Before MAPPA became widely known for mega hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and the final season of Attack on Titan, the studio quietly released one of the most emotional and visually stunning anime films of the decade. Titled In This Corner of the World, the movie premiered in 2016 and holds an impressive 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its critical acclaim and being the ninth highest rated anime film on the site, it has flown under the radar for most anime fans. Overshadowed by the massive success of films like Your Name and A Silent Voice that released the same year, this gem from MAPPA remains one of the most quietly powerful anime films ever made.
The story is based on the manga by Fumiyo Kono and follows Suzu Urano, a young woman who moves to a small port town near Hiroshima after marriage. Set during the time of World War II, the film does not simply depict the horrors of war. Instead, it offers an intimate and detailed portrayal of ordinary life under extraordinary circumstances. Through Suzu’s point of view, viewers witness the subtle beauty of everyday living in a time of crisis. What makes this even more powerful is that Suzu views the world through the eyes of an artist, illustrating her thoughts, pain, and hope through her drawings and inner creativity.
The tone of the film is a mixture of warmth, nostalgia, and quiet devastation. It invites viewers into Suzu’s life and allows them to feel her joys and heartbreaks without sensationalism. The depiction of war arrives gradually, and its weight is felt through the small ways it disrupts the rhythm of daily life. The film balances these elements with subtlety, allowing emotion to bloom naturally. Even in the face of loss, Suzu’s resilience and sense of wonder offer a moving reflection on the passage of time and the importance of family, love, and memory.
MAPPA’s accomplishment with this film goes beyond the storytelling. In This Corner of the World broke records by becoming the most crowdfunded independent anime film in Japan at the time. In 2019, it earned another milestone when an extended version titled This Corner and Other Corners of the World was released, making it the longest animated film ever made with a runtime of 168 minutes. This expanded cut deepened the story’s emotional scope and provided further insight into the lives of its characters.
For fans of Studio Ghibli, In This Corner of the World is a must watch. It captures the gentle everydayness of films like Only Yesterday while also carrying the emotional depth of Grave of the Fireflies, though never becoming too dark or overly sentimental. It finds a perfect middle ground, offering a viewing experience that is tender, deeply human, and quietly profound. Magical realism appears only subtly, used not for fantasy but to express Suzu’s imaginative view of the world around her. This approach brings a unique warmth and creative intimacy to the story.
Nine years after its release, In This Corner of the World remains MAPPA’s most underrated project. It is a film that deserves far more attention than it has received. With its powerful themes, exquisite animation, and emotional resonance, it stands as a timeless masterpiece. For anyone who appreciates heartfelt storytelling and meaningful cinema, this is a film that should not be missed.
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