"Beyond the Clouds" by Makoto Shinkai [Archive]

True Noir

08-10-2004, 03:17 PM

In an alternative timeline, Japan was divided after World War II: Hokkaido was annexed by the "Union" while Honshu and other southern islands were under U.S. sovereignty. In the summer of 1996, a gigantic yet mysterious tower was constructed at Hokkaido and could be seen clearly at Aomori (the northernmost prefecture of Honshu) across Tsugaru Strait. Three 9th-graders had made a promise that one day they'll build an aircraft and unravel the tower's mystery, but their project was abandoned after the girl, Sayuri Sawatari, began experiencing sleeping sickness and transferred to Tokyo for better treatment. Three years later, Hiroki Fujisawa accidentally found out that Sayuri had been in coma since then, and he asked Takuya Shirakawa to help him finding a way to revive her. What they don't know yet is that Sayuri's coma is somehow linked with secrets of the tower and the world.

Three years after the Hoshi No Koe (Voices of a Distant Star) comes "Beyond the Clouds". I've seen the promos for it and looks great. It sounds like a deep story about romance, scifi, and drama much like "Hoshi No Koe". It's a short OVA, but Makoto Shinkai's the creater. He probably has some awesome ending for this one, too.

Karl Olson

08-10-2004, 03:49 PM

Is this finally getting released? It's been the works for a while now, but I've not heard anything about it for a while as well. Visually, it looked like it was going to be even more stunning than "Voices of a Distant Star," so even though he has a staff under him now, I questioned how long this project would take.

True Noir

08-10-2004, 03:52 PM

I don't know about that but it's been getting A LOT of promos lately and it is supposed to release in Japan this year. I hope. It looks so excellent. It'd be a pain to wait any longer for this.

Karl Olson

08-10-2004, 03:59 PM

Well, if ADV was sharp, they probably funded this one from the start (VoaDS did well for them IIRC,) hopefully ensuring it hits the states quickly. Don't know on that one though.

True Noir

08-10-2004, 04:03 PM

It would be a shame if this didn't get licenced by them quickly. It looks like an OVA that could sell better than most. BTC looks like it might even be better. It has such a deep story. From the promos it looks like there is more emotion and drama involved than VOADS.

Karl Olson

08-10-2004, 04:11 PM

I think the main thing is, is that as long Shinkai's guiding it, I doubt it'll not be great. He's got a knack very good storytelling, particularly in the sci-fi arena (VOADS was brilliant in that aspect) and he's got a great knack for art direction. His backgrounds are gorgeous because he has a such an excellent sense of how compose a scene and use color. He's making very personal works, almost like a beautiful moving doujinshi, and I hope that someday he's not the only one doing fan produced animation of that grade.

It's the kinda of stuff that'll keep the industry vibrant, and it's the kind of stuff that'll be licenced not because it's a hip or sexy property, but because it's art that many decades from now, will have the same validity and meaning.

Weatherman

08-10-2004, 04:12 PM

Karl Olson

08-10-2004, 04:18 PM

Ahh, finally. I remember seeing a trailer for it tacked onto the copy of "Voices" I saw at club a little over a year ago. Looked pretty sharp. Here's hoping it holds up as well as his current release.

Visually, it will have VOADS beat because it's being made better equipment, and IIRC, mangazoo or some company has provided a small staff for him to work with. It will have more character movement and smoother rendering as a result. The story is up to Shinkai, but given how geniusly VOADS pulls it's sci-fi twist (it was like the great sci-fi short stories of the golden age in the states,) I doubt that BTC will fail storywise.

BTW, IIRC BTC might be getting a theatrical release in Japan. All the more reason it should look beautiful.

True Noir

08-10-2004, 04:20 PM

I think the main thing is, is that as long Shinkai's guiding it, I doubt it'll be great. He's got a knack very good storytelling, particularly in the sci-fi arena (VOADS was brilliant in that aspect) and he's got a great knack for art direction. His backgrounds are gorgeous because he has a such an excellent sense of how compose a scene and use color. He's making very personal works, almost like a beautiful moving doujinshi, and I hope that someday he's not the only one doing fan produced animation of that grade.

