FILM
— PENGUIN HIGHWAY | mOCKINGBIRD cINEMA, GIBB STREET, DIGBETH, B9 4AA | Rated PG | SUNDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER | 11:30
Penguin Highway
“It might be difficult for us to figure out everything ourselves.”
Based on the hit book by Tomihiko Morimi (The Tatami Galaxy, Night is Short Walk on Girl), winner of the Nihon SF Taisho Award. The film istelf is no slouch with wins at both the Fantasia International Film Festival, and the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival.
Penguins suddenly appear in the town with no explanation. Aoyama finds that the penguin species is known to follow a singular path known as the “Penguin Highway,” which leads to the woods. Aoyama is determined to find out more, and he joins his new crush in researching the penguins.
Why should you watch Penguin Highway?
Words: Vivienne Parish
Novel, Manga & Anime
Penguin Highway is based on the novel by Tomihiko Morimi which was released in May 2010. It was later adapted as a successful manga series, serialised between March 2018 and February 2019
The big screen version, directed by Hiroyasu Ishida making his feature film debut, premiered at the Montreal Film Festival in July 2018 and later on that year, had its UK premiere at the Scotland Loves Anime festival.
The plot centres around a fourth grader student, Aoyama. In the town he lives, penguins mysteriously appear and then disappear, following a single path called Penguin Highway into the woods. Being a keen learner of all things scientific and recording what he learns everyday in his journal, Aoyama starts to investigate this phenomenon but he is having a hard time at school, being the target of bully Uchida.
Penguins, Everywhere!
Ayoama is friends with “The Lady” who works in the local dental clinic and one day, when Ayoama sees The Lady throw a soda can in the air and it miraculously turns into a penguin. What is going on? Why does “The Lady” have powers?
This all sounds very far-fetched but it is fantasy and there are cute penguins in it (having seen the press stills), so it looks family friendly. I suspect there is a further element in that seeing it from the POV of Aoyama and his innocent curiosity in the world he lives and wanting to find out more. In an age where if we want to find out about anything, it’s just a click away on a phone or tablet.
We have somehow lost a part of that childhood innocence where your curiosity takes you into looking into things on a deeper level and the joy and happiness felt that comes with it. It just doesn’t come across as a big of a deal when only have to look it up on the internet.
links
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