Miss Hokusai

As a son of a painter, there is a lot that I felt a surprising personal connection to - most strikingly, the film's association of creativity with a mystical and invitational perspective on life. The lack of a traditional narrative kept me invested, since I never quite knew what was going to happen next, and frankly, I love that. It's unfortunate the music is so at odds with the subject, era, and themes - it's a distracting blemish. But, I will revisit this and recommend it highly.

This is an interesting film that kept my interest but not much more. The music as others have noted is out of place and really takes you out of the film on a number of pivotal scenes.

Those looking for a solid plotline/story may find this one difficult. This is excusable IMHO and has a reason (check out info on the heroine AFTER watching the movie). That warning having been voiced I regard this as a homage to art & the artist and exquisitely done if you look at it that way. Animation overall is excellent, stunning in parts. I think the widely varying opinions on this relate directly to the lack of a conventional storyline. IMHO this is a gem deserving of a wider audience.

In 19th-century Edo, O-Ei, the daughter of the great painter Hokusai, works to become an artist in her own right, while managing her difficult father and frail little sister. Frequently lovely animated look at art and artists, by turns haunting, warm, amusing, and mysterious. A few odd flourishes and moderate choppiness keep it just out of the realm of true greatness, but it's a film which deserves to be seen and spoken of more widely.

I had higher hopes for Miss Hokusai (2015). Had something going for her, but the dramatic portion of her life was simply too dull or subtle to lead anywhere.