Movie Reviews

‘SHIROBAKO: The Movie’ Blu-Ray Review – Comforting Work Place Anime Gets Feature-Length Continuation

By Dillon Gonzales
December 16, 2021
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It would probably be best to offer a blanket apology to all fans of SHIROBAKO for what they are about to read. There is a newcomer in your midst. The cult-favorite anime series debuted in Japan way back in 2014 and made audiences deeply invested over the course of 24 episodes. The series followed five close-knit young women who went from participants in their school’s anime club to breaking into the world of anime themselves in different aspects of the industry. Despite being unaware of this property, I was intrigued when SHIROBAKO: The Movie crossed my radar as the idea of an anime about the creation of an anime seemed very meta in a way that tickled my brain. What was a delight to learn was the series was more about how challenges faced during the production reflected what the characters were going through which often spoke to a larger universal truth. The movie takes a four year jump from the end of the series, but thanks to a playful recap from a pirate doll and a white bear, Mimsy and Lolo, newcomers like myself can get a lay of the land before diving into the new developments in this feature.

By all accounts, the series ended perfectly with all of the characters in a place that satisfied fans. This is likely to make the beginning of this feature especially distressing for those deeply invested in the material. In the intervening four years, Musashino Animation failed to capitalize on the success of Third Aerial Girls Squad thanks to production conflicts on their follow-up Time Hippopotamus which led to the project being abandoned and staff leaving the company for other opportunities. The studio is down to a bare bones staff and is subcontracting on a soulless sequel to their hit. Our heroine Aoi Miyamori is still tolling away but has become disillusioned with the industry, a sentiment that has spread to her other four core friends who are disappointed in their lives in different ways. The series had the youthful energy that comes with beginning a new career, and the film positions itself as the harsh reality that comes with the mundanity of the workforce that many face in their mid-20s. It is only when the idea of getting the gang back together to make a feature film that Miyamori begins to find her spark again.

The first half of the movie largely deals with catching up with where all of the disparate characters are these days and convincing everyone to set aside past reservations and strive to meet what seems to be an impossible deadline. The second half doubles down on the actual production of the film and all of the little hiccups that can arise during this process. For newcomers, it is likely the production aspects that will hold the most weight, as you get far more character development from seeing how characters support, criticize and inspire one another in pursuit of the common goal. Longtime fans will not have such a steep barrier to entry, as they will understand the two dozen episodes worth of relationship building that has taken place and apply it readily here. Yet, even those who love these characters might feel like the film bites off a bit more than it can chew while trying to service the fans. There are so many characters brought back from the series for the briefest of moments that it is difficult to get the substance that the longer running time of a series would provide.

Judged solely based on the movie itself, the film offers some satisfying mini-character arcs filled with personal moments. It is a film that leaves you feeling hopeful and illuminates the value of coming together as a team, asking for help and believing in one another. There are sure to be a substantial number of easter eggs scattered throughout this film, and those who enjoyed the series will be satisfied just to connect with old friends again. Still, even newcomers such as myself will find something very watchable about this feature, so much so that going back and watching the series has been added to my to-do list. On the most basic level, the film offers some truly gorgeous animation and some hilarious and thrilling set pieces that are quite transfixing. Those only familiar with fantastical anime content might find this material too low-stakes, but those who are gripped by the threat of a looming deadline should find this to be a worthy investment of your time.

Video Quality

SHIROBAKO: The Movie comes to Blu-Ray from Shout! Factory with a stunning and vibrant 1080p transfer. The colors present in this transfer are practically leaping off the screen with the wide range of hues permeating every inch of the frame. The textures, from the character designs to the environments, are extremely impressive and give the film a real sense of depth. One of the areas where the film really shines is the fluidity of the character designs. The subtle touches that are added to each individual is quite striking. The level of detail these animators put into each environment shines through here. Black levels are incredibly strong with no hint of compression artifacts or digital anomalies of the sort. This is simply a beautiful looking Blu-Ray presentation.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 lossless track presented here in its original Japanese with optional English subtitles. There is not an English dub provided on this release which is more than ok with us. The track is a lovely sounding experience that brings the movie to life in a really pleasing manner. Dialogue comes through crystal clear at all times without being overshadowed by any of the intense in-movie action sounds or the score. There are some really fun panning effects in the rear channels that add a nice layer to the story. The score is precise in its placement throughout the room as it envelops the audience. The track employs some good activity in the low end when the things get a little more kinetic in the film they are creating. There is also a nice amount of sonic detail in the surround channels as the sound of various locations creates a world fully realized. This is a stellar sounding release that should more than please fans of the film.

Special Features

Trailers: This disc includes a Teaser (0:31), Trailer (0:36) and Main Trailer (1:32).

After Release Promo Video: A nearly two-minute video which functions like the other trailers.

Re-Screening TV Commercial: A 32-second commercial promoting the re-release of the film.

Final Thoughts

SHIROBAKO: The Movie is a very entertaining continuation of the beloved series which does not appear to sully its reputation. The film is better equipped for those already familiar with the property, but newcomers can find things to enjoy about the film and might even be inspired to watch the series afterwards. Shout! Factory has released a Blu-Ray with an A+ audio/visual presentation and an assortment of promotional material. If you are a fan of grounded anime content, check this one out. Recommended

SHIROBAKO: The Movie is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shout! Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.