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Sarusuberi: Miss Hokusai - FULL LENGTH Movie Reaction! PATREON COMMISSION! (Patreon)

Published:
2025-04-04 17:00:07
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

 *ARTISTIC HEADPHONE WARNINGS*

I walked into this film completely blind and what a beautiful canvas to have painted in front of you! This film was so beautiful, quirky, and had such a heartfelt core to it with very interesting characters - it was a journey that was certainly unique and a nice dabble into historical anime!

Thank you, Anime Annie, for the commission on this lovely film!

LINK TO PIP REACTION: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/AACMSz7ZXr9TtCBKcQ4m7Z

Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!

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Sarusuberi: Miss Hokusai - Movie Reaction! PATREON COMMISSION!

LINK TO PIP REACTION: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/AACMSz7ZXr9TtCBKcQ4m7Z **ARTISTIC HEADPHONE WARNINGS** I walked into this film completely blind and what a beautiful canvas to have painted in front of you! This film was so beautiful, quirky, and had such a heartfelt core to it with very interesting characters - it was a journey that was certainly unique and a nice dabble into historical anime! Thank you, Anime Annie, for the commission on this lovely film! Thank you for watching with me and for all the support! #romaniablack #misshokusai #sarusuberi Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RomaniaBlack My Anime: https://myanimelist.net/profile/RomaniaBlack Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RomaniaBlack You can mail me a letter or anything (except food, please) at this address: Romania Black PO Box 768 Harrisburg, IL 62946 USA

