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Jan 20, 2025
“The Sky Crawlers”, directed by Mamoru Oshii, is a compelling film that emotively yet subtly portrays the endless cycle of war that envelops us all. The story conceptualizes armed conflict as an almost intrinsic part of human nature and an entirely necessary element for individuals to reaffirm their existence. Through the use of symbolic elements and the existential anguish of its characters, the film reinforces this bleak message that ties our inclination toward war with a stagnation in our capacity for human evolution.
In this work, not only do the main characters, who feel physically and mentally trapped, effectively illustrate this somber narrative, but the meticulously
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crafted world within the film serves to enhance this melancholic theme. In this sense, as the story progresses, viewers encounter characters who are arrogant, violent, and/or feel empty, existing within imposing institutional hierarchies that evoke feelings of suffocation, coldness, and distance.
As is characteristic of Mamoru Oshii's works, the director employs silence, imagery, and a carefully curated soundtrack at pivotal moments to express this complex emotional landscape. However, it is important to note that the limited dialogue—although flawless when present—and the significant reliance on silence as a narrative technique may not resonate with all viewers, potentially leading some to perceive the film as slow-paced or unengaging.
In conclusion, I highly recommend the film to those who have enjoyed other works by the director or are seeking an introspective journey about the emotional consequences of war and the suffering of feeling stagnant and incapable of changing a deeply unsatisfying reality—one for which there may not even be a clear way out.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 30, 2024
The recent works of Makoto Shinkai can be described with two words: mediocre and conformist. He continues to recycle the same formulas that brought him success with Your Name, to the point where it seems he believes he cannot achieve success without creating something strikingly similar to his most notable work. In this film, he consistently reuses the fundamental elements from Your Name, merely placing them in a slightly different context with characters who, at their core, remain remarkably similar.
In this regard, it can be argued, not just based on Your Name but also on his earlier works, that he appears incapable of creating distinct
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types of characters. Nearly all his characters exhibit similar behaviors, conform to the same stereotypes, and engage in romantic and personal relationships that are virtually identical in nature.
More specifically, the characters in this story feel particularly shallow. Secondary characters often act in ways that are blatantly convenient, serving only to advance the plot or benefit the protagonists and their relationship. Certain characters even completely abandon their initial goals or beliefs to achieve this purpose, creating a rather cheap and forced sense of drama in the process. Furthermore, the animistic or pantheistic portrayal of nature as a major source of trouble, a recurring theme in Shinkai's works, feels overused and, at this point, renders his narratives bland and lacking in depth. The same can also be said about his tendency to incorporate time-travel elements into his works, even if they make little or no sense in the context of the story presented (something that happens in Suzume).
That said, the film offers an odd viewing experience. Despite its flaws, it can occasionally be entertaining, though at other times it feels overly long and quite childish. However, as with all Makoto Shinkai films, the visual and musical aspects are impeccable (almost hypnotic, I’d say) featuring beautiful, fluid designs for the world and its characters.
In conclusion, although I did not enjoy the film and believe it could have been much better, I can understand why some people might find it appealing. I might recommend it to someone with two hours to spare and no better options than watching a rather melodramatic film.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Nov 29, 2024
This anime, despite its brevity, explores a wide range of psychological and social themes in an abstract and mystical manner. The anime will explore themes such as the concept of god, the human nature, and dealing with the consequences of emotional pain from the perspective of characters with no or little ability to connect with their inner self.
【𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 】
Malice@Doll is a computer-generated animation created by a small team of professionals in 2001. The technology at the time was far less advanced than today, and 3D animation was still in its infancy. As a result, the animation quality
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isn’t the best—the colors are too dark, and the graphical design of the world lacks polish. However, this isn’t entirely off-putting. For instance, in key moments, the teamwork manages to create dynamism through quick cuts between different static images. Additionally, given the context of the story, it makes sense for the characters’ movements to be quite rigid and puppet-like. One aspect I didn’t particularly like is that the story feels too short for everything it tries to convey. The soundtrack isn’t particularly notable either, with the exception of the ending theme, which is both beautiful and sorrowful. Personally, I appreciated the character designs, and I think the script, written by Chiaki Konaka, is like the rest of his works: twisted, abstract, but deeply emotional.
【𝐒𝐲𝐩𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬；𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭】
The story places us in a post-apocalyptic world where humans, who once created the characters of this tale, seem to have disappeared. These characters are machines, still living to fulfill the functions they were specifically designed for in the past, even though those tasks may now lack meaning or purpose, especially given that their creators are no longer part of their world.
The protagonist is a machine specifically designed to fulfill human sexual desires. She awakens one day in this completely static universe, where nothing dies or changes, crying and believing herself to be broken, as showing 'emotions' is not something a machine like her should experience. Consequently, and on the advice of other characters, she decides to seek help from a machine that repairs devices exhibiting "defects." However, her journey takes an unexpected turn when she encounters a mystical entity—possibly the purest reflection of herself (I will reflect on this later)—that guides her towards a grotesque divine being who ultimately transforms Malice. All of this happens very quickly, in an almost dreamlike manner. Malice wakes, in the next scene, stripped of her humanoid form and with a body that grants her the ability to feel and look like a human. Humans are perceived as gods in this world because of their creative capacity.
Just with these initial events, we can see that this work seeks to provoke philosophical reasoning about a myriad of topics in its audience, leading us to explore things like the concept of god and the nature of humanity. This aim will be more noticeable with the following occurrences and with the use of all the other characters and their interconnections. Therefore, I will now study the characters and explain what they represent, as well as briefly outline the events that follow what I’ve previously described.
【𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝔦𝔯 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝（𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢n 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬) 】
➥ 𝕄𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕖@𝕕𝕠𝕝𝕝: Malice is the thread that binds the narrative, the central character, and the one who transforms her entire world. One of her functions is to represent a critique of prostitution—a practice that instrumentalizes the human body and dehumanizes those forced into it. The criticism of prostitution becomes evident when observing Malice and her suffering. Malice, in her machine form, seems completely oblivious to her pain and harm. She operates automatically, unaware of the irreversible damage being inflicted on her body and spirit. The work allegorically illustrates how the harshest life circumstances can often lead to a complete disconnection from reality, turning us into unfeeling machines. Upon taking human form and emerging from her state of detachment, Malice is able to reflect on her own pain and then, she realizes that she never wanted to be what she was but she had no choice.
Despite these newfound insights, the objectification she has been exposed to and the lack of personal awareness over her own value beyond her body remain evident, as she emphasizes that even now, she can offer others nothing but her lips. In fact, it is through her kisses that she transforms other machines into beings like herself.
At one point, Malice decides she needs to break with the status quo of her world. To do so, she begins infecting other machines, giving them the same form and emotions she now possesses. This "mission" begins because of her feeling of deep loneliness and emptiness since she is the only one capable of experiencing emotions; Because she is a "human" entity now she feels the need to share her suffering and feel understood by others.
So far, we’ve referred to Malice as a machine, but what if she is or was something else? This brings us to three possible interpretations of Malice’s nature and the world around her:
➥ Malice@Doll and the other artifacts were never machines but humans in a state of lethargy. A long time ago they lost touch with their true nature to the point they came to believe they were tools serving predetermined purposes. This would explain why Malice showed signs of humanity even before her complete transformation. In this case, the contact with the mystical entity would only have served to remind her what she has always been but was suppressed inside her as a consequence of living in a utilitarian and dystopian society. The kiss of death and rebirth she gives to others would serve to activate those forgotten memories of selfhood.
➥ Malice@Doll and the other artifacts are machines, but since they have been created by humans—an inherently flawed entity—they are destined to develop “anomalies,” not just in their mechanical functionality but as a result of inheriting the imperfections of their creators. Malice’s initial tears could signify the beginning of her awakening as a “human” and the end of her existence as a flawless entity. This hypothesis gains traction when observing the behavior of the machines, they live mimicking certain human social roles as if those were encoded into their base program. These first two theories could also be suggesting that violence, cruelty, and lasciviousness are a fundamental part of all humans’ DNA, this explains the grotesque behavior certain machines adopt when coming into contact with their humanity. In addition, the narrative could also be featuring a critique of social roles, particularly reflected in the contrast between Joe@Doll’s behavior and that of the other machines. This contrast is especially remarkable with those machines that could be classified as masculine. Joe is the only machine capable of restraining his primitive sexual instincts because he has embraced the role of the ideal man according to Japanese standards—stoic, dedicated to his work, and able to repress his impulses. The other machines, morally and hierarchically inferior to him, succumb to their instincts because they are not “as perfect”. Moreover, the story critiques the patriarchal structures of society that cause pain to everyone and systematically regard women as inferior entities at the service of men.
➥ Malice@Doll is a hybrid between machine and human, a being specifically chosen to transcend and change the world. Through her newfound power, she can imbue humanity into mechanical beings. This will bring an internal battle inside those mechanical creatures between their robotic and human consciousness. This hypothesis is not entirely incompatible with the previous ones and will also explain why she was the only one able to transcend, because she was different from others since the very beginning.
➥ 𝔻𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕤@𝕕𝕠𝕝𝕝: For me, Doris is not only another element reinforcing the critique of prostitution that permeates the work but also a representation of the self-destructive processes individuals might undergo when dealing with SA trauma. Many real-life victims of abuse, like Doris, may experience denial, a need for self-affirmation regarding their bodies, and other complexities. These gut-wrenching emotional states often lead the person to a “voluntary” repetition of the traumatic situation, promiscuity, and impulsive behavior.
➥ 𝕁𝕠𝕖@𝕒𝕕𝕞𝕚𝕟: We have already talked about this character, but it can also be said that his biggest sin lies in his act of perpetuating the status quo by strictly adhering to his role of leader. His position is so deeply ingrained in his cognitive composition that even the kiss seems unable to create big changes inside him. Perhaps the most significant shift in him is the potential emergence of romantic love for Malice, suggesting that not even someone like Joe is entirely immune to human instincts such as love.
➥ 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕣𝕝 𝕚𝕟 𝕄𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕖'𝕤 𝕍𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟: This character leads Malice toward her transformation. Personally, I believe she represents a vision of Malice herself and a physical/spiritual manifestation of her consciousness urging her to abandon her robotic nature and achieve enlightenment. Her childlike appearance is noteworthy, as it could symbolize Malice's truest, purest self—the version of her that existed before her suffering. In Jungian psychological terms, it is a self-image she must reconcile with before transcending.
➥ 𝕃𝕖𝕦𝕜𝕠𝕔𝕪𝕥𝕖: Leukocyte is a robotic entity that breaks away from its functions without Malice's intervention. The fact that it can defy its programming suggests that their world was already collapsing even before the story began. In a real devastated world, some awakenings can occur even without the intervention of a specific catalyst. Furthermore, this character would also demonstrate that the suffering of the machines would not only be determined by the specifically harsh nature of the functions they were designed to perform but by the fact of having been forced to continue exercising them in perpetuity.
Finally, we could ask ourselves: Why do the transformations grant grotesque features to the machines? I believe the answer is straightforward; these grotesque transformations are a physical-somatic manifestation of their repressed, forgotten, or unacknowledged pain and suffering.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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