The New York International Children’s Film Festival is one of the many things that makes me happy I live in NYC. Truth be told I’d probably see all the films if I had the means. Normally, I’d make sure to see all the anime on the list but I just couldn’t bring myself to watch Welcome to the Space Show again, sorry! So instead we opted for some more international flare.

This year our sampling of the New York International Children’s Film Festival is truly an international experience. While there was an outstanding anime in the lineup, two-thirds of our selections were from non-Japanese animated features. We took in a French film as well as one from China. While a single film is hardly a full representation of the animated output of their respective countries it is still a fun thought experiment to compare and contrast them.

Time of Eve, while not new to me, was still a high priority. Not only did I love the ONA but I wanted to support the title in the hopes of seeing more from its creators or more specifically a continuation to Time of Eve itself. It also helped that the movie has an extra 15-minutes of footage. Time of Eve explores the relationship between human and robot when the lines start to blur. Titles that tackle this subject are about realizing your own humanity and acknowledging it around you, in Time of Eve we explore it through two teens, Rikuo and Masaki. The series is just as engaging a second time around with thoughtful amounts of drama, comedy, and questions. The additions to film are learning just a bit more about a couple of characters, but both of these additions just make you wish the series would go on to tells us their stories further. Like any true movie go-er should, watch through the credits as the stills actually tell you a new story and there is a scene after as well.

We went into the Time of Eve having seen a majority of the movie and knowing it was very good. If you are curious about the ONA series you can check out our review of it or watch it yourself on Crunchyroll. The question on our minds was what was added when they turned the series into a movie. It turns out they added a few new scenes which are mainly used to stitch the 6 episodes together while providing some major insights into the characters and world of the Time of Eve. The major benefit is the Ethics Committee is always being prominently mentioned from the beginning of the movie so they don’t move to the forefront only in the last episode like in the original. The extremely mysterious Setoro also gets a good deal more fleshing out while still retaining his enigmatic nature. They also make the origins of Nagi and the cafe a bit more obvious with a completely new epilogue during the credits. The movie itself is worth a watch for original fans of the show just for those revelations alone. While the movie does make a few things clearer it does introduce some new characters and questions and in doing so is practically begging for a second season. I truly hope that this movie is able to raise the interest and capital to make more of this wonderful science fiction series.

Dreams of Jinsha is one of those films where at first I question my cynicism, but then realize that no, I haven’t lost my ability to enjoy children’s films, Dreams of Jinsha is just not good. Xiao Long has an amulet from the ancient kingdom of Jinsha. Xiao’s pet dog leads him to the kingdom one night where he meets a princess and is told of a prophecy involving the amulet and destruction of the land. That’s all well and good, but the scenes feel disconnected from one another and you never feel invested in the characters or outcome. The story is flat so things like motivation, urgency, and explanations are either nonsense or never touched upon. Even the dialogue was tedious. I am not a stickler for animation, I’m rather forgiving, but when everything else is bad you give me no choice but to look at the quality of animation being presented. Dreams of Jinsha doesn’t even succeed on this level as most of the moving shots are very cheap or off model, and they pop out against the background too much. I’m not sure why this was Oscar-shortlisted in the least.

Every moment I enjoyed in Time of Eve was karmically balanced out by moments of suffer while watching Dreams of Jinsha. I can’t point to any single glaring flaw with Dreams of Jinsha because the movie is just a long string of flaws that only gives you relief when it is finally over. If there is something to complain about with an animated feature you will find an example of that in this movie. The animation was clearly done on the cheap with Flash varying from competent to horrible but it always has a lackluster quality to it. Some of the static backgrounds were very well done but anything in motion was shoddy. The storyline was muddled. It jumped from plot point to plot point with only the bare minimum of connecting threads. I know that no one likes characters who sole purpose is to provide exposition but some explanation would have been greatly appropriated. The funny thing is there are two major exposition characters in the movie, a minister and a spirit elephant. The problem is what little information they give the audience is there to link together scenes that would utterly make no sense without them. Also the characters are so flat that Takashi Murakami would blush. They are either unappealing or boring and often do things for no adequately explained reason. At one point the general goes into the woods trying to kill an energy spirit for no reason that I could remember despite being warned that it could have grave repercussions. The pacing and direction is equally bad. I felt myself nodding off in the middle of the film when they are spinning their wheels before things start to go wrong. Also the director loved to have something happen and then jump to a reaction shot all the time. For some reason it made everything seem really artificial. I get the sense they were trying to mix the appeal of a Disney musical with epic story of a Studio Ghibli film but did not understand why either of those types of films were so good. I would hate to think that this is China’s best foot forward in the medium of animation because it is quite a misstep indeed.

