Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (Hottarake no shima - Haruka to maho no kagami) (2009)

76% of users liked it
(63 ratings)

A young woman unexpectedly finds herself transported into a mysterious netherworld in this digitally animated adventure from director Shinsuke Sato. 16-year-old Haruka (voice of Haruka Ayase) lost her mother when she was young, and before she died, her mother gave Haruka a special gift -- a hand… More A young woman unexpectedly finds herself transported into a mysterious netherworld in this digitally animated adventure from director Shinsuke Sato. 16-year-old Haruka (voice of Haruka Ayase) lost her mother when she was young, and before she died, her mother gave Haruka a special gift -- a hand mirror that was one of her prized possessions. While Haruka values the gift, she left it in her closet for some time, only to find it has gone missing some time later. Haruka notices a number of things disappearing from her home lately, and one day she discovers why -- a strange furry creature has been swiping small items from her room, and when it tries to steal her house keys, she follows it only to be led into a curious alternate dimension, where a city has been built from cast-off items taken from the homes of others. As Haruka searches for her mother's mirror in the alternate world, she must face off against its evil ruler, The Baron. Hottarake No Shima: Haruka To Maho No Kagami (aka Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror) was the first CGI animated feature from the established anime production house Production I.G.. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 2 hr.
Directed By: Shinsuke Sato
Genres: Action & Adventure, Animation, Anime & Manga, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Aug 22, 2009 Wide

Critic Reviews

Don Groves, sbs.com.au
An animated Japanese Alice in Wonderland.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jan Marc M

Memories, forgotten but never lost, are treasures. Crafted from sheer talent and prodigious imagination, Shinsuke Sato marvels with earnest and nostalgic narrative, fine artistry, and delicate animation in the masterpiece of Oblivion Island: Haruka And The Magic Mirror. Marvelous.
Justin Y

Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror, from Shinsuke Sato, is a colorful animation out of Japan.In a nutshell, the film's plot is in the title. Haruka is on the hunt for her missing mirror, which is magical, on Oblivion Island. While this is… More
Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror, from Shinsuke Sato, is a colorful animation out of Japan.In a nutshell, the film's plot is in the title. Haruka is on the hunt for her missing mirror, which is magical, on Oblivion Island. While this is good enough for a 90+ minute fantasy adventure, there is also the theme of friendship and family to bring in the heartwarming and family friendly atmosphere. The film itself doesn't necessarily drag at any point; however, even though most of the film takes place on this fantasy island, there isn't enough time spent to really get to know about its details or inhabitants. This is only a minor disappointment because there isn't any confusion regarding the main story.Visually, this picture has got the characteristics of a Japanese animation, but in CG. Haruka is the only major human character, so there isn't much in the realism of the visuals to really worry about. All in all, the film is pleasing to see.The protagonists are adorable, thanks to their looks and the voices of Haruka Ayase, Miyuki Sawashiro, and Tamaki Matsumoto. Iemasa Kayumi also provides a good voice for the major villain.Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror does amuse and at the end of the day is a worthwhile watch.

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Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (Hottarake no shima - Haruka to maho no kagami) (2009)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Jan Marc M

Justin Y

Cast

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