Night Is Short, Walk on Girl (2017)

Night Is Short, Walk on Girl: Directed by Masaaki Yuasa. With Gen Hoshino, Kana Hanazawa, Hiroshi Kamiya, Ryûji Akiyama. In this comedy about one epic night in Kyoto, a college sophomore goes on a series of surreal encounters with the local nightlife, all the while unaware of the romantic longings of her classmate Senpai.

“A good series leaves you feeling as satisfied as feeling empty, but it can be quite hard to let go of a cast or atmosphere that has become intimate to you. Rarely did an anime draw me in a much as the staggeringly good u0026quot;The Tatami Galaxy,u0026quot; and leaving its colourful universe left me slightly devastated.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eImagine what a delight it was to discover Masaaki Yuaka had made another trip to Tomihiko Morimiu0026#39;s campus universe in u0026quot;Night Is Short, Walk On Girl.u0026quot; Although it does not match its predecessoru0026#39;s existential depth (indeed, doesnu0026#39;t aspire to), it is a mostly docile and visually stunning nocturne, and a delightful return to a beloved universe.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story takes place during the span of one seemingly endless night, during which Kohai (junior), a female university student with an unquenchable thirst for alcohol, is shadowed by Senpai (senior), who is determined to confess his love to her. As she travels from bar to bar, Kohaiu0026#39;s open mind and inextinguishable optimism gladden a revue of colourful characters, among whom collectors of erotica, a depressed crime boss, a freshly married man and his bachelor party, a book market ghost, a guerrilla theatre, and the idiosyncratic Higuchi and Hanuki (well known to u0026quot;Tatami Galaxyu0026quot; fans.)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI must admit that I am a sucker for night-time scenes, but so would anyone watching this film be. How the warm light comfortably glows behind Yuakiu0026#39;s vibrant colours, set against the cool and mysterious dark of the night is simply irresistible. The animation, design and editing are, as usual, outstanding.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis luscious style compliments the filmu0026#39;s thematic subtext. The nightu0026#39;s unnatural length emphasises the delirious enjoyment and sorrow the characters experience, as well as the unresolvedness of Senpaiu0026#39;s quest. There is a clever increase in intensity and, well, weirdness as time goes on and people become more drunk and entangled in their plots and desires. A good comparison would be the diner scene from Tatiu0026#39;s u0026quot;PlayTime,u0026quot; although that filmu0026#39;s virtuosity remains unmatched.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis steady escalation keeps everything moving nicely, but becomes a detractor during the filmu0026#39;s final third, which takes place at a night-time school festival. Many elements that have been meticulously set-up come together, as in u0026quot;The Tatami Galaxy,u0026quot; but not always as smoothly. After the festival, the town is threatened by an illness and a hurricane that appear to be a manifestation of conditions that I found very hard to follow, and events get a sort of race-against-the-clock vibe that feels out of place.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAmongst this extra-personal conflict, the climax actually takes place in Senpaiu0026#39;s head, where a battle ensues between what seem to be his superego and id. This is visually interesting, but overall unsatisfactory. With Yuakiu0026#39;s typical quick editing and Morimiu0026#39;s dense exposition, the plot becomes convoluted, and the overstated symbolism feels at odds with the first halfu0026#39;s gentle meandering.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNevertheless, when I think back to u0026quot;Night Is Short, Walk On Girl,u0026quot; it is this first half I remember best, and very fondly so. Despite its somewhat disappointing conclusion, the film is a largely carefree ode to the night, to being young, to alcohol and to the free spirit. More than that, it is a magical return to a world I could not let go off, and a companion piece that deserves to be treasured.”