Anime Review: Like the Clouds Like the Wind

Review Like the Clouds Like the WindWritten by WarpshadowRating very good

While this movie is not currently available for rental or purchase in the United States, it is the kind of movie that I would recommend one doing so if it were.

The Emperor has died and since a new Emperor is to take the throne there is a need for him to take new wives. A call goes out across the land for young women to come to the palace and see if they have what it takes. Ginga is a simple village girl who is interested in becoming Emperess simply because they get to eat three meals a day and nap. The local offical thinks that Ginga could be the next Empress even if she is an eccentric girl with no formal training in court manners.

Like the Clouds, Like the Wind is a short movie (It only lasts 75 minutes from opening to ending credits) that packs a lot of story into it's short running time. An uninformed viewer may mistake this movie for a Ghibli film (generally through the similarity in art styles) although the comparison is fairly apt. The comparison is also strong in comparing the main character, Ginga who is a strong female protagonist that holds the movie together, even if she does seek her fortune by marrying a rich husband. This is not to say that the rest of the characters are not interesting and quirky in their own way. Overall I found this to be a nice movie that is well worth watching.