ANI-MOVIES, *Josee, The Tiger And The Fish

Josee, The Tiger And The Fish was a short story written by Seiko Tanake which had previously been adapted into two live-action Japanese and Korean movies, so Bones director Kotaro Tamura helmed its first anime adaptation in 2020. This is a melodrama that shines a light on how the physically disabled are looked on by society, which is a subject long absent in anime, plus how they struggle in a world that wasn't designed for someone like them. This beautiful story gloriously demonstrates how life is very limited for in this position who still try to achieve their dreams.

Tsuneo is a college student working part-time in a scuba store hoping to get a scholarship to Mexico to witness a rare type of fish, but all this changes when he saves the life of the paraplegic Josee when her wheelchair gets out of control. Josee's grandmother hires him to act her caretaker, even though they don't get along at first, but eventually start to warm up to each other over time. Josee has spent her entire life without the use of her legs, and after her grandmother passes away, she finds that her choices in life have shrunk, so Tsuneo helps motivate her and make her more sociable, despite that Tsuneo still wants to go on his journey. Tsuneo once again has to save Josee from a car accident which leaves him with a broken leg that puts a stop to all his plans. Josee decides to face her fears and become a children's book illustrator but can't work up the courage to face Tsuneo after the accident. Fortunately, two of Tsuneo's work buddies help coerce them back together while he goes though physical rehabilitation. After finally getting out of the hospital, Tsuneo goes looking for Josee only to have to save her again on her runaway wheelchair where they finally confess their feelings. Tsuneo ultimately gets to take his trip to Mexico and reunites with Josee after his trip.

Many have compared this to other sympathetic anime romance films such as A Silent Voice and Ride Your Wave is it focuses on how a tragedy can bring people together despite their differences while also succeeding in their goals. The eventual romance between the two main characters is fairly obvious from the beginning, even with Josee putting up an angry front when they first start working together. The mixed message the film conveys of romance blooming in the face of detraction and does not try to hit you over the head with a heavy-handed result. The characters grow and become better than they were by the end of the film, plus Bones' animation is captivating. Whether you can view this and find it acceptable will vary between what anime films you've watched prior to this, but it is very wholesome even with some of the more noticeable dramatic cliches.