Crystal Sky of Yesterday

Disclaimer: I am not Chinese, nor am I very familiar with the culture, so there were undoubtedly some subtle cultural things I missed while watching this film. Overall: 7/10 I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I decided I wanted to find some Chinese anime to watch to learn more about the culture and language. I rated this movie a 7, but that's still a massive compliment compared to most other Chinese shows I've seen. It's overall pretty good and wouldn't be out of place as a Japanese anime movie, aside from the language obviously. Story (no spoilers): 7/10 This is the story of a small group of friendsas they are finishing high school and seeking what they want to do with their futures. The story really emphasizes following your own dreams and not just doing what your parents or teachers want you to do, which is relatable to pretty much everyone but, I'm sure, doubly so for Chinese viewers. The film seems to take inspiration from Makoto Shinkai's works, especially "5 Centimeters per Second". If you enjoy that sort of sad, introspective storytelling, I think you'll enjoy this. Art: 8/10 I stated above that the film seems to take inspiration from Makoto Shinkai, and that is also very evident in the film's art style. It is a gorgeous film. Any frame could make a good wallpaper. It really looks like Shinkai's films in that way. Unfortunately, while the frames look good on their own, the animation itself leaves a lot to be desired. It's not horrible by any means, but it gives the impression that most of the budget went to making still frames and the animation between them was a bit of an afterthought. If it weren't for that, I'd probably give the art a 10/10. Sound: 6/10 There are a few vocal tracks throughout the film. I don't really understand Mandarin, but the songs were nice to listen to anyway. The voice acting was hit-or-miss. The main characters were mostly good, but some of the side characters' VAs sounded completely disinterested. Again, I should stress that I don't understand the language or culture so I could have just misinterpreted the characters' intonation and such. Characters: 8/10 I was surprised by how much development some of the characters got in such a short amount of time. Almost every character seemed layered and thought-out, and the main characters especially are likable and believable. I found myself getting really invested in their story. I also really appreciated that several characters, including side characters, had scenes focusing entirely on them. In that way, I think the film balances its development well. I think this is probably the strongest aspect of the movie. Enjoyment: 8/10 I greatly enjoyed this film and would gladly watch it again. My score here would be higher, but I think it's a little too slow in the first half. Overall, I'd highly recommend giving this a watch if you're a fan of Shinkai's stuff (or others like it).

The movie has some incredible animation and breathtaking backgrounds, but is wildly inconsistent. Not that any of it is terrible, but some parts clearly stood out as rushed or with janky cgi character movements. Other scenes are quite striking, with fluid animation that adeptly conveys both action, and more subtle body language. In fact, one of the film’s greatest strengths is the animation’s ability to capture the personality of the characters in each scene, whether it’s the rebelliousness abandonment of Qi Jingxuan, or Yao Zhe Tian’s quiet desperation to find purpose and break free from her overly structured life. Even side characters like the teacher,who alternates between egotistical authoritarian, sniveling brown nose, achieve a depth of character through their movements and expressions...which is fortunate, because the English subtitle translations often left me unsure of what was really being said in dialogue. The other great strength of the film is a touching soundtrack that hits all the right emotional notes and really like a punches you in the gut when it wants to make an impact! While not a masterpiece, it’s a respectable feature film from this first wave of big budget Chinese productions. This is a movie that I would like to rewatch if I can find a copy with more accurate english subtitles.

Story: The story really hits you in the gut, you'll like it, especially if you're into movies like A Silent Voice. It's not like other romances I've seen, this one takes a different approach to adolescence that I haven't seen before. It was a shame the subs I used didn't fully represent the story. It wasn't just that the english wasn't great, but many times they completely mistranslated what was said, or left out details that would've added so much more depth and understanding. Also they didn't bother translating the songs, which are pretty good. Art: The animation's pretty high quality. There were some moments with slightly badCGI (since the film was in development hell for a while), but it never detracted from the experience, and tbh I didn't notice it much. The rest of the visuals were great, with a lot of wallpaper worthy scenes. If you're familiar with the style of Your Name or Weathering With You, this film's style is similar. Sound: SFX wise it's pretty standard, nothing that pops out. The music is amazing though, it fits the tone. The subs I used didn't translate them, which is a shame since the lyrics perfectly matched what was going on. Character: The characters are what drive this story. They're relatable and memorable; this story really puts you into their perspective. They're also written realistically, with realistic motivations. I never once thought of any of them as a character trope. Overall: I thought it was a pretty good, you should at least give it a try. Although maybe after better subs come out, as of the time of writing there only seems to be one group that subbed it.

Chinese animation can be strange, or maybe the right word is unnatural, in intervals. Regardless of the specific interpretations, their attention to movement is rough, so much so that otherwise passable production qualities pale in comparison. It's not a matter of resembling realism, but the frame-by-frame continuity needs a purpose, something that's missing in Zuori Qing Kong. The motion of a character's upper body alongside their expressions is imperative in relaxed atmospheres, and hyperactive blinking on lifeless faces doesn't quite sell the scenario. Despite these jarring displays, the film has an aesthetic, a sense of visual direction hoisting up the weaker components. It's usually confinedto scattered metaphorical sequences of either imagination or inspiration, but the art distinguishes itself like we've begun watching a different film, not always a positive per se. And compounding upon its existing faults, the technical merits are all but none. Drastic jumps in quality often serve as proof of studio talent, yet simultaneously they can easily overshadow what the audience had grown accustomed to. Yijian Gong, the original creator, is seemingly a huge fan of the Slam Dunk manga, incorporating numerous references into the background. There's a short scene early on where the two male leads play a pick-up game of 2v2, and the first Slam Dunk opening song accompanies some of the replicated cuts, which is the highlight of my viewing experience. The story is typical tropey material, bittersweet adolescent romances, and cloudy futures. Gong manufactures the feeling of nostalgia, almost telegraphing it through the initial indication of a flashback. In some ways, it's treading the safe route, satisfied in lightly touching on social criticisms of the Chinese academic cesspool of expectations. The characters are caricatures of love triangle dynamics, an imitation of more substantial relationship writing. Profoundly silly melodrama with self-referential subplots; at best, Zuori Qing Kong is a nod to the manga scene of a different country.