Flavors of Youth

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.

It is evident all over the world, wherever you are born, you'll never forget the place you are born. And that's the irony of today's gov't all over the world. All the world's gov't is demolishing the memory we have of our child dream homes where we were born. Same here, the gov't demolished our home in the name of development and now all we've left is some vague memory. Sure we will never be able to rewind the past. Such a beautiful past we had. Hats off to the team.

I loved it but would have loved it so much more if it was three movies of this length which is why I didn't give it an even better rating. It did a really good job at making me feel emotional despite the small length. I felt nostalgia, regret, and Joy. Granted some of the nostalgia could be my own as I also remember tape recorders and the like but it also made me feel nostalgic for things I never experienced in my youth like china, food, and little things like that. That was just how strong the story telling was.

The animation was also beautiful done that made it a joy to watch.

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.

Flavors of Youth is an anthology anime drama film. Produced by CoMix Wave Films (Your Name, 5 Centimeters Per Second), it is a beautifully melancholic look into the lives of three distinct individuals.

The film is told in three chapters, similar to that of 5 Centimeters Per Second. Chapter one, "The Rice Noodles," focuses on a young man with a nostalgic fondness for noodle soup in Beijing. Chapter two, "A Little Fashion Show", is about two sisters, one a fashion model and one a fashion designer, the former of whom's career gets in the way of their time together. Chapter three, "Love in Shanghai", concerns a young architect regretting not confessing his true feelings to a girl he knew in his childhood.

Showcasing gorgeous animation and artwork, Flavors of Youth is a carefully told and often touching collection of stories about living in the moment and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Each individual protagonist lends themselves to their story in their own unique way, but never so much that the overall tone of the film feels inconsistent. The English dub voice acting is solid as well, featuring great performances from the likes of Crispin Freeman, Erica Mendez, and even Hollywood actress Evan Rachel Wood. While not on par with better anime films in CoMix Wave's library like 2016's Your Name, Flavors of Youth is certainly worth a viewing on Netflix.

I rate it 8/10