Now streaming on Netflix is the family fantasy anime, My Oni Girl. The film – directed by Tomotaka Shibayama – features the vocal talents of Kenshô Ono and Miyu Tomita, and follows the story of a student who meets a mysterious girl.
In the movie, Hiiragi is a studious young school student who is eager to please. He is polite, does his homework, and attempts to make friends where he can.
One night, while out helping a classmate, Hiiragi sees a young girl in a spot of trouble. The girl – Tsumugi – doesn’t have the correct bus fare for her journey, so Hiiragi steps in and offers his assistance.
After engaging in conversation, Hiiragi and Tsumugi quickly develop a friendship and after ditching the bus, they walk home. In no time at all, Tsumugi then invites herself into Hiiragi’s house, where she is embraced by his family and given a bed for the evening.
But as Hiiragi soon discovers, Tsumugi is not an ordinary girl. She is secretly a demon known as an oni, who is on a quest to locate her missing mother.
Showcasing beautiful animation, My Girl Oni is a fun and likeable adventure movie ideal for family viewing. The picture focuses its story around Hiiragi and Tsumugi as they embark on a journey to find Tsumugi’s mother, and tracks their developing friendship along the way.
All throughout the movie, the emphasis is very much on friendship, family, and personal growth. Both Hirragi and Tsumugi have their own obstacles to overcome, which relate to family members, and the movie finds ways to ensure both are given the room they need to deal with their problems and move forward.
Every so often the lead characters find themselves under attack from a mythical Snow God, which throws an added wrinkle into their plight, but this only adds to the action and adventure. And for those wondering, the peril from the Snow God is mild at best, so there’s nothing in here which is likely to frighten young audiences.
The biggest selling point of My Oni Girl is how good it looks and how well it manages to capture a real sense of atmosphere. All through the movie, director Tomotaka Shibayama pulls the audience into the film with rich, sumptuous visuals, and there are times where you can almost touch and feel the landscape.
When it snows, it’s as if the temperature has suddenly dropped. When it rains, you can easily imagine the splashes on the ground around your feet.
Not every director can achieve this sense of atmosphere, yet Shibayama pulls it off well. The result is a picture which is easy to get lost in, especially when you’re after some simple escapism.
Where My Oni Girl struggles a bit is in the story department, because it is fairly simplistic. The first half of the film feels somewhat episodic with Hiiragi and Tsumugi going from town to town meeting people, and it’s not until the second half where this approach drops off.
However, while the twists and turns in My Oni Girl are relatively few, and the story never plumbs any major depths, the narrative is fine and perfectly serviceable. The film comes from a good, well-meaning place, and there’s a lot to like irrespective of any story shortcomings.
Thanks to some impressive visuals and strong direction, My Oni Girl is a solid picture. The film is engaging, with affable lead characters, and it is packed with plenty of heart.
My Oni Girl is the sort of thing which is perfect for a wet summer afternoon, when the kids are off school and they need entertaining. So, pop it on your watchlist in preparation for a dismal day and enjoy!
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