雲のように風のように/Kumo no you ni, Kaze no you ni/ Like the Clouds, Like the Wind

Often mistaken for a Ghibli movie thanks to its character designs and charm, KumoKaze was in fact produced for TV by Studio Pierrot (who make the animated versions of many shounen classics, like Naruto and Hikaru no Go), and for a TV movie from 1990, it’s very kind on the eyes. The premise – a girl strives to become the Emperor’s head wife in 17th-century China amidst the turmoil of civil war – makes it seem the movie will be an epic, but in fact it is a rather gentle little gem, light and silly and fun.

True, the movie tries to do a little too much at once. It starts out very comic, endearing the childish and vulgar Ginga to us, plus introducing various memorable minor roles, from the mad old woman who guides girls into the palace to the ice-cool girl who just lies on her bed and smokes, but then towards the end brings in some rather overblown drama that doesn’t really sit well with the tone of the rest of the film. Also unconvincing is the sheer coincidence of the antagonists being people Ginga met on her travels. Suddenly what have been rather daft fight scenes are abruptly meant to be taken seriously, and we’re supposed to swallow that Ginga has become rather more adult and assertive without really seeing much in the way of character development. Still, with a cheery grin from the young Kiki-lookalike and a bit more of that fantastical but absorbing period detail, we can forgive these little issues.

Kumokaze isn’t particularly clever, nor especially gripping. Its vast palaces and gorgeous costumes look nice, though some jarring watercolour imitations, repeating backgrounds and economised fighting animations keep the standard definitely below contemporaneous Ghibli (though once again, this was a TV anime). In all, it was like its protagonist a loveable upstart, an underdog that wins affection by brazenness, daring and good humour. I can’t say that I really loved it, but I certainly enjoyed its simple charms and was left feeling very much like I felt after I had watched Majo no Takkyubin – warm and, yes indeed, slightly fuzzy.

(originally written 7.5.07)