It's the kinda of stuff that'll keep the industry vibrant, and it's the kind of stuff that'll be licenced not because it's a hip or sexy property, but because it's art that many decades from now, will have the same validity and meaning.Yes, definately. The first time I watched VOADS, the first thing that caught my attention was the art. Skinkai has a talent for making an anime look beautiful visually and emotionally, and from the promos of BTC it looks like he put his talent to use in an excellent way.

True Noir

08-10-2004, 04:28 PM

I just watched all the third promo and made a final understanding. It seems as though there are two stories that connect. One story about the war between the south and the north. ANother about a girl in a coma. Interesting...

Karl Olson

08-10-2004, 04:43 PM

Yes, definately. The first time I watched VOADS, the first thing that caught my attention was the art. Skinkai has a talent for making an anime look beautiful visually and emotionally, and from the promos of BTC it looks like he put his talent to use in an excellent way.

I just rewatched VOADS today because of this thread, and I realized Makoto Shinkai is probably the only person I know who can use blantant cheats in the animation to his dramatic adavantage, because he knows to build a shot with the right colors, the right weather and the right overall atmosphere to really floor the viewer, even though he's technically reusing a shot. So many anime try to use establishing shots to that kind of dramatic effect but I think Shinkai does it best.

Hatter

08-10-2004, 04:51 PM

Ohh, right, I believe this one was known as "The Place Promised In Our Early Days", right?

"Beyond The Clouds"... doesn't have the same ring.

Karl Olson

08-10-2004, 04:54 PM

Ohh, right, I believe this one was known as "The Place Promised In Our Early Days", right?

"Beyond The Clouds"... doesn't have the same ring.

"The Place Promised In Our Early Days" is the subname. IE: "Beyond the Clouds: The Place Promised In Our Early Days."

Lord Dalek

08-10-2004, 05:12 PM

All I ask is for BTC to have a decent dub, that is all.

Karl Olson

08-10-2004, 11:58 PM

All I ask is for BTC to have a decent dub, that is all.

Exactly. It would be an obvious pick up for CN or Tech if the dub is good, because Shinkai makes visuals that stops viewers in their tracks. If it clocks in at 40-45 minutes, it's an obvious go as a special IMO.

Weatherman

08-11-2004, 02:27 AM

Exactly. It would be an obvious pick up for CN or Tech if the dub is good, because Shinkai makes visuals that stops viewers in their tracks. If it clocks in at 40-45 minutes, it's an obvious go as a special IMO.

Wouldn't ADV have the inside track on the show, considering they own his other work? Granted, ADV has said they are still interested in working with other networks, but you have to admit it's unlikely to be seen on any network they don't own.

True Noir

08-11-2004, 07:23 PM

I think the dub will be fine. His two other OVA's "Voices..." and "She and Her Cat" had very good dubs in my opinion. I thought they fit the character perfectly, so I don't expect anything bad to happen with that.

Karl Olson

08-11-2004, 07:52 PM

Wouldn't ADV have the inside track on the show, considering they own his other work? Granted, ADV has said they are still interested in working with other networks, but you have to admit it's unlikely to be seen on any network they don't own.

No, because ASA is looking for anime movies and specials. That's part of why they went after saturday in the first place. If ADV can ever work out to pitch to networks successfully, something like Beyond the Clouds would be an obvious candidate as it will be a high quality production that'd reel in even the casual viewer.

Haruhara

08-11-2004, 09:43 PM

Beyond the Clouds looks very promising ^^ i loved voices. :Dis it still in production in japan? >_> XD

Weatherman

08-11-2004, 10:49 PM

No, because ASA is looking for anime movies and specials. That's part of why they went after saturday in the first place. If ADV can ever work out to pitch to networks successfully, something like Beyond the Clouds would be an obvious candidate as it will be a high quality production that'd reel in even the casual viewer.
Hmmm, I see. Didn't know they were looking for more stuff like that. Of course. given what the AS guy at Otakon told me, there's not much hope of seeing it on US TV this year. They're pretty much tapped out for the year between GitS, FMA, R.O.D. and more Conan. There's always 2005 though.

