One struggle that every anime fan knows is how it’s basically impossible to explain what’s happening without sounding completely incoherent.
With Birthday Wonderland (also known as The Wonderland), which Fantasia 2019 screened this month, that struggle is amplified by the fact that the story is going in about a million different directions at once.
The plus side is a film that has everything: adventure, mystery, a “chosen one” prophecy, slice of life moments, a hot rod for some reason, alchemy, gorgeous landscapes, a love interest with a rat tail, steampunk elements, dramatic sandstorms, and a giant sheep army.
The downside is that the story suffers from not having a clear direction.
That being said, there’s still plenty of reasons to watch: stunning animation that blends together both traditional 2D methods with tasteful CGI, a thrilling soundtrack that gets your heart pumping at all the right times, and familiar anime tropes that never fail to make you smile.
Additionally, if you’re the type of nerd who knows *a little* Japanese, the subtitled version is a perfect chance to passively enhance your language skills, as the conversations tend toward the simpler side.
The plot is basically a blend of Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Fern Gully, and literally any anime where “the chosen one” is a young girl with a magical amulet.
When a “mirror world” is losing its color due to a water crisis, famous alchemist Hippocrates recruits Akane, a young girl who he believes to be “The Goddess of the Green Wind” to help him save his home. Joined by Hippocrates’ assistant, and Akane’s mother’s curiosity-shop owning friend, Chii, the group travels to a parallel dimension where the rapid industrialization following the invention of the steam train never took place.
A somewhat familiar storyline attempts to differentiate itself by blending together pastoral countryside landscapes, gritty industrial centers, medieval markets, and a talking version of Akane’s pet cat, Hippocrates being turned into a fly for a while, and a Kylo Ren-esque villain with a surprising motivation.
Chii, much to Akane’s annoyance, provides some comic relief with her casual attitude and constant haggling, but the movie strongly avoids from risque situations, making this a solid choice for a younger audience.
In the end, we’re treated to fan favorite resolutions, such as “the power was in you all along!” and a gift to remind Akane of her fantastic adventure.
While Birthday Wonderland is a bit all-over-the-place, it’s still an enjoyable watch for all ages.
And who knows? In a few years, we may be celebrating its birthday as well.
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