Heart String Marionette

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.

Even some of my most favourite films haven't had the strong staying ability this film has had on my brain. I watched it the first time and was a little disappointed at first, but i couldn't stop thinking of why and what it was, and i felt a big urge to watch it again. I've probably watched it about 5/6 times since then,and every now and then just kind of choose it when i can't think of anything else to watch. it's really stayed in my brain and is deceivingly clever,which i didn't realise until revisiting a few times. The music is also a total masterpiece. I think this is one of the most unique animated films i've ever seen and feel the director is going in the right direction to creating the most unique and fantastic body of work in the history of animated cinema. Thankyou!

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.

I'm not sure what I just watched.

I'm not sure I'm supposed to know.

What I do know is that Heart String Marionette is a beautiful film - both visually and thematically. I don't want to get into the plot of the movie, because it will just confuse you. Just know that it's ... strange.

Very strange. And epic. And hilarious. And mind blowing.

In fact, the movie will blow your mind, pick up the pieces of brain matter spread across your TV screen ( or computer monitor, or iPad, or whatever method you choose to watch --- just be sure to watch), rearrange them in a different order and the proceed to blow them again.

This movie was introduced to me by a friend. I've never been big on animated films, and I was unfamiliar with m dot strange, but consider me a new fan.

I'll definitely be checking out his other work, and anyone on the fence should check out Heart String Marionette.

Just be warned: it's very STRANGE.

I enjoyed M Dot Strange's prior film, We Are The Strange, so I had been looking forward to this film since he announced he was working on it.

However, this film is just awful. The dialog sounds like it was written by a 4 year old. The voice work is very amateurish (except for the voice of Lord Wor, which was competently done). The visuals are often convoluted and incoherent. And the score is one of most intolerable things ever put to film, with many of the songs consisting of nothing more than a variety of brass instruments all playing random notes at the same time while an annoying voice wails along.

The reason I give this a 2 instead of a 1 is because I can appreciate the amount of work that went into making a film like this, especially since it was a one man show, but as a film standing on its own merits it falls on its face.

The director has mentioned working on a second film in this film's "universe". I really hope he does not, because a bunch of angsty, poorly-animated puppets trudging along to some of the most annoying 'music' ever created does not a good film make. And I haven't even mentioned the storyline yet, which is a mess of forced character interactions, clichés and unintelligible conversations between characters we're never given a good reason to care about.

We Are The Strange was very nice eye candy. Heart String Marionette was both eye and ear garbage. Don't waste your time on this one!