“Would you know the color “sky blue” if you had never seen the sky in your life?”



Originally titled “Wonderful Days”, Sky Blue is the English-language version of a big budget Korean Anime film which utilizes a fairly unique fusion of 2D cel animation and immersive 3D CGI backgrounds to create one of the most visually stunning pieces of animation out there. Taking more then seven years to complete and employing hundreds of Korea’s leading animation artists and technicians, the film has been making the rounds and turning heads at Film Festivals all across the globe. With it’s recent premiere at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, Sky Blue will land in theaters across the U.S. on February 18th. After catching an advanced screener of the movie, all I can say is “wow”. If this is the future of anime, then here’s a salute to the new world order.

At it’s core Sky Blue is your typical love story set against imposing odds. However, wrapped around this core is a compelling action/adventure movie with incredible visual effects. As the story begins it is now the year 2140 and the earth has undergone a major planet-wide catastrophe due to our exploitation of the environment. Hey all those public service announcements you see on TV about saving the environment aren’t there to kill time between shows you know. As a result of this tragedy, the sun has been forever blocked from view by thick polluted clouds and mankind has been brought to brink of extinction due to the subsequent environmental results. To fight against the impending doom, a group of elite and technologically advanced people have created a massive “organic” city known as Ecoban. Like a living plant, Ecoban utilizes carbon compounds mined outside the city to generate useable energy for the city and it’s people to flourish.

Though the rest of the planet has been all but decimated, thousands of refugees from all corners of the globe have come to Ecoban seeking asylum and shelter from the harsh rains and extreme environmental conditions that is slowly killing off the Earth’s inhabitants. However, the corrupt leaders of Ecoban have barred their entrance into the city and forced them to settle in the surrounding wastelands. Now known as “Diggers”, these people are forced to mine the Wasteland for the carbonite needed to power Ecoban in exchange for limited resources and protection. Here we establish the classic equation in society of the Oppressors against the Oppressed. If history has taught us anything about these situations, rebellion is always the next logical outcome of these types of relationships.

At this point we’re introduced to Jay, a 19-year-old female trooper of Ecoban who guards the city against the incursions of outsiders. On a patrol in the Wasteland, Jay witnesses first hand how cruel and corrupt Ecoban’s leaders truly are after an industrial accident claims the lives of numerous Diggers. With a simple shrug, the leaders of Ecoban ignore this tragedy and continue to deal with the impending fall of Ecoban due to it’s already dwindling supply of fuel. During a raid of Ecoban’s control system, Jay encounters her long lost childhood sweetheart Shua, who just so happens to be leading a rebellion. With their unexpected reunion and the recent events she has witnessed, Jay must decide where her loyalties stand – duty to Ecoban, or her love for Shua and the rights of the Diggers.

Now I won’t spoil the movie for you by telling you what happens. But let me tell you the ride is definitely worth the price of admission. As I said before the visual production of this movie is outstanding. Using live action miniatures and atmospheric elements blended with traditional 2D character animations, it goes to show you that a tremendous amount of time and effort has gone into the production of this film. For those of you looking for some kind of comparison to the level of animation that can’t be shown by mere screenshots, think of it as Blue Submarine #6 on a much larger theatrical scale. You’ll definitely wish more of your favorite anime films would take on this level of detail.

Storywise Sky Blue is your typical love versus all adversity drama. At times it can drag on a bit. But overall the story does a very good job at keeping viewers intrigued and paying attention. The only problem I had was at times I wished the story would do a better job explaining the pasts of other key characters besides Shua, Jay, and Cade (The third piece of the love triangle and Shua’s main adversary). As the story progresses we’re introduced to a number of characters who all play key roles in the rebellion and oppression against the Diggers. Some of which are very important in shaping the film’s conclusion. Sure they may not be trivial to the drama between the main characters, but I still wanted to know more about them none the less. Especially Moe, this short weasely biker guy who rattles on about kicking ass in many different ways always made me laugh.

But with all the lovey-dovey stuff aside, the action in this movie is what drives it home for me. No you’re not going to see giant robots and magical battles here. But what you will see is some good old fashioned guns and martial arts combat set against realistic-looking backgrounds. Sprinkled with a bit of humor here and there to give the characters a sense of personality and not just your typical cookie-cut anime persona. Not to mention some pretty kick-ass futuristic motorcycles reminiscent from the ones seen in Akira. All done using 3D CGI with traditional 2D character animation blended in to give it that anime feel. Definitely a monumental production the likes of which I would love to see in more films from now on.

Another detail I have to mention is that this is not merely an English dub of a Korean film. From what I understand the filmmakers intended to create two distinct versions of the film. The original for the Korean market and the other an English-language version for international audiences. So the movie has been re-voiced and re-edited with additional music and scoring added. Check the English credits to see for yourself, but we’re talking voice recording credits ranging from “The Simpsons” to the English-language adaptation of the Miyazaki film “Princess Mononoke” here. Coupled with an incredible music score from Musical Director Il Wong, you’ll definitely appreciate the amount of work put into making this film sound as great as it looks.

Overall I sincerely recommend that everyone get out and see this film. Even those of you who think the Anime genre is limited to giant robots and big-eyed girls wearing skimpy costumes and undergoing the classic “magical transformation” sequences to give viewers that quick shot of nudity. Sky Blue is a film with a much more mature anime perspective bordering on reality rather then epic fantasy or massive galactical space wars. Though Anime films generally tend to lean toward the latter, it is refreshing to sit back and enjoy a little something different. Sky Blue opens in theaters across the U.S. on Feb 18th with Special engagements in certain cities showing right now. For more information and tickets to Advanced Screenings check the Official Web site at www.skybluethemovie.com .