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Hiiragi Yatsuse is an anxious high school student residing in snowy Yamagata who suffers from an inability to say no, desperately seeking approval by fulfilling everyone's requests at the expense of his own desires. One chilly summer afternoon, while struggling under emotional exhaustion, Hiiragi crosses paths with Tsumugi, an energetic horned girl who says whatever she thinks without hesitation. Revealing herself as an oni from a hidden mountain realm, Tsumugi convinces Hiiragi to accompany her on a journey to find her lost mother. Traveling together through mountain shrines, Hiiragi learns the courageous power of embracing honest emotional feelings.
⚠ Background — may contain spoilers
Studio Colorido produced this enchanting 112-minute supernatural fantasy feature film, released globally via Netflix and in Japanese cinemas in May 2024 by Twin Engine. Directed by Tomotaka Shibayama, who co-directed Colorido's acclaimed feature *A Whisker Away*, the project featured character designs by Masafumi Yokota and music by Nami Kubota. Popular rock band ZUTOMAYO performed the energetic theme songs *Blues in the Closet* and *Truth in Lies*. The film was widely praised for its vibrant color palette, fluid magical animation, and relatable exploration of adolescent emotional repression and self-acceptance.
This one was difficult to place, star-wise. It's more emotionally accessible than Maboroshi (3 star show), but also more conventional than Penguin Highway (4 stars). I finally leaned toward 3, but nearly went 4 here.
