MAGIC CANDIES
World premiering at NYICFF this short film from TOEI Animation is based up upon Heena Baek‘s picture book, The film tells the story of a young lonely boy who loves marbles. Buying a cool bag of them he finds they are actually candy, magic candy. Each candy will give him the ability to speak to or hear something hidden. First his couch talks to him, then his dog… and then… well that would be telling.
Photo realistic backgrounds are mixed with a stylized animation in a little film that may have you tearing up. This is a lovely tale that reals the connections we have to each other, even if they aren’t readily apparent. I smiled and laughed… and teared up.
The screening was attended by a lot of people connected to the film including director Daisuke Nishio and author Heena Baek who wrote the book. The Q&A was a joyous event and the kids asked some good questions (see it here - though I bounced my camera, again, so it's better as radio).
They also brought along a lot of goodies, bags, paper hats and other things for the kids. They even had cut outs that the kids could use to enhance photos of themselves on the red carpet.
It was, as most NYICFF special events are, truly special
KLUTZY WITCH
Hour long tale of the daughter of a white witch who is a bit of a klutz. She ends up a pawn in the plans of a banished dark witch who wants to escape her imprisonment and get revenge on those who locked her away.
This is an hour long short feature should have been turned into a series. While the film covers a lot of familiar territory (no doubt the result of it’s short length) there is enough here that it’s clear this could have been expanded. While what here is really good, I would have loved to see more with all of the characters. Back stories are hinted at that would make for fantastic little films/episodes. That is not a knock at the film, rather an explanation that this film is so rich material you’ll want to revisit.
If there is any real flaw it’s that the short run time causes a bit of friction in the telling between the klutziness of the early part of our heroines tale and the serious of the second. Things don’t blend as well as they would have in a longer telling.
Regardless this was a delight and I would happily line up for a sequel.
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