Miss Hokusai

Being one of Asia’s most famous artists, most people will have seen the works of Japanese master Katsushika Hokusai. His woodblock print of a massive wave about to swallow a fishing boat with Mount Fuji in the background is one of Japans most famous pieces of art history. He is also well known for his erotic art, not to forget his massive 180m² painting that unfortunately was destroyed in 1945. His daughter O-Ei, however, is not known to most people. For many years she was his assistant and apprentice. She is also thought to be the real artist behind many of the works attributed to her father. Among these are several versions of his most famous motives.

Now, it may sound like Miss Hokusai is an animated lesson in art history. Which it to a certain degree is. But an interest in art is in no way required to appreciate the film. More than anything, this is the story of a young woman living in the shadow of her brilliant, but unstable father. Throughout art history she is barely noticeable, but in Keiichi Haras beautiful animated film she becomes a real person with dreams and hopes, just like everyone else.

Miss Hokusai is based on the manga Sarusuberi. The manga is in turn based on historical sources from the early 1800s. Most impressively is perhaps the many beautiful background paintings of the city Edo in the period before it changed its name to Tokyo. Miss Hokusai doesn't have any pocket monsters or nature spirits. But it has great characters and a beautiful story. When the production also holds the high level of quality that we are used to from Production I.G, this is a film for everyone that enjoys animation, drama, art and great films.

Keiichi Hara (b. 1959) has spent his whole career working in Japanese animation. He has directed a long line of films and series, amongst others Doraemon, Crayon Shin-chan and Esper Mami. In later year he has also directed independent films. Both Summer Days with Coo (2007) and Colorful (2013) has won a long line of awards in festivals all over the world.