True Noir

08-12-2004, 12:24 AM

I think it would be a hard desicion not to pick this up as soon as it comes out in the US. It would be a big loss, but yeah... it probably will be released in 2005 here in the US, so it won't be a surprise if they do pick it up.

Lord Dalek

10-16-2004, 08:28 PM

Sorry for the ressurection but I thought you guys would find this interesting...

ADV acquires The Place Promised In Our Early Days (2004-10-16 15:22:59)
ANN has confirmed that ADV holds the theatrical rights to Kumo no mukou, Yakusoku no basho (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2324) (The Place Promised In Our Early Days (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2324)). Steve (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=29163) Buck, head of ADV's Theatrical Division, confirmed that The Place Promised, the first theatrical feature from the director of Voices of a Distant Star (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=775), will be released in the US sometime in 2005, although no firm date is established yet. The Place Promised opens in Japan next month.

Karl Olson

10-16-2004, 08:35 PM

Well, the licensing part is done. How all that it needs is a good dub and a successful pitch. Way easier said than done.

True Noir

10-16-2004, 08:41 PM

Thanks a lot, Dalek! I've was really keeping an eye on this last week and hadn't the time to check it out. Now, all we have to do is wait another year...and.. so they are going to call it "The Place Promised". Interesting....I like the sound of "Beyond the Clouds" a lot better but this is alright. Hopefull they get good VA's. Man! I'm so excited about this!

FlyByNite77

10-16-2004, 10:31 PM

I wish this had come out earlier in the year in Japan. Then maybe ADV would do a theatrical release and enter it for best animated movie Oscar.

Karl Olson

10-17-2004, 03:02 AM

I wish this had come out earlier in the year in Japan. Then maybe ADV would do a theatrical release and enter it for best animated movie Oscar.

They could always shoot for a 2005 release and go for a Best Animated Oscar in 2006.

True Noir

10-17-2004, 01:29 PM

They could always shoot for a 2005 release and go for a Best Animated Oscar in 2006.
Gah!! The wait is such a pain once you find out when it's going to be released. Hopefully, they aren't thinking about releasing it sometime late in 2005.

Weatherman

10-17-2004, 03:50 PM

Good for ADV. Hopefully they'll do a pretty good job with the dub and get at least a limited theatre run for it.

Hatter

03-10-2005, 02:24 PM

I just saw it, and... wow. What a picture.
A huge step up from Voices of a Distant Star. I think I know why it was delayed so long, it appears that all the characters have been re-animated. They look fantastic.
I don't think I've ever seen such gorgeous cinematography in any film, animated or otherwise. The colour saturation, hues... all breathtakingly gorgeous.
The musical score was simply beautiful, with some heart-breaking melodies.

If I had a complaint, it's that the film gets a little too bogged down in technobabble for a while, just for something that could be explained a lot simpler.

But other than that, a visual masterpiece. Makoto Shinkai is going to become a major player in the anime industry.

True Noir

03-10-2005, 03:38 PM

Waylaid

03-10-2005, 09:15 PM

I wonder who's going to dub some of the voices? Crispin Freeman, maybe. Tara Strong, rowrrrr. Christopher Walken :evil: :evil: :evil:

Karl Olson

03-10-2005, 11:10 PM

I wonder who's going to dub some of the voices? Crispin Freeman, maybe. Tara Strong, rowrrrr. Christopher Walken :evil: :evil: :evil:

Well, ADV renounced their claim on it, so who knows. I almost would like to see Columbia get it, as they'd dub it and theatrically release it. Ditto for Geneon and Bandai.

True Noir

03-12-2005, 06:03 PM

Makoto Shinkai does it again.

I just finished watching it. Absolutely beautiful. The animation, music (definately amazing stuff), characters, and most of all the story. Every aspect of it was great. The animation was beautiful and the colors were well put out. The characters' personalities were original and the words they spoke...amazing. The ending was ...wow. I mean, I have no words for how great this was and how much the wait was worth it. After all the delaying, you can really tell that Makoto Shikai really made the absolute best he could. I absolutely can not wait till this comes out on dvd. It's a must see and it definately lives up to and possibly higher than Voices of a Distance Star.

