Miss Hokusai (2015)

The life and works of Japanese artist and ukiyo-e painter Katsushika Hokusai, as seen from the eyes of his daughter, Katsushika O-Ei.

Directors:

Keiichi Hara, Stephanie Sheh

Writers:

Hinako Sugiura (comic "Sarusuberi"), Miho Maruo (screenplay)

Stars:

Yutaka Matsushige, Anne Watanabe, Erica Lindbeck

5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Erica Lindbeck	...	O-Ei (voice)
Anne Watanabe	...	O-Ei (voice) (as An)
Richard Epcar	...	Katsushika Hokusai / Additional Voices (voice)
Yutaka Matsushige	...	Katsushika Hokusai (voice)
Gaku Hamada	...	Ikeda Zenjirô (voice)
Ezra Weisz	...	Zenjiro Ikeda (voice)
Robbie Daymond	...	Kuninao Utagawa (voice)
Kengo Kôra	...	Utagawa Kuninao (voice)
Barbara Goodson	...	Koto / Additional Voices (voice)
Jun Miho	...	Koto (voice)
Courtney Chu	...	O-Nao (voice)
Shion Shimizu	...	O-Nao (voice)
Marc Diraison	...	Hatsugoro / Additional Voices (voice)
Michitaka Tsutsui	...	Iwakubo Hatsugorô (voice)
Kumiko Asô	...	Sayogoromo (voice)

Storyline

Set in 1814, Miss Hokusai focuses on O-Ei, the daughter of famed artist Tetsuzo, better known by his pen name Hokusai, as she tries to navigate the various aspects of her life. O-Ei spends the bulk of her time assisting her divorced father who cares about his art and not much else.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | canine | man's best friend | illustrator | tatami | 

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Taglines:

Gorgeous! A small poetic wonder!

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Genres:

Animation | Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including sexual situations and images

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook [Japan] Official site [Japan]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

9 May 2015 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Miss Hokusai

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$24,524, 16 October 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$216,202, 6 November 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Asatsu-DK, Bandai Visual Company, Oriental Light and Magic (OLM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world", was a popular art genre in Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1868). By using woodblock printing, depictions of folk tales, landscapes, kabuki theatre scenes and erotica, were widely spread throughout Japan.

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Goofs

The movie (or at least the subtitles) stated that Hokusai died at age 90. He actually died at the age of 88.

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Connections

Referenced in Toonami Pre-Flight: Favorite Video Games of 2016 (2016)

User Reviews

Simple heartfelt celebration of art and era

Miss Hokusai is a "slice of life" animation, it portrays the characters' at their daily lives in briskly light mood. It may set in one of the most romanticized eras, yet it's mostly a few short stories about artists, especially the heroine Oei, woven together. This is a tribute to Japanese classic painting ukiyo-e, the tumultuous time told in different light and appreciation of the artists themselves.

Oei is the daughter of talented painter Hokusai, who has a knack for painting herself. She can be crude at times, but she gives of warm subtle kindness, especially with her drawings. There's no great dilemma or adventure, although it presents a few strange mysteries. The animation is more of a method to appreciate the art as it changes constantly when the characters do narrative or monologue.

It uses classic touches on the tales, which can seem supernatural yet bizarrely fitting for that particular era. The setting is made with great care, details like the street corner or dimmed room with faint light of candles provide fine atmosphere for these characters to play in. Occasionally, they would talk in vague words, it's not a drama where people yell at each other frequently, there's a restrained on their mannerisms.

Miss Hokusai is a nice homage to early art works, celebrated by modern Japanese animation, it's quaint, unimposing and warmly colorful.