Feb 20, 2019
I can't remember when I first saw this short, but the impact of it hasn't changed at all since it first came out in 2003.
At only 23 minutes long, it's really incredible how strong There She Is's main message is. I've been told it's a commentary on Japanese-Korean relationships, and while I'm not knowledgeable at all on that subject, the story works no matter what country you're from. The animation may be simple and rather rough, but the framing, timing, colors and everything else about it is actually fantastic. There's no spoken words throughout, and there doesn't need to be. The two main characters
...
Doki and Nabi are an adorable couple anyone can relate to/understand, and as side characters the gang rabbits and older cats are equally important to the story (especially in punching some sense into Nabi later on).
The first "steps" (episodes) are more casual and comedic as they set up for the rest of the story - while these episodes aren't as great, the rest of the story (steps 3 - 5) breaks my heart every time. Here's where I gotta mention the music, because it is PERFECT. Each step has its own song, and the song choices couldn't have been better for fitting the mood of the step (animation is also synced to the music). Step 4 in particular I haven't forgotten even after many years - the song is Wolsik by Tabu, a sad and powerful track that makes step 4 the most impactful of them all.
This short may be cheesy at times and rough in the animation, but it really is an unforgettable and effective story about how nothing can come between two people in love. I've already watched it about 6 times, and I know that in the future I'll be back to experience it again and again. The message and its delivery, after all, don't seem to lose anything with age.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all