Anime as an art form is a unique combination of intricately woven animation and powerful storytelling. This is best exhibited in The Boy and the Beast (2015) directed by Mamoru Hosoda. The movie blends several genres, such as fantasy, martial-arts, and coming of age, focusing on the life journey of a wayward boy and a gruff beast who turns into his mentor. At its surface, it is a story revolving around the sense of self, acceptance, and the concept of families that we choose.
Exploring The Two Worlds
The film showcases dual worlds with human society set in Shibuya and the beast society existing in Jutengai. These spaces remain distinct, but once in a while, humans manage to infiltrate the territory of the beasts. At the center of the story is Ren, a rage-filled 9 year old boy who when fueled with anger and grief, abandons Shibuya and his estranged father who left him after his mother dies.
Ren relocates to Jutengai, a marvelous city populated by anthropomorphic creatures which is unlike anything he has seen. This part of the world is extremely colorful and filled with so much life, culture, and traditions, and is also home to fierce warriors who diligently maintain the strata of society. Kumatetsu, who is one of the two contestants to replace the current grand master, is unable to connect with anyone and therefore, has very little chances of becoming the grand master. Nevertheless, Kyuta, the name given to Ren by Kumatetsu, and Kumatetsu share a complicated yet deeply transformative relationship after Kumatetsu forces him to be his apprentice.
An Unmatched Master – Apprentice Relationship
Stepping away from his role as a mentor figure, Kumatetsu challenges Kyuta in a battle. His approach is indeed unconventional as instead of teaching him, he challenges him to a fight. To him teaching always takes the form of inhumanely violent sparing competitions where he yells at his students instead of giving them practical lessons. This comes of little surprise to Kyuta, who is vehemently disobedient, leading to intense confrontations and amusing gaffes. But ultimately, it helps them improve. In learning how to imitate Kumatetsu’s technique, Kyuta has found the first stage to developing his signature fighting style.
Such bonds are the emotional core of the movie and over time that distinction irreparably fades. Not only does Kyuta grow stronger physically, he also aids Kumatetsu in honing his skills and cultivating his social acuity. The transformation from the two as unwilling partners to an inseparable twosome is akin to a father-son relationship at once fierce, educational, and ultimately accepting.
The Tug Of War Between Two Selves
Over the years, Kuita starts to grapple with the question of what his place in Jutengai is. As a skilled warrior, his identity feels incomplete. By happenstance, he ends up where he started: the human world, where he used to be Ren. This time he encounters Kaede, a kind girl who tries to get him to accept formal schooling and other aspects of normal social life. Being pulled between these opposing forces, Kyuta finds himself grappling with the deeply rooted question of where does he belong.
This leads him to a question that many face in the journey of self acceptance – where do I belong? These opposing forces becomes one of the most poignant themes in the film: identity. Ren symbolizes the plight of those caught in two worlds, one impacted by culture, another by expectation or infact, simply a conflict of self. His story illustrates that the process of self-realization is accepting every part of oneself rather than choosing a singular identity.
The Antagonist as a Reflection of Inner Turmoil
The film also shows Ichirouhiko, another human raised in Jutengai. He hides his human origins unlike Kyuta and keeps his emotions repressed until darkness consumes him. In the words of Kumatetsu, ‘a human raised in Jutengai is nothing but a monster,’ and in his case, he indeed has shattered. Fueled with resentment takes Kyuta’s place in the show, and become the central antagonist of the movie symbolizing the struggle of identity rejection and abandonment.
The wreckage of Ichirouhiko signifies unhealed emotion. The battle with Kyuta is not just a physical struggle, it is one of self accepting the most traumatizing pieces of who he is. Or as Aretha Franklin put it ‘in order to be your best self you must fill you self with love.” It is through this destroyed reality that Kyuta fulfills his purpose, a blend of human intelligence and beastly strength.
A Poignant Finale: Inheritance Beyond Blood
The climax is electrifying, a beautiful mess of action and emotion. Kumatetsu makes his ultimate sacrifice, and in doing so, ensures the safety of both worlds. At this moment, he solidifies the father son bond. “Family is more than blood” he thought. Instead, it is everything built on shared life experiences and mutually providing unrelenting perserveance.
Kyuta’s self-discovery journey finally leads him to understand that he has the option to coexist in both worlds instead of solely embracing one. With the knowledge he acquired from Jutengai, he is now poised to return back to the human world.
Art and Emotion Hand in Hand
The Boy and the Beast is a pleasure for anyone willing to take a captivating ride. Director Mamoru Hosoda exceeds expectations yet again with his remarkable skill that lies in storytelling. The film’s themes are well supported by the animation, especially the deep colors of Shibuya’s urban setting or the lights of Jutengai. In the evenings, the characters of the film carry out the words in their conversations, making the audience feel the emotion in each of the scenes, The character development is also noteworthy.
In the end, the film illustrates the importance of relationships along with the concept of self acceptance in step towards change. Kyuta and Kumatetsu’s adventures and struggles encapsulate the process of defining family in more than just blood relations. The Beast and the Boy is not only a rather thrilling tale, but also a thoughtful exploration of how one strives to belong and find their purpose in life.
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