Lu Over the Wall

Director/animator Masaaki Yuasa—whose earlier films include the outrageous 2004 Mind Game (VL-11/18)—presents a much more conventional tale in this 2017 movie about Kai, a Tokyo teen who moves with his father to a small fishing village after his parents’ divorce. Hinashi Town is notable for its proximity to an island reputed to be the home of ningyo—malevolent merfolk who endanger shipping (which has led to the island being walled off from the village by a huge boulder). After the depressed Kai, an aspiring songsmith, is befriended by two classmates who pressure him to join their band, all three repair to the island which—despite the ban—they use for their practice sessions. The music attracts Lu, a gregarious little mermaid whose tail turns to feet as she dances to the rhythm. Lu becomes entranced with Kai, as he does with her. Meanwhile, Hinashi Town has a new resident—a huge, strange fellow who retools the working of the local fish processing plant to astronomically increase production. Lu Over the Wall also features a town celebration involving lots of music and dance, the disappearance of Kai’s female band mate, and a massive chase at sea. But while the film exhibits imagination and energy, it also ultimately feels a little bland in comparison to Yuasa’s earlier work. Presented in a dual-language Blu-ray/DVD Combo edition, rated PG, extras include an audio commentary by Yuasa and an interview with the director. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)