Overall: Masterpiece

UberMonkey

03-13-2005, 06:58 AM

Ha, I just got done watching this, and read through this thread for the first time - so at first I was suprised that it was licensed, and then a bit relieved that ADV had renounced it. I'm actually pretty happy about that - I was thinking that Hiroki sounded so much like Joshua Seth, I'd be a little disapointed if that was out of the realm of possibility if ADV was just going to use their VAs. Although, if someone picks this up with hopes of doing a theatrical release - it seems like most companies try to get celebs to do the job.

Really, really beatiful film though. I hadn't seen Voices of a Distant Star before (something which I'll quickly rectify over spring break here) and so I guess I was a bit suprised when the sci-fi elements popped up. But it was a pleasant surprise - I thought it was a very interesting concept. and used very uniquely to play up the drama and romance of the main characters. Just.. wow. Powerful and breathtaking. The art was very top notch, and the backgrounds all invoked the right emotions - I'm really wishing I could go out and explore dilapitated buildings in beautiful open fields with my friends right now. Not to mention that flight is a concept I think all people enjoy, and handled masterfully here.

If this does get a theatrical release in the States, I'll make sure I'm one of the first in line to see it.

FlyByNite77

03-13-2005, 07:33 AM

I'm surprised I read two glowing reviews because I was somewhat disappointed in the film. Voices of a Distant Star is such a great story and was done in such an innovative manner.

There's no questioning that the voice acting, animation, and music in Beyond the Clouds surpasses Voices of a Distant Star...But as far as the story itself? No contest.

I believe Makoto Shinkai even apologized for Beyond the Clouds, saying it didn't turn out the way he wanted and he was disappointed in himself. I believe originally this was to be a much shorter project then it grew into a full-length movie. I think it's quite evident during the movie that parts of it seems very stretched out and just don't fit right. It's also surprising that since the story was lengthened that Shinkai never addresses some key elements in the story such as Why is Sayuri the one interacting with the tower? Yes we're told her Grandfather built it, but why? Did he foresee her death in one of his glimpses of the future and expand his work to try and stop it? Then there's the whole theory that she died once the tower was destroyed as evidenced of an older Hiroki returning home by himself in the beginning of the movie and his narration during the scenes.

I think it looks beautiful and sounds beautiful, but the story left me a little unfulfilled. I think it would have been nearly impossible to follow-up something like Voices of a Distant Star and to have me sit here and rave about it though, because I loved Voices of a Distant Star so much. If I'm looking at just pure stand-alone movies/OAV projects it's one of the best I've ever watched.

I'd give this 3 stars out of 4 and I would definitely go and see it in a theater just to be immersed in the music and see the animation on a large screen.

True Noir

03-13-2005, 10:08 AM

I believe Makoto Shinkai even apologized for Beyond the Clouds, saying it didn't turn out the way he wanted and he was disappointed in himself. I believe originally this was to be a much shorter project then it grew into a full-length movie. I think it's quite evident during the movie that parts of it seems very stretched out and just don't fit right. It's also surprising that since the story was lengthened that Shinkai never addresses some key elements in the story such as
Why is Sayuri the one interacting with the tower? Yes we're told her Grandfather built it, but why? Did he foresee her death in one of his glimpses of the future and expand his work to try and stop it? Then there's the whole theory that she died once the tower was destroyed as evidenced of an older Hiroki returning home by himself in the beginning of the movie and his narration during the scenes.

That's true. There were still some questions left unanswered and so it did seem like during the first our of it they were trying to figure out ways to fill that void which made it seem like an endless stretch. Even I have to admit this. You may be right to. After rewatching Voices of a Distant Star, Beyond the Clouds probably could have done a better job. I guess all the amazing music, animation, etc., really takes away from what's really missing. As for the animation...I don't know but in some scenes. I'd say that Voices of a Distant Star was better in.