Heart String Marionette

A very beautiful film, quite tragic story and majestic experience. The most creative thing I've ever seen, a hidden gem. One of the cracks in reality that once peeked into, presents such a majestic experience. A piece janky to some, but only those with a mind may see the heart poured into it. Utter beauty and creativity. The characters and world so unique and I wish it was longer, because such a world I believe should have more detail put into it. I think there could've been a lot more to it, but excellent film either way, it's not something you will see out there, unless there's more hidden beauty I haven't seen. If you only pay attention to the professionalism of the craft and not look into it personally, then this film may not be for you, but I still believe it is worth the watch. The music is immaculate and beautiful; were the sprinkles on my tears with watching this masterpiece. The humour is perfect as well, I actually laughed more than anything before. If you look at it physically, it may not be appealing to a consumer, but looking into it deeply you shall see the personal beauty.

Indie animator and one man production team M Dot Strange's latest feature Heart String Marionette follows in its predecessors footsteps, its weird, its wild, its vulgar and yet its refreshing and sublimely strange. Heart String Marionette begs the question how to describe it, a David Lynch film channelled through warped CG Animation, A Childs Nightmare turned stream of conscious poetry, edgy anime tropes coalescing into a fractured narrative, a riddle wrapped inside a mystery locked in an enigma. No matter how you may try to perceive it and describe it, you are doomed to fail, M Dot Strange has crafted something bizarre, engaging and new, devoid of any attempt at description.

When one begins to dissect HSM one can easily spot M Dot's stylistic touchtones and influences. The CG animations schizophrenic shifting from crystal clear smoothness to unnerving and erratic jerking motions is reminiscent of underground Motion Capture and CG animation as well as the early works of the Brothers Quay. His obsession with samurai culture, Japanese names, anime references and archetypes conjures to mind the most gritty, action packed and self-aware of all anime series, series such as Vampire Hunter D and Blade of the Immortal. His skewed narrative structure, filled with nightmarish visions whilst still somehow maintaining a level of character and in this case emotional depth brings to mind the way a David Lynch or Cronenberg film is approached, narratively speaking that is. M Dot's formula then seems to be 1 part Brothers Quay, 1 Part Anime Culture and 1 Part David Lynch and 1 Part Stream Of Conscious Spontaneity. To pool such influences together and yet come up with something provocative, watchable, intense and jarring is a tough balancing act, one most would be unable to pull off but M Dot does it with aplomb.

From a story and thematic standing, the film demonstrates M Dots greatest improvements. The story line on the surface of the film is a very simple one, one that anybody can sink their teeth into, it is a tale of redemption for Samhaine Tsuke, Siouxie and the monster ridden country side the two seem poised to save. A simple premise and story but one that works incredibly well and one that is easy to pickup on (unlike the storyline of his first film the equally as strange and entertaining weirdo opus We Are the Strange). However deceptively simple the basic premise and story-line may be M Dot spruces it up with a fragmented and fractal approach and thematically touches upon much more than just a redemption fable. Never before has M Dot really had a social conscious about his films but thematically in HSM we are treated to comments on religion, female rights, man-kinds pitfalls, satanism and even the structure and sanctity of the family unit, its these numerous sub-themes and touchtones that bring a level of depth to what on the surface is a very easy to follow story and setup. Granted this multi-thematic approach to storytelling and symbolism has some drawbacks, it makes the point of the movie hard to grasp and feels fractured overall but that is also part of the mystery and fun of HSM, it merits repeat viewings.

The Score is worth noting as well, M Dot teamed up with composer Endika for the entirety of the score you hear and it works wonders. The musical score is contemplative, beautiful and intense. It demonstrates perfectly the power behind the tandem of sound and image, as a result the film receives a bit of extra emotional grounding, most evident in the closing stages of the film. It is this extra little emotional push that really makes HSM by the movies end feel like another weirdo opus in its own right, one that is high on the strange but also high on commentary, sentiment, forthrightness and even accessibility .

