A Heartfelt Dive into Dreams and Disabilities — Josee, The Tiger and The Fish (2020) Movie Review

 

Josee, The Tiger and The Fish (Original title: Joze to tora to sakana-tachi) | 2020 | 1h 39m
Genre: Anime / Coming-of-Age / Hand-Drawn Animation / Romantic Comedy / Slice of Life / Animation / Drama / Romance
Country: Japan
Director: Kôtarô Tamura | Writers: Seiko Tanabe, Sayaka Kuwamura
Cast: Kaya Kiyohara, Taishi Nakagawa, Matsutera Chiemi
IMDB: 7.6
My Rating: 8/10

Tsuneo works as a caretaker for Josee, a young woman with a disability; their relationship improves day by day and creates an emotional connection between them. However, the challenges of growing and pursuing dreams slightly shake their bond.

Warning:

Contains strong language and heavy themes.

 

Synopsis:

Tsuneo is a university student who also works part-time at a diving shop. One day, he accidentally helps Josee, who is speeding down the street in her wheelchair. Their encounter is unexpected and ends up changing both of their lives.

Josee’s grandmother offers Tsuneo a job as Josee’s caretaker. Since Tsuneo needs money to pursue his dream of studying in Mexico, he agrees to the job. However, it turns out to be more difficult than expected, especially with Josee’s cold and harsh attitude toward him.

Although their relationship starts off rocky, over time the distance between them begins to soften. Tsuneo brings Josee out into the outside world. Josee becomes genuinely happy with all the new experiences in her life. Then Tsuneo receives news of his opportunity to study in Mexico, but he seems unable to tell Josee—especially after the death of Josee’s grandmother.

Mai, a co-worker who likes Tsuneo, visits Josee and asks her to let Tsuneo go. Josee, unaware of this, is shocked. A fight erupts between Tsuneo and Josee. A tragic accident occurs, causing Tsuneo to suffer a serious injury, potentially affecting his ability to achieve his dream.

What will happen to the two of them?

 

Review:

Josee, The Tiger and The Fish is a film adapted from a short story of the same title by Seiko Tanabe. The story was also adapted into a film in 2003, but not in animated form. Compared to that version, we can find differences in the plot, so we won’t be comparing the two here.

The storyline is quite interesting. Both main characters have big dreams they want to achieve. However, both face their own obstacles in doing so. This is presented very well and logically, making the story believable.

The film begins by introducing the characters. Tsuneo is portrayed as someone who loves fish; his character is well-developed with consistency in his education, work, and hobbies. On the other hand, Josee is depicted as a character with limitations that force her to rely on others. Yet, she is also shown to be creative and has a strong desire to explore the world freely.

After the character introductions, their meeting is depicted in a fairly natural way. Although, in real life, an incident where Josee crashes into Tsuneo at high speed would definitely injure him—haha, at least there would be some pain!

Both characters' strengths and weaknesses are portrayed quite well. Supporting characters important to the story are also introduced effectively, creating strong connections among them all.

The conflict doesn't just come from external sources, but also from within each character. Starting with Josee's grandmother, who is overly protective to shield Josee from the harshness of the world. Josee feels trapped and can only express herself through her drawings. Meanwhile, Tsuneo is racing toward his dream, but becomes slightly distracted and shaken by his feelings for Josee—along with other internal conflicts.

External conflicts also arise, such as the co-worker who has feelings for Tsuneo, Tsuneo’s accident, and the death of Josee’s grandmother. All of this creates a unique tension throughout the story.

The story ends very well. Each character's development is clearly visible. The resolution of misunderstandings and personal conflicts is executed excellently, giving a sense of satisfaction while watching. Make sure to watch until after the credits, as the true ending is revealed there.

The animation quality is very good and smooth. Movements aren’t stiff. Voice synchronization with facial expressions is well done. Each color composition and scene helps build a variety of vibes.

The voice actors do an excellent job, conveying emotion through appropriate intonation. The voice choices also match each character’s image. Music and sound effects also play a vital role. These elements are used effectively to enhance the mood of each scene. Overall, everything forms a perfect harmony.

This film is touching, romantic, and never boring. It’s perfect for fans of this genre.

 

Memorable Scene:

Tsuneo loses motivation to pursue his dream. Josee looks for a way to bring it back. She decides to show her support by creating an illustrated story using metaphors from their lives. Tsuneo watches as Josee bravely overcomes her fear to present the story in public—especially for him.

 

Memorable Quote:

"How scary it is to reach for something I want."

 

Ending:

Happy Ending

 

Recommendation:

Worth to Watch

 

(Aluna)