Garden of Words [Blu-ray]

Good physical edition of the great anime.

I bought this movie on the basis of comments I have seen about it on various anime forums, which all seemed favourable. Well, it is safe to say I was not disappointed!The first thing you notice is the stunning detail in the animation; it is super-lifelike, and looks gorgeous. At times it is hard to distinguish it from real 'live' footage, and things like the rain, and daily life scenes like the trains and the station, are breathtakingly realistic. In fact, only the characters themselves look like 'cartoons', and even they are beautifully drawn, with realistic shading, colouring and lighting effects; awesome - a visual feast!Coming to the story itself, the only down-side is that it is short, at about 45 minutes; I wish it had been full-length, say 90 minutes or more. It was touching, heartfelt, emotional, and made you feel for the characters. I loved every minute of it! The English dub is excellent, with many of the 'usual suspects', including Patrick Poole as male lead Takao, Maggie Flecknoe as Yukari Yukino, the female lead, plus Shelley Calene-Black, Brittney Karbowski, Hilary Haag, David Matranga, and Blake Shepard all putting in appearances. I won't summarise the story here, as the product description covers that; but it was totally excellent, and very moving.I strongly recommend this movie - it is a definite keeper!

The first time I saw this trailer I was eager to watch it. When the time came, I had no idea what I was going in to as I did not read the synopsis. I only knew it was going to be a short movie.From the first seconds of the movie the animation is top quality. Probably the best animation you have ever seen as in how much effort and time took to make a scene. The buildings, trees, look so realistic. I can understand if people don't really care much about the characters as you don't have much time to see them develop. But I was fine with the two main characters and even so I didn't care much about them but from when I met them I was eager to see how this film will involve with them. I can't say much because it will go to Spoiler territory. But if you have 46min to spare I highly recommend giving this a watch. Makoto Shinkai did a wonderful job on this movie. I have not seen all of his work but wouldnt mind now after seeing this and Children who chase lost voices.If you feel my written review didn't give much justice, please check out my video: ([...])

This is a review of the English sub-titled Blu-ray version.My husband and I really enjoy Japanese animé, and having worked our way through all of Studio Ghibli's films, we ventured out into wider waters. We thoroughly enjoyed Makoto Shinkai's sublime 'Five Centimeters Per Second', and his more recent (and equally good) 'Your Name', so we are now sampling his earlier works. 'Garden of Words' from 2014 is rather shorter, at only 45 minutes, but it is a serious work, that lingers in the mind. And if you also like Shinkai's other films, you will enjoy this.I have wrestled hard as to whether to give this film 4 or 5 Stars. As a visual feast, it is right up at the top of 5 Stars. The drawing/art work/animation is BREATHTAKINGLY beautiful. Shinkai is the master of foliage and blossom, water in all it's forms, and weather. Every scene in the park where most of the action takes place, is stunning. You just want to freeze-frame the film again and again, to take in the gorgeous detail. It is difficult at times to comprehend the fact that this is drawings not photos, except that real life could never be so beautiful.My reservation about the film is that the story is a little below par, and there is one scene towards the end, which we felt was not well realised. The story is far from unbelievable, but it is a slight strain, and in our view, the age gap needed to be somewhat less for complete credibility. That said, the characters are sad, likeable and sympathetically drawn, and there is a clever and slightly eerie sense, that you are eavesdropping on their souls.In the end, I have given 4 Stars (consider it 4½!), but this is a lovely little film, and if you are a fan of animé or of this highly talented Director, you shouldn't miss it.

