On Your Mark

The song was ok, nothing more. But the animation is great, Its interesting to see a storyline produced without a word said... the story even manages to have some twists to it, some humor and beautifull images (and angels, love angels...), dispite the meager song, I feel happy whenever I see this small piece. See it, its definatley worth 6 minutes of your time! Average 8.7(10)

I didn't know it when I sat to watch it but this is essentially a music video since it was made to go under an existing song as opposed to the other way round. I came to it knowing nothing other than that it was a short film from Hayao Miyazaki and as such I was expecting something more in line with the films he has made. In way this is the case but there is a lot more "traditional" anime action in here than I expected. The plot sees a police raid on some sort of religious cult where they rescue a girl with wings like an angel. The angel is rescued into custody and two of the police men decide to then rescue her from that so she can be free.

This is about the extent of the plot and it has a few moments where it jumps backwards and plays it out again in a different way, but the story is less important than the delivery (again, this is a music video more than a film). Visually the film is impressive because of the detail and the vision. So many visions of the future from 20 years ago or so now look dated and silly but not here, it still looks fantastic in the color and the imagination behind it. The film very much relies on the visuals and the movement but there is lots going on here and on a couple of viewings I did find myself focusing on different aspects of it. It wasn't the music any of these times though, since I personally didn't care for this but the animation was full of greatness whether it was in the small detail of the vastness of the city.

It is more of a violent anime than casual Miyazaki viewers such as myself may expect, but it is visually arresting and has enough going on to warrant several viewings – although the music may start to wear on you after them.

Miyazaki is considered one of the greats of Japanese animation for a reason. This film is a great short piece set to the song "On Your Mark" by Chage and Aska. The only problems with it is that it's a bit confusing due to its two endings. Repeat viewings are recommended.

If you Like Hayao Miyizaki's work it's hard not to like this music video. While the music may not be to everyone's tastes I can't say I wasn't enjoying it, plus it would be hard to enjoy on your mark without its soundtrack.

What is most stunning about On Your Mark is Miyizaki's converging of many of his traits and themes. It's great to see Imagery from Miyizaki's Long serialised 'Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind' Manga, Even though that appeared as a film in 1985, we get to see much of what wasn't in the film but was in the Manga. Also familiar are the two leads who aren't too far from his interpretation Of Lupin and Jigen from Miyizaki's Cinematic Debut 'The Castle of Cagliostro'. Present too are so may other touches, not least his depiction of the girl and his love of flight. What is new territory is how the future is envisioned, Many of Miyizaki's Films are set in the past, but On Your Mark is actually stylistically similar to other Anime that being a Blade Runner, Metropolis Dystopia, perhaps a set not too far in the future, whereas Miyizaki's only other future world in Nausicaa is far more sparse and Sombre.

Anyway, On You Mark is a truly wonderful and entertaining piece off work. It all seems too easy?

On Your Mark is a music video created by Miyazaki Hayao for a song by the popular duo Chage and Aska. It tells a story (of sorts) which is a little confusing, owing to how it does not follow a linear time-flow, and has no dialogue. However, the stunning visuals and amazing sound-effects enable the viewer (even if unfamiliar with Japanese) to create their own story. Definitely more entertaining if you are familiar with Miyazaki's work, as certain motifs (the face of the angel, flight, etc.) reappear from his earlier work.

I frequently show people unfamiliar with Japanese animation my copy of this video to change their opinion of what is possible in animation, which usually helps removed those negative pre-conceived notions people pick up from American animation. I have created a number of anime fans with this method.