Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror

Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror

Japanese release poster
Japanese ホッタラケの島 〜遥と魔法の鏡〜
Hepburn Hottarake no Shima: Haruka to Mahō no Kagami
Directed by Shinsuke Sato
Produced by Mitsuhisa Ishikawa
Michiru Ishikawa
Chihiro Kameyama
Yoshio Takada
Written by Hirotaka Adachi
Shinsuke Sato
Starring Haruka Ayase
Miyuki Sawashiro
Mitsuki Tanimura
Music by Tadashi Ueda
Cinematography Koji Tanaka
Edited by Tsuyoshi Imai
Production
company
Distributed by Toho
Release dates
  • August 22, 2009 (2009-08-22)
Running time
 100 minutes
Country Japan
Language Japanese

Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (ホッタラケの島 〜遥と魔法の鏡〜 Hottarake no Shima: Haruka to Mahō no Kagami) is a 2009 Japanese computer-animated film directed by Shinsuke Sato. It was produced in commemoration of Fuji Television's 50th anniversary. The film was nominated for the award for Excellent Animation of the Year at the 33rd Japan Academy Prize.[1]

Plot

After losing her mother at a young age, Haruka has treasured the hand mirror she had received from her. As she grew older, she forgot about the mirror and eventually lost it. One day, she decides to go to a local shrine and pray to Inari for the hand mirror to be returned to her. After a brief nap, she drops her house key under the steps, but when she retrieves them, a small fox-like creature, takes her key. She follows the creature into the woods, and comes across a small pool with one of the eggs offered at the shrine. She dips her hand into it but is sucked through the pool and lands in a cart with the creature.

The fox creature, named Teo, explains to Haruka that she is in the world of the neglected, made of forgotten things because his race cannot make things themselves. Haruka agrees to give him her keychain if he can help her find the mirror. With Haruka in disguise, the two board a tram cart to the main town on Oblivion Island. After asking several vendors, Haruka discovers that the mirror has magical powers, and it was kept by the Baron, the leader of the land who hovers in an airship, but that it was stolen. A group of bullies try to remove Haruka's mask, but Teo and Haruka escape.

At a theater area where they project the memories of neglected things. Haruka recognizes her stuffed animal named Cotton, who is upset that Haruka neglected him. When the bullies bust in with a large ostrich-like contraption, Haruka grabs Cotton and they escape. At Teo's place, Haruka learns Teo wants to build a real airplane. Cotton shares that the mirror was taken by a group of underground bandits called the Petitloss. While Teo goes to get water, he is captured and delivered to the Baron, who orders him to help Haruka find the mirror but bring it to the Baron, who will neglect his crime and will also give him a huge reward of stamp cards.

Haruka, Teo and Cotton head into the lair of the Petitloss. They soon find themselves attacked by Petitloss and a large Petitloss creature. Cotton removes the threads from the large reature and Haruka finds her mirror. Although they escape the underground area, the Baron arrives to seize the mirror and to abduct Haruka. Teo is left with a pile of stamp cards but he is upset about his choice to betray his friend.

The Baron tries to make Haruka swallow an Oblivion Drop in order to remove her memories. Teo tells the townsfolk that humans are actually good. He gives away his stamp cards, and the townsfolk build him a plane, which he flies. Cotton rallies the petit-loss to raid the airship, and Haruka breaks free. The Baron activates a bunch of robots using the power of the mirror to grab Haruka, but she falls off the airship, and hangs by a banner. Cotton attacks Baron but he rips Cotton in two and tosses it. Haruka dives after Cotton and falls, but Teo rescues her in the plane. Baron's airship attacks the plane. It falls onto a tunnel track but they reverse it in time to get out. They crash into the airship. Teo and Haruka climb the inside and the array of the other mirrors to try to get the hand mirror. The Baron tries to stop them, but Haruka grabs the mirror and it activates. Haruka finds herself inside the mirror which shows memories of her family life; she cries. The Baronchaes them out of the mirror but accidentally damages the airship causing all his mirrors to fly around. Teo snatches the mirror as the Baron falls and the airship crashes and is destroyed. The Baron is reduced to a mask-less creature and flees. Later, Teo sends off Haruka and Cotton through the portal, where she returns to the temple and calls her dad to meet him for dinner.

Voice cast

Character Japanese[2] English[3][4]
Haruka Haruka Ayase Christine Marie Cabanos
Teo Miyuki Sawashiro Cassandra Lee
Mother Naho Toda Julie Ann Taylor
Father Nao Omori David Roach[5]
Miho Mitsuki Tanimura Mio Tanaka[lower-alpha 1]
Baron Iemasa Kayumi Patrick Seitz
Cotton Tamaki Matsumoto Julie Maddalena
Picanta Yuji Ueda Mark V. McCollum
Vikki Yuko Kaida Tara Platt
Decargot Hidenari Ugaki Kyle Hebert
Elder Brother Soldier George C. Cole
Younger Brother Soldier Derek Stephen Prince
Researcher Xanthe Huynh
Puppeteer Wife Amanda C. Miller
Passenger Victor Sgroi
Additional Voices Erik Scott Kimerer, Erika Harlacher, Matthew Wolfson

Reception

The film was nominated for the 4th Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Animated Feature Film.[6] In 2010, the film won the Nippon Cinema Award at the Nippon Connection Film Festival. In 2013, it is one of the feature films of the Japanese Film festival organized by Golden Screen Cinemas in Malaysia.[7]

Home media

The Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror Blu-ray was released in the US on August 14, 2012 by FUNimation Entertainment. Both the Blu-ray and DVD releases of the film were released in Japan on February 26, 2010.

Notes

  1. ↑ The closing credits list Mio Tanaka as the English voice of Miho, but the cast announcement as reported by Anime News Network lists producer Maki Terashima-Furuta.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Eva 2.0, Summer Wars Win Japan Academy Awards". Anime News Network. December 22, 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  2. ↑ Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (DVD). Event occurs at Closing credits, Japanese cast.
  3. ↑ Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (DVD). Event occurs at Closing credits, English, Cast.
  4. 1 2 "Oblivion Island Film's English Dub to Premiere in NYC in December". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "The Official Site of Voice Over Artist, Keith Silverstein - Resume". keithsilverstein.com. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  6. ↑ "The Awards Nominated Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best Animated Feature Film". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  7. ↑ "Japanese Film Festival 2013 (Kuching) Launch". MY: GSC.
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