Comments

Anime Annie

You're so sweet for saying to check out my stuff, thank you 🥰 And I'm glad my essay-like comments are pretty much always spoiler free. Prepare for an epic comment with this one 🤣 Seriously, it's so long it wouldn't even post on YT because it went over the character allowance 😅 Everyone questions the music 🤣 It is not fitting of the period at all. But in a weird way I do think it fits with the overall style of the story. The animation style is very remnant of Studio Ghibli 🥰 As is the slice-of-life feel with the snippets of life as time passes for the characters. There's enough similarities between O-Ei and her family that you can tell they're related, but they don't look like they're carbon copies. Also the title, Sarusuberi, is the Japanese name for crape myrtle which is why there was such focus on it when O-Ei visits her mother. The puppy did partially win me over for helping me decide which movie to commission 😆He really is the best! They did a great job of animating him 🥺 So many of the mannerisms made me think they used an actual dog as a model. Though if anything bad had happened to the puppy I'd definitely have rioted 😂 Hurt and kill all the fictional humans you like in so many series and I will like be sad and pissed off, but hurt/kill a dog and I'm definitely emanating John Wick and planning to fictionally hunt down the creator 🤣 Yeah that hairstyle (a chonmage) definitely aged a lot of guys because Kuninao does NOT look only 19! Though I do take my hat off to the animators for making older characters, like Tetsuzo and Koto, actually look their age. I did giggle at you thinking the men were going to collaborate to redo the dragon painting 🤣 Nope O-Ei just throws them out and does it all herself 🥰 It's a perfect way to introduce you to the fiery nature of her temperament. I just adore the way this movie incorporates fantasy within art. It's fitting of the time to believe in dragons and demons, and to show the best artists can "see" those fantastical elements feels like such a great way of visually showing an artist's inspiration and ability to create such canvases. And the recreation of the dragon really feels like the dragon is almost climbing out of the painting 😍 Our first meeting of O-Nao having those damn spider lilies is the worst foreshadowing 😭💔 But I adore the way they show O-Nao's way of seeing the world through sounds and the feel of things 🥺 Seeing O-Ei's reaction to Hatsugurou is quite the shock. Having seen her behaviour before it does first take you aback at her crush. Definitely cannot blame her for it though. Hatsugurou is quite the catch. O-Ei and O-Nao's relationship is one of my favourite sibling portrayals. It's so sweet and wholesome. It's also very simple but you can feel the love and care between the two of them. O-Ei painting erotica is such a fun part of her character, especially for a woman who doesn't have such experience. Yes! The red bars from which the courtesans sit behind really gives that feeling of them being trapped within a cage. Though it also makes me think very much of the phrase "look, but don't touch", which gives the red light district such a voyeuristic feel to it. Sayogoromo reminded me a lot of Hatsumomo from Memoirs of a Geisha too with her regal bearing and the way she speaks to Tetsuzo and Zenjiro. I love the change in art style for the more fantastical elements of this story. Tetsuzo's story about the hands is all the more haunting because of the art style. While Sayogoromo's neck is almost ethereal looking as it dances. And the painting of hell coming to life is all the more horrifying for the art style. I just adore the focus on Sayogoromo's neck when she is uncaring about if her neck does leave her body one day. We can't fully see her expression so we can't know if she is just pretending to be uncaring, or if she truly doesn't mind that happening, or if she wants that to happen. The fire scene is such an intriguing obsession of O-Ei's. I love how the seiyuu sped up the way she talks when she thinks about the way the fire makes her feel. Also a fun way to show how fires were fought back then, and the real danger they could be. O-Ei comparing the way she likes fires to Ikeda liking women and Tetsuzo liking sweets is another great glimpse into her personality. And it shows that they each have their own vice which could be problematic for them. The snow scene always makes me a little teary-eyed just the way O-Ei describes and paints a picture in O-Nao's mind of what the scenery looks around them 🥲 The camellia scene is also such a small scene but is so effective at showing the real closeness they both have. It's an interesting comparison with O-Ei's relationship with her father and mother. My first time watching I was on tenterhooks about the boy with O-Nao. But then when he made sound for her to follow and played with her my heart was made full! Such wholesome fun. He's so sweet and encouraging in finding a way for her to join in and play, and play in a way that she likely hasn't because she lives with the nuns. The boy is also an interesting contrast to Tetsuzo's silence and lack of presence in O-Nao's life. The bone tree is definitely one of the creepier things I've seen in anime. It's such an intriguing concept, but also horrifying. I did giggle at you saying "It's causing my wife some mental distress, but it's a *really* good painting". When I first watched it I definitely had the same feeling that he was putting a mere painting above his wife's health. Then I learned that such paintings that depicted the Buddhist belief of hell were a way to inspire moral behaviour. Made me just want to learn more about the husband and why he felt the need for such a painting, even at the cost of his wife's health. Romania: "I can't help it, I don't have a boyfriend!" Enter Hatsugoro 😂 He's such a smooth mover. And then you follow up with suggesting she get some experience only for her to go to a brothel 😆 This brothel is one that caters to both male and female customers (there were a few like that), though I believe most that had male workers catered solely to men. Ichiya is a male sex worker, or kagema, but they are so subtle at showing he is first. He is wearing a female kimono, and has his hair and make-up done in a much more feminine manner so it's understandable to mistake him for a woman. A very subtle difference between O-Ei visiting this place versus the teahouse she visited to paint Sayogoromo is that Sayogoromo and the two young girls with her both have their obi (the belt holding their kimono together) tied in the back, just like O-Ei. Ichiya however has his obi tied at the front and denotes that he is predominantly a sex worker rather than a courtesan. Also, typically kagema were the receivers during sex acts, which gives a better understanding to Ichiya flinching in pain and reaching towards his backside (after showing his happiness at the monk finally leaving). It's a subtle moment/reference that allows them to get away with a lower age rating. As such it can also explain Ichiya's excitement at taking O-Ei as a customer, though sadly for him he just runs out of stamina to follow through 😂 Can I also just say I love that the kimono Ichiya gives O-Ei to change into has one with butterflies on it. Visual significance of her spreading her wings and trying to gain some personal experience to broaden her abilities in painting erotic works. Though the comment O-Ei makes that gets translated to "Posh stuff" is her commenting on the kimono being a furisode. This is a specific style of kimono with the longer draping sleeves, and is traditionally only worn by young unmarried women. I wanted to point it out just because the final time some women wear furisode is on their wedding day. In this context it feels like it's symbolic of O-Ei being there to gain sexual experience. I also love Ichiya's comment about his monk customers not having the fear of god in them. Definitely very realistic that a good number of people in religious roles (no matter the religion) don't have the same fear of what they preach as what they incur in their sermons for believers. Kuninao is precious! He's a