Someone's Gaze

Type: Movie

Episodes: 1

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Feb 10, 2013

Producers: The Answer Studio

Licensors: None found, add some

Studios: CoMix Wave Films

Source: Original

Genres: Drama, Slice of Life

Duration: 6 min.

Rating: G - All Ages

Plot: In near-future Japan, Aya Okamura lives alone in an apartment away from her parents. Her mother has worked overseas ever since her childhood, so her aging father Kouji and their cat Mii-san are the only ones left in their family home. After a tiring day, Aya declines her father's invitation for dinner by lying that she is still at work. Yet that very night, she receives another call with sudden news that may bring this separated family closer.

User Review: "An ounce of blood is worth more than a pound of friendship."

There have probably been cases in all of our lives in which we took our families for granted. When I look back on my life I realize I was a selfish, greedy kid. Growing up in a suburb of the United States will make you that way. You want to fit in with the 'now' and want to be socially acceptable so you aren't judged by others. I've bought material things to impress people I don't know, shown off the newest fashion or technology to friends to feel an ounce of vanity, and gone out of my way to do something because a 'friend' asked me to; I valued my friends more than my family at several points in my life.

There comes a point in life, however, when you might just come to realize something. Friends aren't always there for you like your family is. Friends come and go; their affections are usually conditional and demanding. This isn't always the case, as there are exceptions to this. Some friends display an immense, unwavering loyalty, and some family members couldn't give less than a shit about us. However, in most cases, your family will always love you unconditionally; they took care of you when you were sick, fed you, clothed you, gave you an education, and put a roof over your head. They've worked hard for us and shouldn't be taken for granted or forgotten. In an animated short film of about six minutes, all this is admirably depicted.

Dareka no Manazashi follows a young girl, who has moved out of her parents' place and has sought an independent life in the work force. Though things are tough for her and she struggles to make a living, she lies to her father about how her life truly is. Both she and her father struggle with loneliness since their family has lost the close-knit bond that they once had. Despite how distant they have become, this animated short shows that it's never too late to reform those bonds.

What's really strong about the story is how realistic it is for something of a short slice of life drama. In only a few minutes Dareka no Manazashi presents a clear, heartfelt message to their audience. The way it is presented, however, is not perfect. Personally, I didn't enjoy the flow of the story as much as other comparable animated short films like Rain Town or Tsumiki no Ie. Some parts of Dareka no Manazashi felt random and too quick to bounce around. While the overall message was great, the execution of how the story was told was only fair.

The art/animation of Dareka no Manazashi was marvelous. Everything looks simply stunning and I couldn't ask for more. The soundtrack was good overall. There is the classic piano tingle for the soul, and an actual song near the middle of the series. I enjoyed the aesthetics and soundtrack that Dareka no Manazashi had to offer.

The characters that are the prime focus are the daughter and the father. You can't help but empathize for both of these characters because they are so human. In the span of just a few minutes I grew attached to this family and wanted to see them attain happiness.

After watching Dareka no Manazashi one can't help but think about the past. Somewhere along the line we've lost our innocence and love for the simple things in life. We've lost that little bit of bliss that stems from our ignorance. Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved. But who knows? Maybe it's not too late to fall in love with those things once more.

Download || Someone's Gaze Hindi Dubbed (Dareka no Manazashi)

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