Originally posted on Meteor Media.
Film critic Charlie Vogelsang takes a look at A Whisker Away, a new anime that makes all your feline dreams come true.
Who hasn’t ever dreamed of becoming a cat? A Whisker Away finally gives us that insight. It tells the story of a high school girl who is given a magical mask to transform into a cat and see her crush. It sounds creepy (and a little stalkerish) - until you are whisked away to this exciting anime world.
A Whisker Away follows Miyo as she struggles with her parents’ divorce and finds solace in a boy she likes at school. The only problem is that he doesn’t like her brazen personality, so she has to resort to other methods. Miyo meets a mysterious man who gives her a mask that allows her to transform into a cute kitty. It’s through this that she befriends her crush, but ultimately struggles with her identity and whether she wants to be human anymore.
If it wasn’t for the gorgeous animation and the whimsical supporting cast, then Whisker Away could’ve been a lot creepier. The plot itself is predictable, but that’s okay - while there are no surprising twists and the story is quite linear, it is still a lot of fun to watch.
Whisker Away is a clear case of showing rather than telling
The supporting cast and voice acting (in both Japanese and English dub) are magnificent and entirely believable. We feel the internal conflict of Hinode and the weight of his decisions, we feel the struggle from Miyo’s stepmother as she endlessly tries to fit in, and we feel pride in Miyo’s friend as she shows supports time and time again.
My favourite thing about Whisker Away is that it’s a clear case of showing rather than telling. It doesn't bombard you with tonnes of exposition through dialogue, but instead it cleverly shows it to you. It is never explicitly told that Hinode’s father is dead as it’s shown through the simple act of him paying respect at his shrine. Honestly, I was blown away by these subtle moments and it shows that it’s a smart and well thought-out film.
Whisker Away is a beautiful movie with breathtaking animation from Studio Colorido, but it’s not perfect. The biggest issue with the film is the main character, Miyo. In her cat form, she is adorable and relatable - she just wanted to be loved by someone. However, her human form is too forced and pushes the quirky girl ideal rather than highlighting her unnecessary behaviour. It avoids the shy girl trope but it could’ve been executed better.
Despite this issue, I thoroughly enjoyed A Whisker Away and I do think it’s one of the most entertaining animated flicks I’ve seen for a while. It is a wonderful animated film that’s full of surprisingly charming moments and will give you some sweet relief from the jaded world. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a great watch.
Score: 7/10.