Mon oni à moi

It's a beautiful animation, but personally I found it limp and empty. Can be a good choice for children's maybe, but don't watch it to have a good time or good thinking.

I was really bored, there were terrible lengths and poorly managed pacing for my taste. There's some unexplained mysteries, normaly I don't like stories that leave mysteries open and without explanation, but they were so little captivating that I didn't even tried to think about them.

I nosedived several times and sped through the end... Nothing special about it, it left me with a kind of time lost feeling.

Probably not my style.

It is plain. It is shallow and uninspiring. There is nothing unique in this movie, nothing that could really catch your attention and stay with you for a long while. It is almost formulaic. You won't see anything that can surprise you here, and there are maybe just a couple of shots that may potentially be exciting, but that's it.

Even one of the main cornerstones of the premise of the movie, Oni hiding for some reason, starts to fall apart quite early, falls apart even more once the "Hidden Village" is visited, and completely crumbles, with a single comment in the very end of the movie.

Yes, animation is good here, the art style is good, too, even though kind of boring, but it means nothing is story is not good. Don't get me wrong, it may be quite ok for children, but for me, who saw a lot of other movies and shows with similar idea, it's just boring. And it feels like, writers did not bother to even think through the world they are describing.

Directed by Tomotaka Shibayama, "My Oni Girl" is a 2024 Japanese animated film that aims to merge fantasy with a coming-of-age story. However, despite its intriguing concept, the film ultimately falls short due to a story that feels underdeveloped and misses its mark.

The animation is impressive, and the Oni girl, with her distinctive features and playful charm, initially draws viewers in. Yet, as the plot progresses, it becomes clear that the storyline lacks the necessary depth and clarity. The narrative wanders aimlessly without a solid focus.

While the fantasy aspects could have enriched the characters and themes, they are introduced but not fully explored. Important plot developments seem rushed or insufficiently examined, which diminishes the emotional impact.

Although the protagonist's inner conflicts are suggested, they are not thoroughly explored, leading to a disconnect in their character growth. The dynamics between characters, especially between Hiragi and the Oni girl, lack the richness needed to make their exchanges truly impactful.

Fans of animated films might appreciate the visuals, but those looking for a strong narrative may find themselves disappointed.

Although all the characters are written fine, I do have an issue with Tsumugi. She's not badly written but can act stubbornly stupid at times. She does not seem to know what she wants. Kind of person who will ask for your help one minute, but then later tell you to get away, she doesn't need your help. She is a very cliche "I need to do this myself" sort of character. At the same time, it makes absolutely no sense, as what is going on really does have an impact on others, and this is not all about her. It's a character that thinks she's being brave but is truly being selfish.

Another disappointment is the onis themselves; they did not carry anything interesting but their horns, no difference in culture or language, they even wear the same clothes as humans, yet live away from them just because. This is pretty much like a Studio Ghibli movie, kinda like Spirited Away, minus the magic. The animation does all right, but nothing visually spectacular here. And it lacks that interesting relationship between the main characters that you get in a Ghibli film. Sometimes the story feels like it doesn't make a lick of sense, and sometimes it feels like something's happening simply because. That being said, the story wasn't written in an interesting enough manner where you really cared about the stakes by the end.

"My Oni Girl" plays with fire, in it utilizes a lot of story tropes that drive me crazy in less talented hands. I typically hate stories where misunderstandings lead to people running away. I hate vague world building with unclear consequences. And I hate when stories take an extreme tonal shift part way through the story. But, in this film, these things didn't bother me as much. The secret to that success comes down to the likability of our main characters.

The animation and voice acting are both really good. I want to give a special shoutout to Victoria Washington who plays Tsumugi in the English Dub, she does a great job conveying all the emotions this character goes on.

The first half of the movie is almost formatted like it could be episodes in an anime series. The two leads come across various characters on their adventure and help them out in some way. This isn't a format I typically enjoy. But in this one we get to see how kind and thoughtful our main character Hiigari is. Hiigari is just the nicest guy, the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back.

The worldbuilding might be vague, but the audience is given just enough information to keep things grounded yet mysterious.

The movie takes a drastic turn in tone about halfway through. Always refreshing when a movie keeps you on your toes.

Much like the Tsumugi, the movie might be a little demon, but it so cute and likable I can't help but enjoy it.