Anime Fix

Wonderful Days / Sky Blue

Korean Animated Movie

Directed by Kim Moon-sang. English Version directed by Sunmin Park

Released 2003

Running time about 85 minutes.

I should point out that I watched the English Version on DVD, from Tartan Video

Synopsis:

In the year 2142, an environmental disaster has devastated the Earths’ surface. The human race has been split into 2 factions. The last great city, Ecoban, houses the ruling elite. The descendants of those who foresaw the disaster, and took preparations against it.

Outside the city, the rest of the population work to supply Ecoban with it’s essential resources in return for food. Known disparagingly as “diggers” they mine the earth for Carbonite to fuel the city’s organic power source, the Delos core. The diggers work in terrible conditions, constantly exposed to the toxic rain that scours the earth. Their only protection is what they can scavenge from the ruins of 20th Century civilisation. Treated little better than slaves, rebellion is always just beneath the surface.

Standing between Ecoban and the diggers are the Security Services, headed by Commander Cade. His most trusted officer is Jay, a young woman he has known since childhood. Unknown to both, another figure from their past is working to bring Ecoban to it’s knees.

Shua, and his mentor Dr Noah, believe that Ecoban’s organic power source can revive the Earth’s surface, and banish the toxic storms. To enable this, they must penetrate to the very heart of the city, and over-ride the Delos Core.

What will happen when the 3 become reunited? What happened to cause their separation in the first place? With the welfare of the diggers, and the lives of his friends resting in his hands, how can Shua outwit Cade and breach the Delos Core?

Characters:

Cade (Voiced by Kirk Thorton)

Head of the Security Services, and totally dedicated to Ecoban, he was groomed for leadership from a young age. He has a dark secret that is known only to one other person. A secret that could shatter his whole existence!

Jay (Voiced by Catherine Cavatina)

A junior officer in the Security Services, and Cade’s most trusted deputy. She has known Cade ever since she was a little girl. She doesn’t like the way the diggers are treated, but doesn’t see any way to change the system, not even from within.

Shua (Voiced by Marc Worden)

Jay’s childhood friend. A student of Dr Noah, he disappeared from the city whilst still a young boy. He now lives in an abandoned freighter ship on the outskirts of a digger settlement, where he is building a glider to fly to Gibraltar. He has adopted a young digger child, Woody, as a younger brother. Shua is generally regarded with distrust by the digger rebels, who suspect that he may still have links with Ecoban.

Locke

Second in Command of Security Services. Arrogant and ruthless, he seeks to discredit Cade, and so become Head of Security. He despises the diggers, and believes in the iron fist approach when dealing with them.

What did I think?:

An absolutely stunning film!

Although not a new concept, the story line of an ecologically devastated earth, Elite overlords, and scavenging workers is brought wonderfully to life. I would love to see this taken up as a series, which would allow much more development of the characters. There is a relationship between Jay & Cade which doesn’t really get touched on until near the end, when it becomes clear that they are more than just friends. This begs the question of her relationship with Shua. Apparently, he left the city whilst still a small boy, and hasn’t been back for 10 years, yet she recognises him instantly. I can’t really say any more without real plot spoiling.

The graphics and art work are superb! The backgrounds are claimed to be CGI, (Wiki says that they are just processed to look like CG). The characters are traditional animations, and there is some live action rendering as well. The overall look is great.

Inside Ecoban we are treated to sweeping panoramas of a vast city complex, with beautiful landscaping and soaring architecture. The Delos Core is portrayed as a technological marvel, with anti gravity lifts and holographic computer memory storage, as big as a small city itself.

Outside the city is a landscape of shanty towns, shrouded in perpetual fog, or lashed by the incessant rain.

The digger characters are a bit flat and stereotyped, but fit the story line well. Arrogant, hot headed punks, brutish thugs, loud mouthed show-offs, they form the typical cannon fodder of any rebellion. They all come good in the end. I was a bit disappointed that there weren’t any real attempts to show the impact of the disaster on those outside Ecoban. Other than a few blind children, there aren’t real obvious genetic variations.

Don’t let my grumps put you off! This is a great film, and well worth an hour and a half of your time!