real sweetheart. And I like how upfront he is with his words, and tries to be open about his feelings 🥺 But yeah, O-Ei did not think of that whole visit to the temple as a date. Poor Kuninao! Like I said in the discord, the progression of the dog getting bigger is really such a great and subtle way to show the passing of time. I definitely prefer this kind of glimpse at time passing than to just be told on screen "[so many] months/years later". My heart welled up for O-Ei rushing to do her hair and make-up, only to have her hopes dashed by the woman Hatsugoro had on his arm 🥺 The way the music changed up from happy-go-lucky to a despondent single string really hits home the pain of that moment for her. Also, I think it feels all the worse because the woman with Hatsugoro is more conventionally attractive. The releasing of birds is a way to buy some good karma. Koto doing such a thing and Tetsuzo being so realistic about the idea is an interesting contrast to them as people. As is the difference in their homes: disorderly versus orderly. I just adore how the moment O-Nao touched Tetsuzo everything else disappeared 🥺 For me it was like O-Nao's hands she used to see her father physically pulled him into her world of darkness. The stillness of that scene is definitely one of my favourites. There's no dialogue in that moment of O-Nao holding her father's head and yet it's so incredibly emotionally-charged. Tetsuzo's drawing for O-Nao though always makes tears come to my eyes. He took time to paint such a fierce painting to try and protect her from her sickness. It also shows that he can be so similar to Koto by having a moment of being more whimsical. O-Nao noticing the preying mantis when O-Ei needed light to is such a great way to show that though O-Nao is blind she can notice things others don't. Just like when they were on the bridge, and though she couldn't see O-Ei, she knew her sister was acting differently. The chill that goes up your back at Zenjiro's words and then the wind blowing through. It's such a symbolic way of showing O-Nao passed and her spirit came to say goodbye at her father's home 😭 It's such a different way to portray a death in anime form, but just as heart-wrenching. Especially the silence but for O-Ei's running, and then her panting because she ran so hard...really hits you in the feels just right. Though the flower I'm unsure on if it's the camellia O-Ei gave her, dried up, or if it's a crape myrtle that rode the wind/O-Nao's spirit from her mother's home to her father's. And then life just continues on. It's almost more painful for how realistic it is. But Kuninao's humorous entrance is a perfect way to change it up. Kuninao coming to pull Zenjiro and Tetsuzo away to go fulfil his bet does make me wonder if he came to get them on purpose. It could be his way of helping Tetsuzo get out and about, rather than possibly staying inside and his thoughts drifting more often to O-Nao, as that is a common (typically male) way of helping a friend not be overwhelmed by their grief. At the same time it also gives O-Ei space and alone time with her thoughts and feelings, which can help her find her own peace. I was so worried like you that the movie would end with a fire and O-Ei dying too 🥺 But the image of the girl with the goldfish is a perfect painting to show O-Ei's true style and self. I like to think embracing the memory of O-Nao and all her feelings about her sister, her life and death, helped O-Ei to unlock her true abilities. I just love the ending with learning that Tetsuzo thought if he could live a little longer he'd become a true artist. It's such a common feeling with artists and writers that they don't see themselves as being real artists/writers, no matter how acclaimed they are by others. It also fits so well with seeing Edo versus modern Tokyo, because no matter the era artists still have the same feelings and similar issues/challenges as Tetsuzo and O-Ei faced. Sorry for adding another manga to your Plan To Read list 😝 My own list just keeps on growing too 😂 It does feel nuts that the anime is ten years old though 😅 I can remember trying to find it being shown in a cinema here, only to be greatly disappointed but unsurprised that it wasn't available either here in Northern Ireland or down in the Republic of Ireland. I'd have had to make a jaunt across the Irish Sea to England to see it in cinema and that felt like a bit much 😆 Instead I got the DVD as soon as it released here in the UK. Definitely get what you mean about the feel of it being based on an 80s manga. I don't know if it's the colouring, the drawing-style (especially in regards to the shape of people's bodies and more focus placed on certain body parts such as necks), or just the overall storytelling method, but it's definitely not surprising that the original content is from the 80s. The bridge is such an interesting starting and end point for the movie. With all the peddlers and foot traffic O-Ei is just one of many as life goes on, both at the beginning and the end. I believe this is the Nihonbashi Bridge, which was the end point for several roads in Japan leading into the city. A half-scale replica of the bridge was made in Terminal 3 of Haneda Airport that you can see and walk across. Considering it's not even to scale it is amazing to thinking how large the wooden bridge would have actually been back in the Edo period. Yes, O-Ei definitely gives off an asexual vibe throughout the movie! And it's why I like her character so much because she is shown to have a crush on Hatsugoro. For some asexual characters I've seen, they further the misconception that asexual people aren't attracted to people. So I love that with O-Ei we do get to see what I would say is a more accurate representation of asexuality. No it wasn't just the subtitles; I don't believe O-Ei ever refers to Tetsuzo as any version of Dad. He is always just Tetsuzo to her. For me that says that she sees him as an artist, rather than a father. But it definitely creates an intriguing father-daughter dynamic that I don't really see in anime. Oh god you saying Hatsugoro looks like Ushijima made me imagine Ushijima playing volleyball but he has a chonmage hairstyle 🤣🤣🤣 It does fit though considering his nickname Ushiwaka was the name of a samurai warrior during the Heian Period (794-1185). And I believe it was around that era that the chonmage started to be used. Totally agree that this movie doesn't shy away from talking about death, hell, and heaven; but it doesn't have that same dark and gritty feeling that some other historical anime portray. This movie chooses to take a much more rounded view and death is just something to be faced with acceptance. It's still tragic and sad, but there is calmness alongside it all. My main takeaway from this movie is that life continues to go on; even when sad things happen, the world continues to turn. I know some other historical/historical-adjacent (i.e. fantasy stories that have historical elements) have affected you in a negative way, so I thought this would be a nice historical anime for you to try, and I did think with you liking art that you would enjoy that aspect of the movie too. So glad you enjoyed my pick 🥰 Most of the seiyuu were not ones I'd heard before as a number of them this has been their sole anime voice acting role. The servant at the beginning for the patron commissioning the dragon painting, as well as the bird seller, however were both voiced by a voice actor you've heard before: Fujiwara Keiji. He was the original voice actor for Coach Ukai from Haikyuu!! before he sadly passed away during the creation of Season 3 😢 He also voiced Hannes from Shingeki no Kyojin; Leorio from HunterXHunter; Maes Hughes from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood; Hiiragi Tenri from Seraph of the End; Tatsumi from Death Parade; and Byakuya from Dr Stone. Another Haikyuu!! seiyuu is the one who voice acted Kichiya. If you can believe that was Irino Miyu, who is the seiyuu for Sugawara 🥰 He was also the voice actor for Prince from KazeTsuyo; Minato from Naruto: Shippuden; Hyakuya from Seraph of the End; and Kageyama Ritsu from Mob Psycho 100.

