The Film (3/5)

In a small Japanese town, there are two competing Mochi shops. One owned by the father of the beautiful young Tamako, A simple fun loving high school girl ahead of her years. The second shop is owned by the father of Mochizo, the friendly boy next door.  The two have been friends since childhood, and have been secretly developing feelings for each other.  But with their high school years almost behind them, it’s time for them to choose their future. But things get stressful when Mochizo chooses a University in Tokyo. Will their friendship last? Are will they confess their true feelings?

TAMAKO LOVE STORY (2014) was a happy little surprise of a film. Before sitting down to watch it, I had no idea it was a sequel to a highly popular manga and anime series, called TAMAKO MARKET. With this mind I started to look back at the film and judge if it works as a standalone story. And luckily it does. Of course, I’m sure the material will work better if you’re already a fan of these characters and story.

TAMAKO is a romance and slice of life anime done right. Unlike some films, OVAs, and series I’ve sat through, this film avoids a lot of over the top comedy and childish attempts of fan service. The characters in this film feel real and are more then likeable. Even without some of the previous knowledge of these characters I was able to feel for them and grow to like them.

The film handles growing up in a realist way. The stress of choosing what to do next, the family issues, friends coming to terms with one leaving and choosing what to do with the girl of your dreams. With school being such a important aspect of Japanese life, it makes sense that we would have to see the huge stakes of getting into a bigger school. On the other hand, all these kids feel real and enjoy their clubs, including in one fun bit a video/film club with some trippy posters in the background.

The animation and motion are also a huge highlight, with the natural beauty of the area shining in every frame. Sadly, the film does suffer from some pacing issues. In the middle of the story there is some build up for a mochi contest and the various girls in Tamako’s life. But for every dull moment, there is a fun bit of business. My favorite scene being the set piece where the two main characters try to get each other’s attention from their bedroom windows. As they wait, it shows them doing various activates while waiting, including playing with a train set.

Audio/Video (4/5)

The main audio option is the Japanese 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track. The sound mix is free of issue and doesn’t have any hiss or pops. The sound effects and musical score especially sound lovely. The second option is the English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio. The dub is decent for this type of film, but like my usual rule I try to stick to the original language when possible. English subtitles are included.

The 1080p HD picture has a couple of soft spots and some color correction issues. Around the 20-minute mark the picture to fade a slight bit. The backgrounds also loose some of their luster. But aside from these minor issues, the picture is quite wonderful. The character deigns, and the color scheme have a modest and likable look. The black levels are also well defined. The image just pops off the screen.

Extras (3/5)

The disc has a nice variety of extras. The main ones being opening and closing textless animations. Also included is the original Japanese promo, trailer gallery for other Sentai Filmworks releases, and lastly a short called Dera-chan of the Southern Island.

Overall (3/5)

TAMAKO LOVE STORY is a fun and light comedy with some elements of romance. I may have to go back and watch the original series. If you’re a fan of romantic comedies or slice of life stories, this is more then worth your time.