A Cat in Paris graced the front of the brochure and booklet for the festival with good reason, it was delightful. Dino a cat is Zoe’s pet by day and Nico the thief’s assistant by night. Both worlds coming crashing together one evening when little Zoe follows Dino and overhears a plot against her mother by some dangerous gangsters. I’m a total sucker for thieves, and in this film Nico and Dino become the redeemed heroes as they take on rescuing Zoe. The style in the film really sells it and is able to capture personality for the characters without dialogue. This is most notable in how Nico slinks around the roof tops or how Victor stomps everywhere. A good portion of the movie is chase scenes which are thrilling as Paris sweeps by in the background. I also was impressed with the blackout scene’s solution to show us what the characters were up to despite not having light. The dub used a British cast to excellent effect allowing it to maintain its European feel. The plot is simple as are the characters, it is the execution that makes A Cat in Paris highly entertaining.

A Cat in Paris is just a plain fun kids movie. The art is very stylized in a way that made it stand out. It has a very angular look that makes the film look like animated pieces of art. It might turn some people off but I think it adds to the mood and gives it an almost storybook feel. When Nico the thief sneaks around as a cat bugler he has an extremely fluid motion almost like he was made of quicksilver. Other than Dino everyone else has their own characteristic trot but seems more weighted down by gravity. The plot sometimes relies on coincidence but it is never insulting or silly. The coincidences also make sure the story is always moving forward which is vital. There is always a good mix of action to with capers, fist fights, chase scenes, and daring rescues. You know it was French film because if it was an American film they would have mentioned that Nico was skilled in parkour at least 5 times before the end. It is a great movie to watch with your kids, younger relatives, or just for some light watching on your own.

If you can’t make it to any of the short film screenings, never fear since they usually show a short before the longer films. My favorite of them was Rubika where, as the film description says, there is “fancy gravity.” We see one poor citizen get thrown off and then it gets wild and wondrous. As you can see in the shot the designs are kind of like LEGO people, but the title of the film should give you a hint to the big reveal of what is causing the gravity changes. The two others Ormie and Don’t Go were funny in their own ways though perhaps a mite too long.

Before all the movies at the festival there is usually at least one short animated film and this year was no exception. Rubika was an innovative French short about a man whole lives a world that looks like Minecraft and finds gravity has gone berserk for him when he tries to save a woman falling sideways. His adventure falling through the city works well as a short giving it just enough time to show the nifty premise of the animation but not enough to wear out its welcome. Ormie was a CG Canadian short about a luckless pig trying to get a jar of cookies from on top of a refrigerator. It is a much more of a standard comedy cartoon with the pig’s Wile E. Coyote style attempts top get his snack. It has a Pixar feel but was not a good as a great Pixar short. But what is? Don’t Go was the last short we saw in the festival and it was from Turkey. It was mainly a live action movie with an animated character inserted in like Who Framed Roger Rabbit. There is a real black house cat who chases a CG bunny creature around his owner’s apartment. I think it was supposed to be they story of what do cats chase when it looks like they are chasing after nothing. It is an interesting little short if a bit simple.

Since I already knew Time of Eve was fantastic, the big winners for me this year are both from France, A Cat in Paris and Rubika. This is really my only chance to see these films so I have to stress how great NYICFF and the events they put on throughout the year. Another successful year and am already looking for to the 2012 festival.

I think the troubadour Meat Loaf summed up my feelings on the movies we saw at the New York International Children’s Film Festival very well. The Time of Eve was the most mature film, A Cat in Paris was the best kids movie, and Dreams of Jinsha was just an example of what not to do. Our only regret was that The Borrower Arrietty was not a part of the lineup but maybe next year our wish will be granted.  The film festival is always a wonderful sample of animation from around the world and I look forward to seeing what they get next year.

Narutaki and I found this series when we were doing our overview of Crunchyroll. We decided to check it out on a whim and were impressed how well it was done for something that was otherwise completely off our radar. It is fascinating series for a number of reasons. It is a sci-fi series in a time when sci-fi series seem so rare. It is also an ONA not based on an established property. I am hardly the most informed anime fan but I usually have a decent idea of what is out there. So when any modern title comes out that I do know about it is always intriguing.

I stumbled across Time of Eve and I don’t even recall how beyond the fact that it was on Crunchyroll while I was testing the site out. Though I am always interested in short series to check out in between other longer shows. Time of Eve fit into this doubly so because the episodes came out rather infrequently and minus the final episode run only 15 minutes long. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking this show doesn’t do anything, it uses its minutes very wisely.

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

In a deliberately unspecified time in the near future robotics has advanced to the point where androids are nearly indistinguishable from humans. They are so hard to tell apart that androids have halos over their heads to identify them. One day Rikuo notices that the android his family owns, Sammy, keeps disappearing from time to time. After some investigation he discovers that she has been going to a cafe named the Time of Eve. In this cafe no halos can been seen in hopes of promoting everyone treating each other as equals no matter who they are. Rikuo and his friend Masaki soon start coming to the cafe and slowly learn more about complexities of the dynamics between humans and robots.

