The Garden of Words

The Garden of Words is about a student and an adult woman who meet up in the park when it rains. Both of them have problems to overcome with their chosen career, but have trouble discussing their problems with other people. Together the two of them find a way to overcome what other people think and their own insecurities. Unfortunately the student Takao does not realize that the adult Yukari is a teacher at his school that left after being harassed by the students.

The art in The Garden of Words is the absolute best thing about it. Not to say the rest is not good, but the art is breathtaking. Everything looks so real that at times it feels like I am not looking at animation. Little details are given the utmost care and feel natural rather than pointless. I usually like movies to stay on top of the story and not go around showing the background with no purpose. With this movie I wanted to see as much as possible. The beautiful backgrounds and characters really help with immersion in the story. I do not think that it would have been nearly as good without them and they steal the show.

The relationship between Yukari and Takao was so sweet. Both of them needing someone to help them move forward and managing to find that person on accident. A coincidence that they both came to the park on a rainy day when they should have been somewhere else. Watching Takao tell Yukari all about his dreams and her revealing little bits of her problems.

Takao’s feelings of betrayal were so sad to watch. Not only was Yukari a teacher, but it appeared that she did not care for him the same way he felt for her. He thought he was talking to someone who would not judge his dream and his chances for success in the future, but she was a high school teacher. High school teachers tell kids all the time that their dreams are not realistic. He thought she would at least believe in him if she loved him, but after that he was sure that she was just playing along with him and did not think he could do it. I wish that there was a bit more resolution to this scene than what was shown. The letter at the end shows that he resolved his problems with her, but there had to be more between them than what was shown. It felt a little rushed.

With Yukari her taste disorder and inability to go to work seem like she is indulging herself. Only being able to taste chocolate and beer, well how selective. That does not seem very realistic. Seems more like she wanted an excuse to drink all day and eat chocolate. Also she was not able to get herself to go to work, but she managed to dress up and go to the park. I can understand wanting to avoid a situation, but call it what it is. Most people that are unable to go somewhere are unable to leave their homes. They do not just go hang out somewhere to drink and eat chocolate. I guess the real problem is that I do not feel as much sympathy for Yukari as I am supposed to. She seems really selfish and I am just glad she was there for Takao. If she was not being selfish, he might not have had the guts to really go after his dream.

Overall the visuals are fantastic, the story is touching, and while not all the characters are the most likable Takao makes up for Yukari.

The weirdest part for me was when Takao goes to touch Yukari’s foot and it is like the finger touching scene from E.T. with a foot.