Today’s quick review: Miss Hokusai. O-Ei (Anne Watanabe) is a young Japanese artist who lives with her father Tetsuzo (Yutaka Matsushige), a renowned painter who works under the name Hokusai. O-Ei spends her days practicing her craft, keeping Tetsuzo’s pupil Zenjiro (Gaku Hamada) out of trouble, and taking care of O-Nao (Shion Shimizu), her blind younger sister. But for all the good in O-Ei’s life, the one thing missing is her own happiness.
Miss Hokusai is a Japanese animated historical drama and comedy based on the lives of Katsushika Hokusai and his daughter O-Ei. Miss Hokusai is a poignant look at life in Japan’s Edo Period and its blooming art industry. The film’s tranquil tone and loving animation make it a pleasant watch, while its mature observations about life give it some dramatic weight. However, its unfocused, slice-of-life story will limit its appeal for some viewers.
Miss Hokusai is a character portrait centered around O-Ei and her father. O-Ei is a proud, responsible woman who strives for perfection in her craft. Tetsuzo is a talented painter but an inattentive father, a laid-back man who shows little overt affection for his daughters. The heart of the film is their skewed but functional relationship: father and daughter cover for one another’s weaknesses and live in a tense but stable symbiosis.
Miss Hokusai ends up having an odd tone, in part due to this relationship. Happiness always seems to be out of reach, but simple joys abound, whether it’s a walk with O-Nao or an adventure that Zenjiro stumbles into. From moment to moment, the tone tends to be light, buoyed by bright visuals and understated comedy. But the film’s themes run deeper than that, and its more dramatic moments reflect mature truths about life, family, and art.
Watch Miss Hokusai if you’re interested in a meandering experience that mixes beauty and melancholy. Its animation and writing aren’t quite enough to rank it among Japan’s best, but its quality of execution is enough to make it a rewarding watch for the right viewer. Skip it if you’re looking for a focused plot, a pure comedy, or a darker drama. For a much bleaker historical drama set in Japan, check out Grave of the Fireflies.
6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for pleasant art, vivid characters, and a beautiful tone.