Rikuo and Masaki are at a well picked age as I see it, they are entering a phase of understanding and questioning. Both are at a point where the ideas and rules set down for them have been established but they are now able to analyze said ideas. Eventhough Rikuo is the more reserved and Masaki is the more outspoken, they are opposites when it comes to the Time of Eve. Where Rikuo is curious, Masaki is reluctant but both boys gradually start to see things, or admit things, they have felt all along. This plays out with many of the patrons of the cafe. You could see these patrons as a bit contrived, they each show a different aspect and all vary in age but the show never gives that feeling. Sammy, Rikuo’s house robot, is not the only one who really brings about change in Rikuo. Though we see Rikuo quite a bit more, Masaki’s story has a lot more of a dire quality and intensity. At first I thought Masaki’s story was done better, but upon reflection I realized that both boys stories stew well together and are just different rather than one being better than the other. However, it is through Masaki’s story that the full implications of what Time of Eve could be, were it to continue, really become apparent.

Rikuo seems a bit on the shyer side then the more outgoing Masaki. They both have definite issues with robots but coming to the cafe helps them deal with those issues weather they realize it or not. Sammy has a fascinating duality. When we see her at home she acts exactly as you would expect a primitive robot to behave. But at the Time of Eve she is like a normal woman with a full range of emotions. She expresses feelings of happiness and sadness and have wants and desires. As the series progresses we see even outside of the cafe Sammy has these emotions they are just greatly muted when she has known to be an android. Nagi the young lady that runs the Time of Eve, a coffee house, is a very good bartender. She is gentle and takes the time to listen to everyone who comes to the cafe while pushing everyone to some sort of happiness. Part of the series is trying to figure out who is a robot and who is a human of the staff and patrons of the Time of Eve. Sometimes it is obvious and other times it is the crux of the episode. Each of them has their own intriguing story and insight into how humans and robots interact.

From the show description, it seemed inevitable the robot laws would come into play which is not a bad thing, but to be fair they aren’t always the crux of each story. All of the narratives try, and succeed, to convey the limitless emotions that robots can achieve no matter how primitive their original designs may be. Each story explores this in a different way, even in a classic way at points. One instance that stood out, one that has been told before, but felt very solid was when the passion of music was discussed and the lifelessness of mere technical skill. As an overall fan of robots, I like the romantic ideals seen in the Time of Eve, that eventhough humans created these beings they are able to emerge on their own. This is perfectly juxtaposed with the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) discrimination and the desire by some that robots do no have a life of their own and a refusal to see them beyond anything but a tool.

As a science fiction fan this series was extremely interesting to me. It is one of the most in depth examinations of the relationships between pure robots and humans I have seen not only in an anime but in any series in a while. The amount of detail and thought they give to the implications of Isaac Asimov’s three laws of robotics is remarkable. But other issues of the balance between humanity and its interactions with technology are equally compelling. There is a good deal of parallel that can also be made between the treatment of any minority as well. However, these issues and topics are not forced down your throat. They place a thought provoking topic on the table and let the viewer pick it up and examine it in their own way. There is a solid balance between the episodes entertaining and captivating without sacrificing either.

I was very pleased with the production of Time of Eve. Nothing about this being an ONA seems cheap which I think is an easy enough thing to assume. But this work has the feeling of a loved project and an experiment. There aren’t a bunch of action scenes to contend with or anything, but still the animation is well executed. The 15-minute time intervals could also have something to do with this, but truly you never take note of the short run time because so much is looked at within its structure.

The animation is quite striking for an original concept animation distributed online. But this could be helped by the fact that there was no strict release schedule so seem to be able to take their time and do things right. Time of Eve is also an excellent example how how far the blending of 3D and 2D animation has come. The characters are mostly 2D on top of 3D backgrounds but everything flows together seamlessly and complements each other. The music is very quirky. Despite being slightly unconventional it does it’s job when it comes up which is all you can ask of a soundtrack.

This all makes me wonder how well Time of Eve has done. How did they get the funding in the first place? Although you can buy DVDs and image albums in Japan I wonder how much have they been able to be monetize this. This does not seem to be a low budget production so they need to generate revenue somehow. Will DVDs and CDs be enough? Do they have other revenue streams?  If anyone has information about this I would be interested to learn more. If this is profitable it might be a way to do other short but high quality quirky productions as well. With money for animation becoming scarcer and the OAV market dying off, the ONA might be the place for innovation. At only 6 episodes which are streaming for free online this is an intriguing series you should not overlook. That would not compute.

Time of Eve delves into its analysis of the relationship between man and machine with a clear vision but leaves the final, sometimes moral, conclusions to its viewers. It truly has the power to make you think in a way that keeps you returning for that next episode. And this is even more so thanks to the final episode’s bringing to light of a few matters. If as, Hisui questions, this is a way to pave a new market, I hope there is more Time of Eve in the future.