Sunspots

Loved the reaction and discussion! This is such an excellent film – technically and emotionally, and Oei is definitely one of my favourite protagonists. 🥰 It’s great to see that you had a good time with it! I absolutely agree that there is a serenity in the film that just makes it a delight to experience – even with everything that happens. I love Oei because of how emotionally guarded she is and how clearly this is portrayed. She lives her life on her own terms and doesn’t conform to anyone’s expectations. She has so many things to navigate: the relationship with a self-absorbed father she is also in business with, ‘the time,’ the attitudes of those around her, complicated family relationships, the fact that she very likely cannot leave or live completely independently (even if she could or wanted to), that she loves being an artist and wants to improve, etc, etc. You know, the way she goes about dealing with all of that really reminded me of Yayoi on this rewatch. 😂 Regarding her art – I do wonder how much of the criticism and perceived lack of sensuality was due to her art not conforming exactly to the predominant style of the time. As well of course as the general sexism and perception of female sexuality as fundamentally ‘inauthentic.’ In the end, I don’t think it would have mattered how much ‘experience’ she would have had or not. Hokusai gained massive popularity during his lifetime, especially in his 40s and 50s, he was a rock star and was very good at marketing himself. I love how the film addressed that with the festival ‘stunts’ at the beginning. And he was good at cross-promotion, a lot of his popularity came from illustrations he did for books within different genres. So I like the idea hinted at by the film that the two of them were essentially running a 'brand' and all the speculation around how much of the output was potentially 'shared.' I personally almost always love anachronistic choices especially with music. 🥰 I think the representation of Oei's rebellious nature was really well done. She was persistent, not loud or ostentatious or dramatic. I especially appreciate the scenes on the bridge which round out the film. The first scene of her walking across the bridge (mostly against the flow of traffic) with the tiny steps she has to take as she is literally ‘restrained’ by the clothes she has to wear. And the final scene of her resting against the side of the bridge, maybe more settled now, and definitely with more confidence. Various other moments I loved: About the hair: “I know it was a style… glad you all got over that.” 😂 Also, the Beowulf-like inflection on every utterance of “Berserk” in these reactions gives me life. I thank you. 🤣 Adored the relationship between Oei and Onao and how gently it was presented throughout. The artwork! And the visualisations of sketches coming to life. Every frame was a work of art. This was a really delightful reaction. I would also recommend the ENG dub! Thank you to Anime Annie, again, for this commission! 🥰 Cannot wait for next week! 💙

