Mirai

Little Kun is four years old when his sister Mirai (Japanese for “future”) is born. All of a sudden, family life changes and Kun learns what it means to no longer be the centre of attention. Jealous and confused, the boy seeks refuge in the family’s garden, where he unexpectedly makes a new acquaintance. The garden turns out to be a magic gate through which Kun can travel to different time zones and see himself and his family from a new perspective. Last but not least, his unusual travel experiences enable him to learn what family solidarity means, as well as take on responsibility as a big brother.
“Mirai” begins as a family story that revolves around sibling rivalry, but then moves beyond familiar terrain into other worlds. The film allows little Kun, and through him also the viewers, to explore the connections of a family situation resulting from the coexistence of multi-layered personalities. The boy’s development into a caring big brother is accompanied by stunning images. The fantasy elements fit seamlessly into the reality of family life and prove to be important stepping stones on Kun’s path to maturity.
Director Mamoru Hosoda has a history of skilfully interweaving fantasy elements with stories set in reality, as seen in his earlier award-winning feature films “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” (2006) and “The Boy and the Beast” (2015). His works garnered him an appointment to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2018. “Mirai” has been nominated for over 20 film awards, including a Golden Globe and an Oscar, and was honoured with, among others, an Annie Award for Best Animated Independent Feature in 2019.