Mirai

A surprise Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature film, this Japanese production tells the sweet, imaginative tale of a 4-year-old boy who grows jealous of his newborn sister Mirai when she becomes the center of attention as his parents grapple with the new strains that the growing family puts on the household. Mother returns to work, architect Dad struggles with childcare while working at home as a freelancer, and neither seem to have time for their son Kun, whose screams and epic—often irrational—tantrums are realistic yet amusingly presented by filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda. The film takes a delightful fantasy turn when Kun receives life lessons from family members who travel through time and space—from his great-grandfather as a young man (who gives him his first motorcycle ride) to a teenage Mirai. It’s a mix of magical benevolence and a rich imaginary life (such as when Kun chases the human form of his pet dog), but the story, as seen through the eyes of Kun, remains grounded in very human emotions and relationships. Hosoda deftly explores the difficult transitions in growing up, charting the evolution of Kun as he learns to accept his sister. Featuring the voices of Rebecca Hall, John Cho, and Daniel Dae Kim on the English-version soundtrack, this is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an interview with director Mamoru Hosoda (38 min.) and the segment “Visiting Studio Chizu” (6 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are “Japanese Cast Interviews” (47 min.), and the behind-the-scenes featurettes “Mirai in Japan” (35 min.), “The New World of Mamoru Hosoda” (21 min.), and “Mamoru Hosoda Visits Toyama Prefecture” (18 min.), as well as a segment from the Cannes Film Festival (8 min.), a “My Future” featurette with Hosoda and voice cast (3 min.), and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for this Oscar-nominated animated film.] (S. Axmaker)