Pompo: The Cinephile Is The Anime I've Been Waiting For.

I've had the pleasure of watching Pompo: The Cinephile in both sub and dub now and it is clear to me that this anime is deeply affecting no matter what language it's in. That's not something that can be said for many anime.

Anime has been a part of my life for at least 15 years. I can't remember exactly when I started but I know that I've loved watching these animated images on screen forever. At that time, I have yet to see an anime that understands me so well as a person. It's like my soul was poured into an anime. My heart is with this anime till the end. I'll be showing this to my kids and their kids. For someone like me, this anime is like god answering every prayer I've ever made. It is truly worthy of being called Cinema.

Im not going to get into a debate about whether or not anime is Cinema and all that, but I just don't know any other way to express my love for this anime film any other way.

"Pompo is a talented and gutsy producer in "Nyallywood," the movie-making capital of the world. Although she's known for B-movies, one-day Pompo tells her movie-loving but apprehensive assistant Gene that he will direct her next script: a delicate drama about an ageing and tormented creative genius, starring the legendary and Brando-esque actor Martin Braddock, and a young actress seeking her first break. But when the production heads towards chaos, can Gene rise to Pompo's challenge, and succeed as a first-time director?" - IMDB

Any filmmaker, aspiring filmmaker, cinephile or just film admirer will become unequivocally emotional after the credits roll on this film. It's more than just an anime that uses its advantages over live-action films to make itself look and feel better than it really is. Instead, it uses the gift of animation to tell a story that treats filmmaking with respect and dignity. This anime film is now the first of its kind to engage in dialogue with the world of film on the agonies and joys of being in this industry. The pain is never-ending but without it, we as creators feel empty and unsatisfied. The pain of success sometimes hurts more than the pain of failure.

This is a film that after two viewings, has endeared itself to me so much that I feel that it tells the story of a part of my life that I rarely share with anyone and also tells the story of my dreams as a filmmaker. The story is more than just words on a page. It's a song for the soul. There is an inherent soul to this anime that I have been unable to find in many other animes that I've seen recently. I don't mean that other animes are bad necessarily, but that just emphasises the attachment that Pompo: The Cinephile has with my soul.

From now on, if I want to feel seen and understood, this is where I'll turn. To the life of my dreams and the life that I'm living. Pompo has it all. Far be it for little ole me to tell you what to do, but if you want something different, if you love movies, if you want something that sings to your soul, I can wholeheartedly recommend this anime film. At 1hr 34 mins, Pompo: The Cinephile is easily the best anime film of 2021 in my book. There is the critical side of me that wants to find the little imperfections and to nitpick about what went right or wrong, but at the end of the day, the world is bigger than a rating.

The world of this anime film is one I'd live in forever. I want certain people in my life to see this film. Then maybe they'd understand what my dream is. But I won't force it. I'll just say this. If there was only one day left on Earth and I had to choose something to watch, I'd watch this on a loop till the world explodes. That's how I feel.

If you read this far, Thank you. It means a lot that you read my little ramble about this anime. I'd also like to thank my friend Daniel who recommended this film to me. It's like a second birthday present to me so Thank you ah boss!