It is truly a step up and a step towards a more positive direction. Good job M Dot Strange, it is one of the best animated films I've seen all year.

Heart String Marionette is not simply a movie. With elements of traditional Japanese theatre, darker anime, and ancient mythology mixed together with strange yet beautiful imagery, a majestic soundtrack, and fairytale-esque storytelling, it feels like a dream that reaches into your subconscious mind and into your heart to guide you through its web of events and characters. While the concept itself is quite original- a samurai ghost story told though digitally-animated wooden puppets- it's the mythology that writer/director/animator M dot Strange has created here that turns this concept into something truly fascinating. While the plot may be confusing to some and test the patience of others, this is because M dot Strange does not treat the viewer like an idiot, but rather makes the viewer think and look inside themselves to solve some of the seemingly intentional loose ends and vague moments this story presents. It definitely rewards the patience of its viewers, and new details are also revealed with each subsequent viewing, something that isn't a problem at all since this film has a great amount of replay value. The characters in Heart String Marionette are all unique and have their role to play in the story, but the main character Samhaine Tsuke, voiced superbly by JP Anderson, is the most fascinating character in this movie. M dot Strange has crafted a main character that is not only quite fearsome, but also quite lovable. All of the other characters are also expertly voiced, making the lines in this movie very quotable and memorable. The visuals in this film are absolutely stunning. Not only is it remarkable that M dot Strange animated this entire film on his own, but it's also remarkable how much detail has been put into everything; characters, sets, and everything in between have been crafted with so much detail and care that they are truly unforgettable. The music, composed by Endika, is incredible. The impact of many scenes is greatly enhanced by the music, which makes this story feel like a true epic. While the pacing is a bit off here and there, Heart String Marionette still pulls the viewer in and does not let go, even after the credits roll. M dot Strange has crafted a dark fairytale that has been made with more heart than any other animated film this reviewer has ever seen, and the emotions that M dot Strange has poured from his heart into this film are ultimately what have driven all of the other aspects of this film towards becoming the beautiful work of art that the film itself is. This movie is touching and emotionally poignant, while also being brutally honest in its characters and in its profound symbolism. Heart String Marionette is a masterpiece of animated storytelling. One of the best parts about this is that it feels as though M dot Strange is just getting started.

I bought this movie after I was intrigued by Movement I, posted by MDotStrange on YouTube. I was not let down. Unlike some of these reviewers >-> I must say that the animation is very unique and the story goes into a place that everyone else seems to miss. In reply to the reviewer that declares this film as sexist, i must say that this is an imaginary world filled with puppets and a (few) marionette(s) and the one female in the movie that you see for more than a few minutes, IS a prostitute, which should tell you why she acts the way she does. Though it may seem at first that there was no bother on working on the faces, it is revealed later in the film that the faces are very beautifully made and that they are wearing masks most all the time to avoid a certain fate. Please people, watch the movie in its entirety before reviewing a film.

This movie is more like a piece of art. It will not be intuitively interpreted as a conventional movie, but in many ways it far exceeds what a movie should be.

As a creator myself, I can understand the constant battle between commercial success and true expression of creativity. Heart String Marionette is one that deserves commercial success, and greatly applauded for daring to defy convention, while creating a new genre of an art form.

The movie is simply beautiful. I've watched it many times to see the little nuanced details, and learned to appreciate every component of Heart String Marionette. While it may seem confusing at first, every little detail, even in the textures and patterns on animated characters have meaning.

AS a movie enthusiast who watch various genres, Heart String Marionette is in a class of its own. Notwithstanding how it was independently produced, it invokes mystery, love, morality and has twists and revelations that make the viewer ponder even more about the movie.

Definitely recommended to everyone who wants to see something different, and be utterly impressed.

Great storyline, love the twists that reveals itself as the story progresses, lovely music, and wonderful attention to detail.