’s delivery is so abstract and disjointed that you might start thinking, “Did I just eat a whole bag of seaweed and this is my trip now?” The connections between the characters feel surface-level at best, and I spent half the time wondering if I was supposed to interpret it as a metaphor for... something. Maybe the ocean was a metaphor for the plot? Who knows.

What I’m saying is, the ocean looked gorgeous. Like, really, really gorgeous. I’d happily frame some of those scenes and hang them in my living room. But as for the story? It was like trying to navigate through a storm without a compass. Sure, it had some cool mystical elements, but the narrative just didn’t connect the dots, leaving me stranded on a metaphorical deserted island with more questions than answers.

The ending? You bet it left me emotionally adrift. It tried to make some profound statement, but it came off like the ocean had just tossed me around, and I wasn’t sure if I should be touched by the beauty of it or just... confused by the fact that it didn’t make sense.

In conclusion, Children of the Sea is a visual spectacle. A breathtaking, soul-stirring, “I’m-pretty-sure-I-can-hear-the-ocean-whispering-in-my-ear” kind of movie. But the storytelling? It's like getting lost in the sea without a paddle. You might admire the view, but you’ll leave with a sinking feeling of “What the heck just happened?” It’s like walking out of a fantastic aquarium tour where the fish are great, but the guide couldn’t stop talking about abstract concepts that made no sense. So if you're a sea lover who’s looking for a visual feast—absolutely watch it. But if you’re here for a solid plot... well, you might just end up treading water.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Mar 28, 2023

nozomiEX

Not Recommended

Funny

Kaijuu no Kodomo is the personification of a teenager smoking weed for the first time and spilling into incoherent babble about life and the universe. "Duuuuuuuuuuuuuude the seas and the stars are one... We're all, like, totally connected." Without any hint of self-awareness, prattling on about romantic-sounding yet entirely vacuous germs of ideas about "listening to the song on the winds," "we're all made of the same matter... whoaaaaaa..." and other such flowery, inconsequential drivel. The characters and plot are superficially there to laboriously drone on about shallow musings on life and the universe. What little there is in terms of ... narrative in the first half entirely falls away for a second half of self-indulgent spectacle, pretty to look at but utterly devoid of any substance, yet completely oblivious to how pompous it is.

I really can't stress how cartoonishly self-aggrandizing this is. Don't bother watching it if you at all intend to pay attention. There are nice visual sequences in here but it's only surface-deep. This would be completely boring and unremarkable if it weren't for how outrageously pretentious it is.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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