Flavors of Youth

It's all about the little things that make the difference in our lives. It's so alone-time kind of film. And the last film grabbed me by my heartbeats. This was also my first anime viewing.

"Flavors of Youth" (2018)

To be honest this movie is a slow burn, maybe not even a burn. The movie is split up into three stories with the same theme, childhood. I personally liked the first story the most, but the third story is also wotrh watching. Sit down, drink a cup of tea and relax while watching beautiful animantion tell three sweet stories about the memories of childhood :))

Rating: 7/10.

As a chinese myself, it is actually quiet surprising when I saw the cities named in the anime are Chinese cities and protagonists are all Chinese (maybe I haven't watched enough anime lol). Even the names of the food and street gave me so much memories.

I'm glad to see such collaboration between the Japanese and Chinese artists, given all the histories between the two and numerous political conflicts. It's simply beautiful to witness such mixture between cultures and I look forward to seeing something similar in the future!

It is also surprising to see how the rating here on IMDB is only 6.6. And I feel this one at least deserves a seven. The stories are a bit cheesy to be quite frank but it's very authentic and realistic to see. And the stories are heartfelt.

So this film is about three short stories. I guess every now and then we forget how life is about the littlest things we do for each other, about the meaning we grew up with (no matter how small they are), and about the love we share with one another.

They are the meanings. The important flavor we grew up with, the love from family and friends, as well as the powerful heart beat we felt being with our loved ones. Youth is everything about that.

A lot of delicate feelings were depicted in this film. You might not feel anything when the restaurant down the street shuts down, but to some people the flavor is the memory of their grandma. Working is rewarding but competitive and being on the top could easily cloud your from seeing how your family and friends are supporting you, guiding you through this muddle. And you would possibly never know what sacrifices your loved ones make for you, even though you're essentially doing the same thing.

I enjoyed all three stories but if I have to pick a favorite I'll say the last one as it was really well developed. It was heart-breaking when Xiao Ming was fast forwarding the tape searching for more messages from Xiao Yu, after she said she will not go for the elite school because of him and he was the one who was too stubborn to listen to the tape she sent her. Part of me feels if the story ends there it would be very VERY sad but at the same time very VERY powerful. But oh well at least they're together now.

But that's just love isn't it. Such passion so strong that you'll do anything for each other, to a degree it becomes too much and it hurts.

Our youth. Just like our memories, it is something we had and it won't come back ever again. It made us who we are but it is also in the past. I guess all we can do is cherish our time here, and be very mindful about the unseen beauty around us.

I really enjoyed this Netflix anime. Something can always be learned from life stories, and this trio of short stories has something for everyone.

From the simple pleasures of a hot meal, to family, friendship and planning for the future, these stories are represented variously and concisely.

Although some of the character designs feel generic (mainly background characters and minor characters with brief appearances), the backgrounds are detailed and grand like any quality theatrical release.

The opening segment took a minute or two to find its footing, but I was rewarded by the quality of the animation, the warmth of the narrator's voice, and the poetry of the description.

After that first segment, I was more patient, allowing the rest of the film to wash over me like a warm bowl of San Xian noodles (the art of noodles figuring prominently in that first segment).

For a change, the setting is various cities and towns in China, which works for me, adding needed variety compared to seeing the usual City and town backdrops used in many anime depictions of Japan.

Be sure to watch past the final credits of the last segment, as there is an end credit scene (of course there is) that bookends with the opening scene at the airport.

I thought I would have to work to pay attention (I have ADD), but the brevity of each segment made it easy to follow along. The first segment is so warm and poetic, it brought a joyful tear to my eye.

The second segment took a little longer to get into, but the characters slowly developed (just like in real life, it takes time to get to know people), and the payoff was unexpectedly grand.

The final segment really could have been developed into its own story, but the brevity added to the drama and could easily be the best of the three stories. I suppose it could have been presented first, but then I would have missed out on that beautiful opening segment that really sets the tone for the rest of the film.

I really enjoyed the film. It reminds me of 5 CM Per Second and Only Yesterday, similar films which reward the viewer while relaxing and feeding your soul like a warm bowl of noodles.

This review is based on the international version, in Japanese with English subtitles.

Composed of three, independent short stories, this anime film has beautiful animation. The stories are gentle, nostalgic slice-of-life, filled with childhood memories and regret, but also hope. Little action, just feelings and self-reflection. For some viewers it will seem boring, but for me it was very enjoyable. The shorter length of each story helped me not to lose interest. Rating: 9/10