The House of the Lost on the Cape (Misaki no Mayoiga) – Review
100 Minutes, Not Rated
Written by Reiko Yoshida (based on the novel by Sachiko Kashiwaba )
Directed by Shin’ya Kawatsura
Synopsis:
When a devastating natural disaster leaves 17-year-old run-away Yui and 8-year-old orphan Hiyori without a home, they are taken in by Kiwa, a strange old woman who offers to let them stay in an abandoned yet suspiciously well-kept house overlooking the sea, known as a Mayoiga: a legendary house, said to look after lost travelers.
Despite Yui’s hesitation to trust anyone and Hiyori’s inability to speak, they begin to form a sisterly bond that allows them to find comfort in the Mayoiga and embrace Kiwa’s hospitality. However, when a menacing entity is accidentally released and threatens their new home, the three must face their fears to save it.
Full disclosure: I watched the version with English subtitles, not a dubbed version.
Despite its mouthful of a title, The House of the Lost on the Cape runs a brisk 100 minutes, but never feels rushed. This is a common feature of anime films, though; they do tend to take their time getting from point A to point B, letting the audience get lost in the visual spectacle that most anime has.
This one, though, doesn’t feel as polished as some of the more high-profile anime of the past. Instead, it feels a bit like it came off an assembly line in terms of its animation.
I’m not saying the animation is bad, more that it feels a bit… generic? Bland?
The story itself is really good, with the mythology being doled out in grandmotherly tales for Yui and Hiyori (and us). The idea of the Mayoigas and the hidden evil is great. The shift of animation styles for the story segments really stands out, but…
But if it’s possible, the film feels… less. I can’t really sum it up better than that. It’s not missing anything, per se. There are no storylines unresolved, no characters unaddressed, it’s just… less… than it should be.
So, while this was an enjoyable enough viewing experience, The House of the Lost on the Cape isn’t top-tier anime. Though Eleven Arts (the distributor responsible) has a solid enough entry here, it is one I truly wish I liked more than I do, mostly because I should like it more than I do.
But I don’t, and that bothers me.
The House of the Lost on the Cape will open in LA and New York on September 7, then expand to other markets across North America in the following weeks.
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