Maboroshi 2023 Review: This year many interesting and exciting projects are being released by MAPPA. Let us see how this movie went below.
Maboroshi or Alice to Therese no Maboroshi Koujou (Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory), the recent anime film by Mari Okada and MAPPA has finally been released. The film was well-received in Japan when it premiered in September, and now it’s on Netflix for a global audience to enjoy.
If you’re not familiar with Mari Okada, she’s a prolific writer and director in the anime industry, known for her complex and emotionally charged stories. And MAPPA, of course, is one of the best studios in anime right now, with hit series like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen under their belt.
The voice cast for Maboroshi is a talented group of people, including, Misaki Kuno as Itsumi, Junya Enoki as Masamune Kikuiri, Reina Ueda as Mutsumi Sagami, etc.
Maboroshi 2023 Discussion
The story starts on a fateful night when a group of friends witness an explosion at the nearby factory. It was this event that dragged the town into chaos, causing a strange timeless freeze. The whole town remains trapped in a moment where no one grows up or dies. However, sometimes, they can just vanish into thin air when gobbled by smoke-creatures without leaving any trace.
Occasionally, this town also witnesses cracks in its sky, which then gets repaired by the same smoke-like creatures coming from the factory. Just like how this description does not really clear the picture about the anime, at least the first few minutes of the movie might not make sense to you as well. But once you start watching and understanding what is happening, you will get to know the beauty of Mari Okada’s storytelling.
Maboroshi is a beautiful movie that is very much inspired by Alice in Wonderland, as you can also understand from its original name, which is Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory. Here, the mysterious girl, Itsumi, is Alice, who gets trapped in this illusionary world and gets entangled with the fate of the town. But we do not see the story unfolding from the eyes of Alice but from the inhabitants of Wonderland or the small town who do not comprehend what is happening to them.
Even the Japanese name suits this movie because “Maboroshi” means Phantom, and the villagers are nothing but that. At first, it definitely was difficult for them to accept their reality, but slowly, they realize how nothing they are seeing or the life they are living, is real. Hence, those who become scared of their weird reality being demolished can only do one thing, and that is to try to exploit the anomaly, Itsumi, and see how they can preserve their small town.
Here, mystery and fantasy are blended perfectly to keep you guessing about what is happening and what might be the destiny of the characters. You also understand the frustration of the people of the town, especially Masamune and Mutsumi, who keep on living a never-changing, uneventful life until Itsumi comes into their lives.
The animation is also breathtaking, and MAPPA did not disappoint when it came to what they excel at. This, coupled with the grand yet hauntingly mesmerizing background music, helps you develop a deeper appreciation for the characters and genuinely empathize with their emotions.
But perhaps the most prominent theme of the movie is love, which is skillfully depicted through a myriad of diverse relationships. The confession of the main couple is one of the best I have seen in anime, and yes, it does make you feel giddy in a happy way.
The conclusion is definitely the most satisfying part, as almost every character gets what they want. While there may be a hint of bittersweetness, you will accept that this is the best outcome that could have happened.
Maboroshi 2023 Review: Verdict
Yes, this is a really good, refreshing, and beautifully done anime that transports you to a magical world and makes you peek at the lives of strangers trapped in time. You feel for them, root for them, and hope they get out of their never-ending misery.
All in all, it was an enjoyable viewing experience that lingers in your thoughts long after the credits roll.
Also Read: Bucchigiri Episode 1 Review: A Weirdly Interesting MAPPA Anime
Well… good start with the storm thing, but after that everything is calm and ordinary, kids on school doing school stuff, im at 35 minuttes in, so nothing has happen yet,
This frozen in time when or where is it?!? It should be like people and stuff hanging frozen in the air or sea, birds frozen, i hope it some disater stuff happening or il will be sleeping in for good (dead),
So far a boy is babystting a little girl thats looks like the girl from the anime: anohana, so i dont think this is for me, its pretty to watch but thats is so far all there us,
And god heaven 2 houers dragging out is to loong,
My score so far: 2.0 of 5, if you not a girl dont watch, if a girl and like daily stuff with not much scary thing but mostly sad stuff then watch it,
Near Two houers movie too long, where nothing happening for almost an houer,
And then something its happen its not much to look at, a loong draged daily drama stuff,
13+ of age for this one, i would say 7+ recomendet for girls only.