Liz et l'oiseau bleu

Starting to watch this movie I had little idea of it being a spinoff of the vast world built by the anime show "Hibike! Euphonium" which I didn't know at this point. Although its animation style, pace and overall atmosphere is rather different I'm still grateful that it introduced me to this beautiful world.

Contrary to the show this movie is spun off from (or the 3rd corresponding movie that it somehow runs parallel to), "Liz and the blue bird" has an entirely differnt take on the overall recurring theme of the fleeting time of youth and friendship you build in your high school years. This is not only visible in the obiously different artstyle. The movie's rhythm is litteraly set by the music score. Its dynamics are being picked up by the wonderfully fleshed out characters of Mizore and Nozomi, and the perspective of their future relationship after they inevitably have to part ways. The fantastic B-plot explains the setting of the composition and reflects the development between Mizore and Nozomi, who slowly begin to realize the true meaning of the fairy tale.

The music is wonderful, the voiceover cast did a great job transporting the emotions and the overall melancholic ambience throughout this movie is oddly captivating. The fact that it opened the door to the intricate universe of "Hibike! Euphonium" which I probably would not have touched without having seen "Liz and the blue bird" with plenty of interconnections make it easy for me to immerse in this beautiful sea of music and emotions. And I love it!

A sweet tale about the deep friendship between two very different teens who musically complement each other. It's a visual masterpiece based on aquarelle-like paints. An observation rare enough to be noted: I have often felt that the French subtitles pollute certain breathtaking scenes. Knowing that I do not speak Japanese at all, they are nevertheless necessary. As a synthesis: I loved it!

Summary

Mizore Yoroizuka and Nozomi Kasaki are a pair of best friends in their final year of high school. They're both obsessed with the school's brass band club. With Mizore on the oboe and Nozomi on the flute, they spend their days in happiness, until the club begins to practice songs inspired by the fairy tale Liz und ein Blauer Vogel - "Liz and the Blue Bird". Immersed in this story, Mizore and Nozomi begin to realize that there may be no such thing as being together forever.

I find the plot of the film very good and In do like how this film is related back to the book Liz and the blue bird. It is especially beautiful how most of this movie is about music and friendship.

Animation and art style wise it is very good which include background and character models mainly the cute and beautiful girls.

This movie is good overall which any age can enjoy although there is a bit of mild language in the movie but not much.

An extremely special film that displays Naoko Yamada's perfection of her craft. In concept and in setting, it is a remarkably small film. The film takes place almost entirely within a few rooms of a school (outside of the fantasy B plot) and is about a singular thing: the strained friendship between two people. Despite how seemingly bare-bones that is, it's a dense and carefully crafted film that never disappoints.

The soundtrack is phenomenal. Kensuke Ushio is a true gem in the medium and I hope he continues to collaborate with Yamada. The gentleness of the songs fits perfectly with the tone of the film and the addition of diagetic sounds of a school into the songs themselves is brilliant.

Credit of course must also be given to veteran and long-time collaborator to Yamada, Yoshida Reiko, who wrote the film. The two are an unmatched pair.

Liz and the blue bird is so impressionistic, with a sense of adjourning, but fully indicate everything that is needed to be understand - intimately - without a need to say anything.