English Dub Review: Child of Kamiari Month

Overview:

This is a story of a 12-year-old girl, Kanna, born as a descendant of the Gods. Her family has a mission to deliver offerings from all over Japan to the Gods’ gathering in Izumo. Although Kanna’s mother was to complete the mission, her passing prompted Kanna to finish the task, hoping she could reunite with her dead mother in the Gods’ land at the end of her journey.

Our Take:

What I love most about anime are the emotions I feel while watching. Now that’s not to say I don’t tear up or get super excited watching live-action movies too. But there’s just something about anime for me that really resonates with me on an emotional level. What I’m trying to get at with this exceptionally sappy opening is that Child of Kamiari Month does what the medium should, and does it very well.

I will admit to some bias because having lost my mother when I was younger, any story involving someone losing their mother instantly resonates with me. The slow build-up to finding out what happened to her mother and how that affects her relationship with running was amazingly well done. It was so nice to go on this journey with Kanna and it might just help you to heal watching this. I really only had one negative for this movie and it’s the same issue I run into with most anime stories and that is the role of the father. Usually, they’re aloof or shut off after the mother passes. But Kanna had a legitimately caring father and their relationship just wasn’t satisfactorily resolved in this to me. It wasn’t as bad as some movies do but it was just a little meh, things are still in a great place for them I think.

One thing this movie does really well shows just how important hobbies and things that we’re passionate about are. Sometimes they are things that get us through the hardest time in our life. I’m not sure if that was part of the movie’s message but it was definitely a big part of what I took away from it. In fact, one of my favorite lines was when Kanna thinks back to a time with her mother and says “Why was I smiling? That’s right. It’s because I love running”.

This movie was a joy to watch and I really do recommend it. It more or less epitomizes what I love about anime. I’m really glad Netflix brought this one out and if anything you should watch it for the amazing soundtrack at the very least. Even the music had me crying. Ultimately, this movie succeeds at what it should and that is making you feel something.