Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
lemonflick77
This might be one of the best movies I’ve watched in 2026, even though it came out back in 2021.
Everything about this movie feels so perfect. The animation, the characters, the story, the atmosphere — I genuinely enjoyed every bit of it. Even the movie-within-the-movie was so good that it actually made me wish I could watch the full story of Meister. 😂
The movie takes place in a fictional city called Nyallywood, a colorful parody of Hollywood, California. With its palm trees, sunny weather, and boulevard of stars, the whole place feels like a love letter to the world of filmmaking.
The protagonist was also incredibly relatable to me. I used to edit videos, so a lot of his feelings and struggles really hit close to home. Maybe that’s another reason why I connected with this movie so mu…
Read at the sourcechumiichan
DISCLAIMER: this isn't necessarily a review, but more like a personal essay of how I understood the film. Please take note before reading. Thanks!
Pompo: The Cinephile is a reminder of the burden of responsibility that comes with pursuing a dream.
Hidden underneath the guise of a cinephile’s growth from a mere observer of film to someone directly involved in making one, Pompo: The Cinephile not only succeeds as a love letter to cinema, but to dreamers as well. Plenty of people glamorize the pursuit of their dreams, but we rarely see stories about the messy journey that comes with actually pursuing them. When you spend your whole life wanting something and finally find yourself standing at the threshold of it, the burden of responsibility falls on you. What began as a passion can suddenly…
Read at the sourceOrishaboy
To all the dreamers and artists out there, to all the people crushed under the weight of reality and live out the most hopeless, miserable of lives, Rejoice! This movie is dedicated to you.
To first understand Pompo: The Cinéphile you must discard its literal sayings.
It has a few examples of nonsensical and unhealthy ideas like Pompo (the character) hating long movies and demands that fat be trimmed always.
Or the perfectionism at all cost displayed by the main character and the belief that the movie belongs to him.
The movie never rebukes any of these ideas but they lead to a the central theme of Pompo: The Cinéphile:
Pompo: The Cinéphile is dedicated to artists.
There is a reason why all the minor crew staff have unique character designs, why a banker crushed by reality is part of…
Read at the sourcefh1478
Golden 90 Minute Cut
Pompo: The Cinéphile is a movie about a cinephile, who has to run out of the shadows, and try to make his own movie, and while balance a lollies expectations.
It really feels like it's made by a movie lover, in how it's clipped, in how the references are made, and how self aware it is about movie making. And how the old people are there, to support the young generation in they pursue of cinema.
How the meta narrative and narrative slowly begins to combine into a story, that really works and is 90 minutes, which the movie will not stop talking about.
And it doesn't go to cheap round with drama, which I deeply respect.
The animation and cinematography is great. It uses a lot of different directions style, and does it well with use of colors and cuts, all to give an i…
Read at the sourcetxrxgxu
This is just Hollywood propaganda. This movie most likely came to be because Hollywood felt they were losing the Japanese audience, so they did this movie to make people remember the importance of Hollywood crap. Every character feels like it's specifically written for the purpose of putting Hollywood in a better light. There's no depth to neither the character nor the story, and the whole thing about the brave director who goes his own way is just dumb, it simply doesn't work that way. None of that shit works the way it's being portrayed in the movie. It is as if they took some of the scenes about film making from Bojack Horseman, but removed all the jokes and everything negative about Hollywood. That's how hollow the movie is.
Imagine the Hollywood producer who pitched the idea; "We ha…
Read at the sourceCecilyRenns
A beautiful ode to filmmaking and all forms of artistic creation out there; it's very rare that I feel so seen by a work of art. Maybe the last time in anime was with Shirobako, a work that is overall superior to this film but I feel like only due to the limitations of Pompo's runtime. Like Shirobako, this story is about the endless potential of art, the connections we make when collaborating on it, and the sacrifices you have to make in order to make art.
There are some plot contrivances, and that one scene about a livestream is questionable at best, but I'm glad they didn't mull it over too much. I've seen too many movies where "crowdfunding saves the day!" and at the end of the day it really didn't in this one, it was just the characters showing their passion and begging a really rich…
Read at the sourcebob-weebington
Pompo is a well-animated film about... making films. It's really more of a roller coaster ride than a realistic portrayal.
The first thing Pompo gets right into is... making an ecchi beach scene where a giant octopus molests beachgoers.
