Children of the Sea

  • 112'
  • Japan
  • 2019

Alienated from her direct surroundings, young teenager Ruka has always felt a connection to the sea. One sunny day at the aquarium where her father works, she meets two boys who were raised by manatees, Umi and Sora, and immediately clicks with them. While her summer holiday is unexpectedly transformed into a magical adventure occasioned by new friendships, strange things start happening in the ocean: whales appear in New York, animals disappear from the aquarium and a meteorite impact attracts all sea life.

Following the mind-boggling Mind Game, Genius Party and Tekkonkinkreet, Japanese Studio 4°C returns with a coming-of-age story full of imaginative twists, in which today's climate crisis plays a major role. As always, the animation studio makes the utmost use of its resources, creating the most beautiful, experimental, colourful, Kubrick-esque images. Children of the Sea could well be the most stunning, enchanting animated film of the year.

Director
Watanabe Ayumu
Country of production
Japan
Year
2019
Festival Edition
IFFR 2020
Length
112'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Kaiju no kodomo
Language
Japanese
Producer
Tanaka Eiko
Production Company
STUDIO4℃
Sales
STUDIO4℃
Screenplay
Daisuke Igarashi
Music
Hisaishi Joe
Cast
voices of: Ishibashi Hiiro, Uragami Seishu, Ashida Mana, Morisaki Win, Inagaki Goro, Aoi Yu, Watanabe Toru
Director
Watanabe Ayumu
Country of production
Japan
Year
2019
Festival Edition
IFFR 2020
Length
112'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Kaiju no kodomo
Language
Japanese
Producer
Tanaka Eiko
Production Company
STUDIO4℃
Sales
STUDIO4℃
Screenplay
Daisuke Igarashi
Music
Hisaishi Joe
Cast
voices of: Ishibashi Hiiro, Uragami Seishu, Ashida Mana, Morisaki Win, Inagaki Goro, Aoi Yu, Watanabe Toru