Introduction
Time has come to a standstill. A whale appears from a glassy ocean and spends half a day soaring gracefully across the skies. What makes this works extraordinary is the artist's decision to use the transparency and visual bulk of 3D computer graphics only for the un-moving ocean and glaciers. The people, whale, and ships are all hand-drawn, and with this contrast, he invites the viewer into a different world. This is a poem written in animation, the creation of a true fantasy. This project was a considerable under taking, and the results are marvelous.
(Source: ANN)
Audience reviews
7 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Teal17
I found this by using anilist to search for OVAs that came out from 1980-1999, scrolling down past the most popular ones, and just clicking on whatever looked interesting. I think I will continue to do this regularly from now on because this hidden gem is not even remotely similar to any anime I've seen before. The art reminds me of storybooks my parents would read me as a kid, the setting is incredibley unique and leaves much to your imagination. The blending of 2D and 3D animation creates visuals that are mesmorizing to look at. The sound design is simple but it adds to the feeling of it being a low budget passion project. This is a work of art, and absolutely worth the 20 minutes it takes to watch it.
Read at the sourcemrmidorimochi
Kujira no Chouyaku is the embodiment of what can only be described as a peace of mind. Based on a children's book also by Tamura Shigeru, Kujira no Chouyaku focuses on the leap of a single whale through the glassy ocean and the memories it stirs up of people who witness this special event.
As per the English title (Glassy Ocean) this world's ocean is glass; people traverse the wavy glass landscape while fish still swim underfoot and glass marbles float around in the sky. If you think about it too hard, it seems more like an apocalyptic world rather than a peaceful place, but it still builds a world through the different stories told that really makes you say, "I want to go there," and experience the serenity that the many characters reminisce about.
The pacing and the voice acting are…
Read at the sourcetheRealGuyFieri
Kujira no Chouyaku, or Glassy Ocean. A short, surreal indie film that is bizarre but truly captivating.
Check it out honestly cause I feel reading the spoilers alone won't really do justice to the feeling. Plus it's only 20mins long.
Glassy Ocean is really cool, I'm not gonna lie it's a fascinating short to watch. The visuals are dreamy and the scenes just make it even dreamier. There is not much story at all but more of a snapshot of an old man's day in a world where the ocean is made of glass. The show makes use of its 3D visuals to display amazing reflections of the glass and it just so cool to see. Honestly what struck me the most was the music. Constantly there's a sound playing in the background. How do I explain, the sound feels so spacey, like there's so much distance between y…
Read at the sourcekaonasi_mV
This film will dip you into the world where glass waves gently concern the green sky, where it is possible to bring the flying fishes who have stiffened in flight, where translucent sea inhabitants in whom there are small fishes, will sing to you slow, smooth and fluid, as water, the song. Here the jump of the whale who has come up from water lasts exactly six hours. And during this time it unites lives of many people — old friends meet about it, appointments are appointed … About the motionless stiffened huge body... And in each soul this body awakens something the best, any strange pacification, allowing to remember something such important, but long ago the forgotten …
I won't play a role elderly girl, fulling life experience and who have seen a lot of on her century... I will make the…
Read at the sourcestarshinesMonet
Glassy Ocean is an inspired and avant-garde story that gives its audience numerous perspectives surrounding one "large" event - a whale jumping through waves of green glass.
For the people of this sea made of glass what seems like a small event to us is something to be marveled at. You bring your family and friends, tell your neighbors - you pack a blanket and a picnic and make a day of it. If you're really lucky, it's the event that marks the day you met your true love. This is the kind of day that people talk about for the next 50 years! "Hey, remember that time the whale jumped?" "Hmmm, yes, those were good times." ^_^
This was an anime that felt like every aspect was done very much on purpose. The music was whimsical and fit the scenes perfectly. The cast had conviction and talent.…
Read at the sourceblack_cat20
How does someone even begin to envision a concept like this? The storyline is really imaginative (people exploring a whale jumping from a green ocean of glass in slowmo, now we're talking), the imagery is really dreamy, the trance music is just heavenly and as if they couldn't torture us enough, they unleash the camera panning and flexing in every curious direction, making this an organic adventure into some other planet excluding the planet on which I am writing this review. I know I'll definitely be revisiting this in the future... future?
Read at the sourceZirgo
This anime can only be described as an animated poetry text that transforms the words into art. And it is just as hard to get a grasp of. I think you either need to have a grasp of the work in mention or be on a drug to fully enjoy what it is about. Nothing bad as such to say about it but it gets so deep it isn\'t of this world any longer.
The story is nonexisting. About the only thing we get to know is some background info on one of the characters, but he still remains a mystery afterwards. The art is a blend of 3D CG and very simple 2D hand drawn characters. Nothing exiting either but one of the animes stronger points. We get treated with some interesting songs, but nothing memorable.
To conclude things, this anime is for those who are seeking and daring to watching something that is tot…
Read at the source