If you survive this early scene, then you're probably fit to watch the rest of the movie. (Otherwise sorry the fanservice got you and RIP.)
There's generally really good flow. The characters are likable, including the little protagonist guy, the girl actor, Pompo, and... J.D. Peterzen, an old man who sounds like a parody of someone else lol.
A lot of the emotion in the later scenes is the film building off itself. If you detest "fake sad music to a non-sad scene to make it sad" and tricks like that, then you might not like this film.
But I think I liste…
Read at the sourceMichaelBellonis
This movie was just heartwarming front to back - created by somebody with an absolute admiration of the craft. A feature length directorial debut about a young man directing his first feature length and all the trials and tribulations that come with that.
With character designs that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Gainax/Trigger production, the animators use it to their full advantage and make every scene nearly pop out of the frame with exaggerated movements and expressions - and every single cut in the movie felt like a moment of magic as they were all so intent, so creative, and all blended seamlessly from scene to scene.
This was a love letter to film making as a whole, and the amount of dedication and passion you have to have for this medium, but rather than take it in a dark direc…
Read at the sourceEmpireDeLuna
Boasting brilliant practicalities and procedural of the industry, Pompo The Cinephile is an exercise of technical mastery that overwhelmed its own weight, suspension, and story.
It is impressive how beaming with passion this movie is to the craft. It's an anomaly that an anime movie is even allowed to be this practically effective. Shirobako and Bakuman came to mind when thinking about the show in the same vein, but even they are still confined to its medium and hard to break the meta. Pompo on the other hand, will explicitly morph its own narrative if that means they can show you in the most literal sense possible, what an editing room feels like. You'll be ushered into the process of the industry from the perspective of an efficient director on a very well-organized production, so all s…
Read at the sourcePlainCasual
This movie was just straight up dopamine. The pacing makes every scene go by at just the right speed, the soundtrack makes the moments emotional and exciting, the transitions are some of the most creative cuts I have ever seen, and the side characters steal the show everytime they are on screen. This movie is just 90 minutes long, and is the perfect film to watch on a rainy day where it seems like time slows to a standstill. It's a movie about making movies, and it did not disappoint!
Made by the same studio who brought summer tunnel: the exit of goodbyes.
Read at the sourceeleven_exists
With the horrific mess of an adaptation that was "The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes" coming from the same studio, I was quite sceptical about watching this movie. But that was before I learned that Hirao Takayuki was the director. I don't know him for much, but his direction in the 5th Kara no Kyoukai movie in particular was amazing for me, and his work has stayed as some of my favourites ever since.
"Pompo: The Cinéphile" is a hidden gem, covering a topic rarely seen in anime: directing. For a movie about directing, I was expecting the direction to be good, and good it was! Camera angles were really unique and well done and even transitions to different scenes were just so cool and impressive. It isn't really something I can put into words, it's something you have to experience.…
Read at the sourceCpt_Mackey
She accidentally pressed the emote key and did a FORNITE emote.
One of the most uniquely creative stylised films. Really hit home for me being that films are something I love so much. Made me fall in love and remind me of just why I love films so much and how much they've impacted my life.
It was nice to not have the worst complication to a story imaginable and that it was just a hurdle to overcome. It was nice to actually have lovable and enjoyable characters instead of your normal anime protaganists.
The ending shot "that it's only 90 minutes long" and the film only being 90 minutes long both in the film and the film itself is so well done.
Read at the sourcemandychan7045
Yo, fellow weebs and movie lovers! I just gotta shout out POMPO THE CINEPHILE, cuz damn, this flick hit me right in the feels. It's like a rollercoaster ride through the world of filmmaking, packed with enough laughs, drama, and eye candy to fill a whole film festival.
First off, the animation is fire. Seriously, those scenes where Gene battles giant film strips in the editing room? Mind-blown. And Pompo herself, with her big eyes and crazy energy, she's like a kawaii hurricane that takes the whole story with her. The rest of the characters, from the shy Gene to the stuck-up Narcis, they're all so colorful and real, you wanna hang out with them (except maybe Narcis, dude's kinda intense).
