Hokkyoku Hyakkaten no Konsheruju-san

"The Concierge" introduces us to Akino, the new concierge at the Hokkyoku Department Store, where all the customers are animals. It's a relatively short film, just over an hour, but its simplicity is part of its charm. The movie is vibrant, uplifting, and so beautifully made that it whisked me back to the joyous days of my childhood, watching "Spirited Away" or the first time.

What really captivated me was the movie's unique art style-the characters are depicted in the crisp, clean lines typical of anime, while the backgrounds are rendered in a sketchy, colored pencil style, adding a cozy and heartwarming touch to the visual experience.

As the credits rolled, I found myself wishing I could linger a little longer in the department store, eager to see what other adventures-or chaos-unfolded next.

No pun intended - I do wonder if the building really exists ... apparently this is based on a novel/book ... but this also could be seen as an ad for the job of a concierge ... what to do and what not to do. And all packaged with customers who are animals (humanized).

Animation is really the place to find stuff like that. Where fantasy and your thoughts are free to explore things that would seem impossible to do otherwise ... with advancing cgi I reckon that will change in the future ... but for now, this is where to find a story and make it .. so it works.

Great voice work, good ideas. Of course suspension of disbelief is more than needed ... again, animals that talk ... bosses that have their eyes (and head and body) everywhere ... a problem needs a solution ... will our main character be able to maintain her job and her composure? Does she even want to? Really loved this ...

Akino is a new recruit into the elite of all department store shopping clerks in the prestigious Hokkyoku (North Pole) department store - that serves customers who are all animals.

None of the gravity of tragic theatre and convoluted plot twists here, just a Christmas day treat. Although, for all the levity, we should be reminded that many of characters we meet - are now extinct species.

I've just watched this in GFT as part of Scotland Loves Anime festival 2023 and the whole movie theatre was enchanted in seconds, moments of silence with ripples of laughter all the way through. We loved it, we cared, this is one of the most accessible animes ever. 8/10.

I can't believe the average 6.7 rating here, geez, what's with people nowadays?? I really wonder why it got such low ratings here on IMDB.

It is indeed a simple story told within only 1 hour and 10 minutes, but this movie tugs my heartstrings in the all right places, making me cry happy tears of joy and content.

It is such a warm and heartfelt movie with beautiful color palette and amusing soundtrack as company.

It will make you smile, laugh, cry a little, but once the ending comes full circle and the credits start rolling, you will be left with such coziness it would be a challenge to leave the dept store.

I just watched this movie at MONSTRA - Animatiom Film Festival in Lisboa and, to be honest, I wasn't expecting a great movie... But it really surprised me, with its lovely and warm story and characters. It is a simple movie (and it is also short, with only 1H10) but very heartwarming.

The movie tells us the story of a concierge that is starting a new job at a special shop, where you can only find exctinted animal. It is an original idea, that became a funny, yet touching movie.

In the end, I wanted to stay a little more time on that amazing and colourful shop, and also wanted to know more of its characters.

It was a lovely animation experience!