Institute History
Description
Recommended for ages 11 and up.
Young Kai is a gloomy and quiet boy trying to cope with his parent’s separation while adapting to a new life in his father’s hometown, a sleepy fishing village. Two of Kai’s schoolmates discover his secret passion for composing music on his laptop and invite him to their band’s practice session at an abandoned amusement park on Merfolk Island, the historical home of the legendary merfolk, who the townspeople believe are evil creatures that lure people to their deaths. The band’s music attracts Lu, a mermaid who loves to sing and dance, and she begins to sing with their music, causing the band members to involuntarily start dancing. Though Kai and his bandmates attempt to keep Lu’s presence a secret, she is soon discovered by the rest of the town, and age-old animosities begin to manifest themselves.
Directed by acclaimed anime director Masaaki Yuasa, this entertaining and visually stunning film, with a foot-tapping soundtrack, explores how misunderstanding can lead to conflict and prejudice, and how these can be overcome by the power of friendship and family.