The story itself might not be the deepest Oscar contender, but who needs that when you got passion,…
Read at the sourceWeskers
In personal reflection, "Pompo: The Cinéphile" left a lasting impression. The characters' journeys, coupled with the film's visual and thematic brilliance, make it a must-watch for anyone passionate about storytelling and filmmaking. The movie strikes a balance between entertainment and thought-provoking storytelling, making it a memorable cinematic experience. In conclusion, "Pompo: The Cinéphile" stands as a testament to the power of storytelling within the realm of cinema. With its well-crafted narrative, compelling characters, and visual prowess, the film delivers a memorable and enjoyable experience for audiences of all kinds. It is a celebration of the art of filmmaking and a reminder of the magic that unfolds when passion meets the silver screen.
Read at the sourceEpicLettuce
I have watched this movie on a recommendation.
I enjoyed this film.
The plot is kinda cliché in terms of basing it from Hollywood films, but making it into an anime is a fresh take. It is a good anime to watch with the family or show a friend who isn't that much into anime but are into films. It is a good transition
However, I would like to let you know though that I'm not really a plot guy though, so my perspective may differ to many people.
I focus on the characters for example. I see the plot mainly as a tool to focus what the film maker do with it with the interesting and unique characters.
I also focus enjoyed the philosophy the film maker is trying to convey, that in order to pursue anything you must cut and sacrifice. It is important to do this in order to focus on what matter…
Read at the sourcenazsa
Eiga Daisuki Pompo-san aka "A movie on how to make a movie!". It's a love letter to all the classic filmmakers.
At the very end of the year, I got my "Anime Movie of the Year". Its visuals are so beautiful that you just want to stare at them. In this ninety-minute movie, so much energy, so many ideas, so much food for thought, and emotions have been packed in that I was honestly surprised. The characters are as vivid as they are realistic. There are also some great dialogues.
The story is about the journey of making a life dream come true. The message of the story is simple, but it touches the heart. The direction is also worth talking about - there are many surprises in the scene sequencing and camera angles. Overall, I had a great time. It's definitely something to watch time and again…
Read at the sourcesaitoyuu
I don't wanna sound rude, but this film is exactly the same quality as Pompo's films lol
It feels like the entire movie was made for portraying an irony
The story is so shallow, the characters are so bland even the Pompo herself, and i couldn't find what's so interesting about this movie other than the visualization, just like Pompo's films.
Visual wise, they're good but not that great, the animation, the design, and the colors in this movie. I really love the transitions they use. I love how they try to put movie-like effects in an animation which is kinda tricky, but they made it work.
That makes me think, maybe this movie is just an experiment project. But Clap makes great animation, so if this being an experiment project, it's very underwhelming compared to other Clap's anime. It's…
Read at the sourceSethWarp
Advantages: the direction, the characters, the atmosphere, the drawing
Weaknesses: the simplicity of the concept
Read more: The movie is very fast-paced, tense, I would even say, and that's a good thing, because that's what the story is about - a little kid trying to do something that's not very superficial. I'm not saying it's a thriller, but it's really cool. I really liked how colorful and sunny and childlike everything is. I can think of TV adaptations of "Pokemon," the Doraemon movies and "Your Name," for that matter. That's what keeps me from giving it a 10 right now, and that's where the simplicity of the whole movie comes in. Don't forget that this is a review, and I'm not objectively reviewing anything here, I'm just explaining my feelings about the film. Well, I'm not much of a…
Read at the sourceRavarathTV
This review should be free of spoilers.
As a film graduate, and a person who would consider himself a "creative" type of person, this film does a phenomenal job of attacking you at your core, and making you question the reasons you're not chasing down the creative tendencies you have welling within you. It's full of great cinema references, allusions to things I've studied in college, but most importantly it does a powerful job of making you understand that the creative tendencies welling within you, and the artist block you're probably facing is something that you can and should get over, because the things you have to contribute to the world can be so great if you just put the effort into it that you know you can do but you're not doing because of personal reasons.
I have to say, I hav…
Read at the sourceoperanerd
This movie feels like a tribute to those who work behind the scenes of each creative project, as well as to why we value creativity in the first place. It's particularly captivating because of it's loveable characters, relatable themes, gorgeous artistic styles, and brilliant music. The character development of Gene Fini is particularly great to watch, as he goes from a lowly assistant to a passionate filmmaker. There are many ways that this movie could have wasted it's potential, but it does a better job than many films with the same thematic material. A fantastic feel-good anime that I will likely be re-watching over and over again.
Read at the source