L Freya

What a great movie, I never have seen or heard of it before and had no clue what to expect. I loved the way they developed the characters and that it focused around art. It felt so easy for me to put myself in the world of this movie. The supernatural elements added intrigue to an otherwise grounded, historic story. Thanks for commissioning it Anime Annie, I feel like maybe I knew you had a channel as well, but know I know for sure, that's cool! In the discussion, the mentioning of the similarities to Apothecary Diaries in that the main characters in both give off an asexual vibe I agree with, and I was also thinking Hokusai reminded me a bit of Maomao as well - in the way he gets taken or finds mysteries and solves them through his knowledge and expertise of painting, like Maomao with her expertise of medicines and poisons! O-Nao, bless her heart, she was such a beautiful soul, and all that talk of going to hell too! Oh no, poor girl, I think she was being a bit playful with how much she thought about it, I hope! I was living through her though, and the show gave me a lot to experience - understand the world a little through her shoes - emphasizing the sounds on the bridge and seeing her make a friend in the snow with the little boy was so heartwarming. It was also nice to see O-Ei keep her distance when she was interacting with the boy and not helicopter parent them haha. Good for O-Ei, though it wouldn't suit her to interfere. Yes, the family was just the most chill family ever. Your reaction at the beginning when she ruined that dragon painting felt just like mine, what sort of anger and trouble was going to happen next! And all Hokusai does is put a line through it and walk away. Haha! This family is so chill they don't even give the precious dog a name! 🐶 The music is good at being in the background, except for the few heavy riffs, and stoic-ness of it all helped a bit with the sadder themes, I was glad for once there wasn't this overwhelming emotional score bringing out the tears like some Disney movie haha. I gave the dub a listen on the second watch, and it felt a lot different! I think for me, the sub felt better with the historical nature of the show, but the dub was interesting and I'm glad to have heard both. I enjoyed the reaction and discussion!

romaniablack
>>170533599

I really loved the characters and the artwork of this film! I really thought for a historic movie, the fantastical elements added were really nice! Being a big fan of MaoMao, I was really happy with the similarities Hokusai and O-Ei had as well. I hope O-Nao was being playful as well, honestly. Her part in this story was so beautiful and heartwarming, especially her relationship with O-Ei. And yes, MOST CHILL family ever! I really liked the score of the movie as well - it really helped the atmosphere. Oooh, that information about the dub is interesting; I may have to watch it! Thank you for the comment and kind words!

romaniablack
>>170042491

Finally catching up to some comments now that I’m back from my trip! Thank you for the comment and kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed the reaction and I’ll have to give the dub a shot when I can! I really love Oei as a protagonist as well! Yes, this movie is so serene and “calm” despite all the shenanigans going on! She definitely is guarded but does things to her own drum beat! Honestly, watching her be a self-made woman stuck in a very anti-female-liberation environment is really fascinating and I love the way she moves in and out of that world. And that’s such a good point, I think the sexism of that period would have given her criticism regardless, sadly. It was neat to see the glimpse of his “rock star” days (especially considering the film I watched after this) and to see how things REALLY were behind the scenes in the studio in contrast. The music was really nice throughout and I liked it in the bridge scenes especially - that bridge was SUCH a symbolic point in the film from start to ending! HAHAHA Some hair choices are…*Tatiana voice* CHOICES. Berserk at times draws out the Beowulf-style bile in me, hahah!! I’m glad you enjoyed that. Oei and Onao are sisters for the ages! My heart goes out to them! And YES, every frame of this movie is pure art! Annie picked a good one but then again, SO DID YOU!