The Garden of Words
(2013) TV-14  46 minutes

Watched on Netflix 11/23/2019 (version was dubbed not subtitled)




This is a slow, but charming very beautifully animated movie.

The primary theme of this anime, finding your true self, where you belong, where you need to be, is applicable to most people. However the way this theme is presented would probably not be acceptable to most Westerners. In having a 15 year old boy fall in love with an older (late twenties) woman who turns out to be a teacher (not in a class he attends) at his school many would find this anime problematic.

The Garden of Words is a short movie, which flows slowly but not in a "check the time" kind of way. The animation is beautiful, the soundtrack languid and peaceful. It has the usual chipper upbeat (typical for anime) music to accompany the closing credits. Stay through the credits as there is a stinger about 1 minute from the close of the credits. This short scene does tie up a few loose ends left by the final (before closing credits) moments of the movie. Again, the plot thread mentioned above is continued.

I would recommend this movie for anyone (older teens and adults) who enjoys anime.