A mystical dive into the world of “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish”

Bedridden with boredom, I was on my bed scrolling through Twitter to help pass the time before I suddenly saw something that caught my attention. A user on Twitter had posted beautiful screenshots of a certain anime movie titled “Josee, The Tiger and The Fish.” Being a huge sucker for romance films and feel-good series, I decided to give the movie a try. Needless to say, by the time the end credits rolled in, I became an uncontrollable, sobbing mess.

To nobody’s surprise, anime has been sweeping the feet of many audiences worldwide with releases like “Attack on Titan” and “Carole and Tuesday.” However, what makes these animes and many others stand out compared to other forms of media? The answer to this lies in not only just a good plot, but compelling characters, stunning visuals, and moving music. With so many animes being released everyday, it’s difficult to find a series that instantly grabs your attention like “Josee, The Tiger and The Fish does.”

“Josee, The Tiger and The Fish” is an animated film directed by Kotaro Tamara with music composed by Evan Call and original songs by the singer-songwriter and vocaloid producer Eve. The movie itself is an adaptation from a short story with the same title, written by Seiko Tanabe, and has had other adaptations like a TV drama (“Josee”). The film depicts a love story about Josee, a woman who yearns to explore the world, and Tsuneo, an ambitious university student with a love for the ocean. The two, who lived in completely different worlds, suddenly collide with one another and begin to change each other for the better. This movie has been nominated for multiple awards such as the 6th Crunchyroll Anime Awards for Best Film in 2022 and the 46th Hochi Film Award for Best Animated Picture in 2021. It can be watched on Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime Video.

The visuals in this movie are stunning with smooth and refreshing animation to make every character feel lively. It is no joke when I say that every frame in this movie can be used as a digital wallpaper because Studio BONES killed it! If you didn’t know, Studio BONES has helped animate many popular animes such as “Full-metal Alchemist” and “My Hero Academia.” However, the visuals would not be the same without the soundtrack to accompany it. The soundtrack features two original songs, “Shinkai” and “Ao no Waltz,” by Eve who has made popular songs like “Dramaturgy” and “Kaikaikitan.” Both songs are equally mystical and enhance the overall atmosphere of the movie. You can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy as the songs play throughout the film. Regardless of whether the visuals or the music are not to your liking, the characters themselves are well-written and thought out. 

In media, it’s unfortunately common to see inaccurate or negative depictions of disabled characters. They’re often portrayed as pitiful or villainous, but in “Josee The Tiger and The Fish,” it is the opposite. One of the two protagonists, Josee, is disabled but that does not define her character in any way. She isn’t treated differently by the rest of the cast nor is she evil. She is a young woman with a surplus of strength and determination. As for Tsuneo, the other protagonist, he is a young man with hopes and dreams. He’s realistic for a fictional character, but you really see yourself rooting for him as the movie plays out.

Overall, “Josee The Tiger and The Fish” is a great film with beautiful visuals, characters, and music. If you’re looking for a quick break from anything intense or if you just enjoy watching beautiful romances, then it is a must-watch film.