It may just be a mediocre translation for the tile but there isn't THAT much dialogue...,ahem...,to speak of.However....,the whole animation is based around rainy days and sitting in the park shelter and just enjoying the weather.It concerens two strangers taking time off from what they're supposed to be doing.'Irresponsible', I hear you say.Well.you'd be right.....,sort of.Stick around to hear their reasons.That's what the film is about.It's like eavesdropping.One thing I did notice was the repeated use of the same piece of animation,particularly the tree dipping into the water at the gardens.It's a short film too,and I wanted more,of course.That's a mean critisism really,I just wanted to see more of the fantastic scenes that we know Makoto can create.If that's why YOU are interested,then it doesn't disappoint.There are some brilliant sunsets,showers and medative moments.One of my favourites is near the end of the film,when the relationship we see on the DVD cover,comes to....,well....,fruition,I 'spose.It has a painfull twist in the tail/tale though,so be warned !The extras on the DVD explain more and are definitely worth watching.Is it one to add to your collection ? It sure is ! No doubt about it.

Spellbound anime with incredible rain sequences, the mist of a hot drink, the rainbow coming through, the swaying trees, the detailed feel of realism, of the encounter of a blossoming young man who meets an older woman in the park on raining mornings when he skips school.Sketching feet and footwear, a shoemaker of the future and she is a mystery who drinks beer and eats chocolate to overcome her trauma, skipping work!A bond develops into love in the rainy season, but who is the woman? Highly recommended.

Garden of Words es una de las más hermosas piezas de anime. Makoto Shinkai hace una pieza mágica, llena de arte. Cada cuadro podría ser una obra maestra y la historia redondea perfecto la cinta. Para entendidos y no entendidos. Lo único malo es que no tiene subtítulos en español, pero si hablan inglés (o japonés), la disfrutarán muchísimo.

I bought this a while ago; and it wound up shelved until just tonight. My reaction upon watching it was "Why didn't I watch this sooner?" This short film is simply the most visually stunning and emotional that I have ever seen! Even my wife, the antithesis of the anime fan, was speechless. The visual impact is without equal - many of the landscape scenes are so lovingly created that it's an easy matter to mistake them for actual cinematography; the music is simple and unintrusive; yet impactful. The story isn't very complex, many of the questions raised have no resolution; and yet this doesn't detract from the overall emotion of the main story. While the storyline follows through the expected small climaxes, towards the final decisive moment, as can be expected, those last few scenes so grabbed my heart that I think I forgot to breathe, and must admit that I could feel the tears beginning to rise. My only slight complaint was that a few of the lines were so softly spoken that I had to rewind the disc and turn up the volume. Consequences of getting older rather than any fault with production. Do yourself a favour - add this film to your collection! A masterwork!

Nein, keine schwache Story! Sie ist schlicht, beschränkt sich auf das Wesentliche - aber sie ist voller Kraft, gleichermaßen feinfühlig und tiefblickend zugleich. Zusammen mit den phantastischen Bildern ein durch und durch poetisches Gesamtkunstwerk. Qualität vor Quantität. Erwachsen!„Garden of Words“ lässt keinen weiteren Handlungsstrang zu – der wäre fehl am Platz. (Anm.: Mehr Menge an Film fürs Geld ist garnicht wirklich notwendig!)Wir nehmen etwa eine dreiviertel Stunde teil an den Gedanken und einer entstehenden Sehnsucht der beiden ungleichen Protagonisten. Was sie bewegt, und wie der jeweils Eine immer mehr Teil im Leben des Anderen wird. Während die Motivation vom Oberschüler Takao gleich von Anfang an bekannt wird, erschließt sich das ergangene Schicksal von Fräulein Yukari sowohl Takao als auch uns erst im Laufe der Geschichte.In gleichem Atemzug beobachten wir dabei im Wasser hängende Äste, Lichtspiele in den Blättern, oder aus den Regenrinnen verblasenden Starkregen. Glitzerndes Sonnenlicht, frühabendliche lange Schatten und Regen wechseln sich ab. Das hektisches Stadt- und Bahnsteigleben wirkt so realistisch und plastisch, der Einsatz und die Perspektiven allerdings lassen es surrealistisch wirken. Die wunderschöne Darstellung des traumhaften „Shinjuku Gyoen“-Park in Tokio erinnert trotz anderem Zeichenstil an die Lichteffekte der Impressionisten. In selbigen Garten möchte man als Zuseher auch unentwegt entfliehen. Die dezente Filmmusik setzt in den richtigen Momenten aus, um den Naturgeräuschen ihre Stimmung zu lassen.Von den im Film vorkommenden Real-Plätzen finden man im Internet viele Photo vs. Szenenbild-Vergleiche, die einen mit offenem Mund stehen lassen, denn man muss schon genauer hinschauen, um Photo vom gemalten Szenenbild zu unterscheiden.An der Übersetzung und den ansonsten glaubwürdigen Synchronstimmen mag es vielleicht liegen, dass mir persönlich die Schlussszene nicht so gut gefällt, wie der Rest des Gesamtkunstwerks, tut dem Ganzen aber keinen Abbruch. Yukaris japanische Synchronstimme, Kana Hanazawa, wird wohl auch nicht ohne weiteres zu kopieren sein. Wunderschöner, kraftvoller Film.

