Synopsis: Easygoing mother Nikuko’s bold and loud spirit embarrasses her 11-year-old daughter, Kikuko. With nothing in common except living together on a boat at the port, a miracle occurs when their secret is revealed.
This was my first Ayumu Watanabe film, and it was definitely a treat to watch Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko. Much like Pixar films, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko is perfect for all age groups. To be able to send an effective message is no small feat, for sure, and Ayumu Watanabe does it with great efficiency. With that said, the film does falter when it comes to the execution and timing of multiple events.
There are a few moments like the dream sequence where we get to see Nikuko, Kikuko, and their mother, Miu, together. All in all, it was a great scene, but it felt forced in that specific moment of the film and was a little confusing of who perspective it was towards. Was it a dream sequence, or was this Nikuko remembering the old days while Kikuko was in surgery? That being said, it’s still a great scene that gives emotional weight to not only Nikuko and Miu, but also Nikuko and Kikuko.
What was done to great effect was the element of a family. Family isn’t only shared by blood but through relationships and circumstances. Throughout the entire film, you can see that Nikuko-chan is trying her best to be the best mother she can be, which is a lot of pressure. Yet, she always keeps a positive outlook on life despite her past which is something we can all learn from to some degree.
Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko is a drop-dead gorgeous film filled with so much expression and life. That festival scene was well choreographed, and you can tell that Kenichi Konishi and his team had so much fun with that moment. It shows in the way they animated Nikuko-chan running; it felt sluggish but filled with so much energy at the same time, which just made the scene so much better comedically. Konishi is truly a master of his craft, working on films like Only Yesterday, Paprika, and Tokyo Godfathers.
As a side-note, I have noticed a recent boom in CG 3D animated films, and I have been very vocal about my dislike for them. It really does my heart good to view a traditionally animated film like Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko.
While it may not be the among the best anime film like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, or the recent film Belle, it is still a fun watch, especially if you have kids. If I had to rank this film, it would be on par with some of the great Pixar films in terms of enjoyment. Definitely rewatchable!
Fortune Favors Lady is currently playing in select theaters and will be available on Blu-Ray from GKIDS & Shout! Factory on July 19, 2022
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeN_j_She8]
