Tabi

Don’t come here expecting a coherent storyline. Rather than traditional anime, this is a piece of experimental art. The characters journey (as the name suggests) through paintings. That’s the basic grasp of this short movie. If this sounds appealing to you, continue. If not, this might not be for you.

Tabi is another victim of regular anime watchers stumbling into an art piece, being confused and rating it low. Sure, it hardly looks like a regular anime – but it isn’t meant to. Tabi is a movie that feels like walking through a gallery. It offers beautiful paintings to a viewer with intriguing surreal imagery and ... encomporates them into an animation. That is what it sets to do and that is what it does. While you could probably find some deeper meaning to write an essay about in in, for my personal enjoyment I’m already satisfied with the gorgeous arstyle – with Tabi being an eyecandy type of animation.

So yes, this is an unusual piece in the anime database, but by viewing it on its own, without trying to fit it with what your understanding of what “anime is”, I’m sure you could find enjoyment in its viewing.

Jesus, a T-Rex, tanks, and an alien eating babies all in one video.

What more could you possibly ask for?





Story: 2 - Dreadful
This short tried to tackle various topics symbolically but the storytelling was a mess throughout.
...
Art: 1 - Pathetic
There was barely any animation for multiple portions of this short and none of the visuals were pleasant for the eyes.

Sound: 3 - Poor
The background song did not add very much to the viewing experience and there were not any outstanding qualities. (There is no voice acting in this short.)

Character: 1 - Pathetic
The protagonist did very little and was simply strung along by the inadequate plot. None of the other characters who made an appearance did much of anything due to their glaringly brief screen-time.

Enjoyment: 1 - Pathetic
I did not at all take enjoyment from watching this short, especially with my attempt of trying to understand the director's thinking process when the thought of this idea.

Overall: 2 - Dreadful
A rather fair score for a short that excelled in being a horrible watch, though it is the only short where you could find this unique mix of Jesus, a T-Rex, tanks, and an alien eating babies.

Rate a 3
A tad bit of non relevant Japanese spoken audio. Aside from that nothing else was spoken. There was a couple English words here and there but not in subtitles more in scenery.
a true art film

Story
The artist took on multiple topics and expressed them mostly in symbolically fashion. An okay idea but without subtitles or some other form of guidance the viewer becomes lost in this symbolic jungle. Which is why some call the story a mess.

Art
While animation was limited to certain aspects in frame the art show was never the same. For a viewer to relax and appreciate something visual they have to ... have an idea of what is to come. If it is a black and white piece they would expect a black and white piece throughout the show. This did not happen. Not only did the color keep changing but the scenery did as well. Which can be expected in an art movie. For it is almost like taking a film recorder in a museum.You are bound to see tons of different artist styles. But to collaborate all those styles into one is like taking different pieces from different puzzles and smashing them to fit. It won't work. Not only that but certain aspects were clearly copied and pasted.

Sound:
-no vocals
- while i did appreciate the background music to some regard it did not help understand the show so in a matter of thinking it was pointless. The only plus in having it was it aided me in watching the film in its entirety as opposed to stopping it midway through.

Character
With a plot that was a mess it makes sense that the character(s) or in this character would follow suit.

Overall
This film had potential to convey a message of some matter but to not have proper direction made the entire film a pointless event. Also, what on earth was with the multiple forms of torture like alien eating babies or burning alive or stone man? So many questions i have with very little in forms of answers. My only theory behind this madness was this film was meant as a psych film. Meaning when the woman got on the train in real life and noticed that plane ad she interpreted it as a mental escape. For with life we are faced with multiple faces of trouble. Whether it is nasty traffic day in and day out, a cheating ex, or dealing with bratty kids. It can be enough pain to bring a person to a speedy end. Which is why the idea of getting away to places like Hawaii seem so appealing. But until one can bank enough time and money for a trip one must rely on religion (tranquility) as they continue to face the on going struggles that lie in front of them.