I must say, while I expected something great out of Makoto Shinkai, I did not expect what was given to me in the form of The Garden of Words.Guilty Count #1: VISUALSTo this date, I have never, NEVER, seen an animated film with such flawlessness in the visuals. Reflections in windows or off the water were spectacular. There are some very beautiful scenes that definitely contribute positively to the story. I dare anyone to count the number of definable, individual leaves present on a single video still of the garden.Guilty Count #2: STORY/PACINGShinkai has found his niche in storytelling. He does a wonderful job with his focus on human emotions and relationship interactions. In my opinion, this is the FIRST time he has gotten the perfect pacing on a story. He has made many worthy attempts in the past, but this one takes the cake. Also, after the credits, he leaves you with enough to keep you from hanging endlessly off a cliff. I was very worried that would be the case, but I was pleasantly surprised with the end.Guilty Count #3: VOICE ACTINGI cannot believe the quality of the English voice acting in The Garden of Words. It is outstanding beyond my wildest imaginations. The raw emotion can be felt in some scenes; it is shocking, dramatic, and immediately gets your attention. Never have I ever seen such great quality in voice acting before.OVERALLI like all of Shinkais' works, so I may be biased. When it comes down to it though, this would have to be my absolute favorite by him. I cannot wait to see another feature length from him. The only downside is that The Garden of Words is 45 minutes. I think it is perfect for the pacing, but I cannot blame others for wanting more out of the story. For $9, I would definitely recommend purchasing it before it goes up. It is a worthy buy for Shinkai lovers.If you have never seen a Shinkai film before, I would recommend starting with The Place Promised In Our Early Days. If you start with The Garden of Words, I feel that it would set the bar far too high.

My introduction to Makoto Shinkai's works was through his wonderful film "Your Name" I had to see the rest of his work. I was intrigued by the picture of the rainy garden and Takao measuring Yukino's foot.One thing I really like from his work; his backgrounds. They are practically pictures. The rain drops hitting the pond look quite real. Just watching the garden shots and city shots are worth the time alone.I found the story moving. Takao is a new high school student who lives a lonely existence dreaming of making shoes. He is truly alone. His mother (seen once in a background scene) appears to be an unhappy alcoholic who spends much time away from home. His brother moves out. Not really fitting in with the "normal" expectations; he likes to cut morning classes on rainy days sit in an arbor and sketch shoe designs. How he becomes attracted to shoe design is both touching and sad. It's not clearly defined; it's what I interpreted. In the arbor is a young woman. Obviously older as she is drinking beer and eating chocolate. Never mind the fact it's morning. She is another lonely person and carries pain. Hidden but I perceived it. They start talking to each other and over time start an unusual relationship. He has a crush and over time I noticed the beer consumption drops and she starts eating better.You almost wish they could be together. But the age difference makes this impossible. There is a final show down which is bitter sweet.Do watch the scenes through the credits.The disk also includes interviews, the usual trailers, a story board example, and an English commentary.What to watch next?